The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1921-05-05
Perfect
Scandalous"
BY II. LOUIS

the rocking chair brigade as IL rocked
and knit and gosslped away the sum
mer afternoons on the broad veranda
of the Willard Mountain house. "Per-
fectly scandalous, my duari' And, no
doubt, the sentence was a lust one.
At any rate, the facts apparently
spoke for themselves. Marion Belmont
had arrived only two weeks ago. Two
days later had come John Anderson
Gray. That much Information the
hotel register vonched for. Yet In
tie ridiculous short time since, the W
had scraped up an acquaintance. de
veloped II into a Irritation aud were
nov spending hours together, unchap-
eroned, climbing the mountains. pad
ding ON the lake or occupying the
back seat of the hotel bus, with Pete
hired to drive them about the country
side.
They didn't come In until twenty
five minutes past eleven last night"
whispered Miss Lapham with pursed
lips and limiting eyes. 'He left her
outside her door, which Is opposite
mine, and I heard them giggling and
laughing for quite ten minutesl 70
yes" went on Mrs. Otis, who, ex-
cept by the grace Of applied chem
lstry. would have been decidedly white
haired, "and every morning before
breakfast she is down v.ltlng for him
on the veranda - Tn, old ladies'
knitted faster than ever.
Even little Miss Scobie could not
refrain from adding her contribution
to the rest, and she was the least
gossipy OF the whole crew. II was up
In my room getting ready for my nap"
she breathed, when ! happened to
look out Of the window. 1Hhey were
coming up the path by the spruces.
And just before they reached the turn
they stopped and | thlnk-I am sure
he kissed herl"
Meanwhile the shocking pair were
idly drifting In and out OF plne-scent-
ed, beauty-haunted bays of the little
mountain lake. Marion Belmont, nc
cording to the register, sat lazily back
against the cushioned thwart of the
canoe, her slim hands folded on the
soft sport hat In her lap. her eyes
resting dreamily on the tanned face
OF the man In the stern, John Ander-
son Gray. according to the register.
Alan" she said suddenly, docs II
seem possible that you have beer here
nearly two weeksf How the time kas
flown!"
ut has. indeed, Betty" he replied.
"And, hang 1t all. l have simply got
to get back the first Of next week"
II know" she said. "And of course
l must, too"
"We might as well go together, 1
suppose" he said.
wouldn't II look-rather odd?' she
asked, hesitatingly. 81 am afraid we
have come in for considerable discus
sion as It Is from the row Of Mrs.
Grundles on the verandai r.
1--WE an idea,' suggested the man.
Lets give them something really
worth worrying over. Let's elopeg
The person addressed dropped her
eyes. "Oh, Mr.. Anderson. l mean
John, l really, really do"
And IL Mrs. Otis could have over
heard the conversation she would not
have needed the little episode In the
post office TO supply her with the In
formation she gave out later to her
friends. CHANGING to be In the little
office Immediately In the real of Miss
BelmoDt's ~white-lawned figure, she
could not help %overhearing the lat
ter's Inquiry for the mail. ANY let
tiers. please" lifted the low contralto
voice, ''for Mrs. Brad-er, l mean, Miss
Belmont?"
rShe isn't using her W name" was
the message Mrs. Otis brought her
confederates In disseminating scandal.
"And she's married. !"
II wonder II he knows" ventured
Miss Scoble, who concealed a lurking
admiration for the tall, well-knit fig
ure Of John Anderson Gray. '.If he
doesn't. II might be a kindness to let
him know before she-er-spolled his
life, or anything like thatr"
The idea held an appeal to them
all. for. womanlike, they found 1t
easier to blame the woman than the
man. And, heads together. they plot
ted how TO drop the news with SEEM
ing carelessness to the victim Of the
lady's charms.
They managed II that very after
noon with what might be called con-
siderable finesse. Miss Scobie was
the appointed spokesman. "Oh, Mr..
Gray" she said lnvitlngly as hat gen
tleman came out from the office for
the moment unaccompanled. isn't II
a beautiful day? BY the way, Miss
Miss Belmont seems so young, you
would never think she was married'r
Indeed not" agreed the gentleman
addressed. most heartily, Then, In
surprise. Married? Married. Oh. no,
not married. And he disappeared
suddenly within.
"Poor man." they murmured, 81 am
afrnid n will 90 hard with him"