The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1922-02-16


ly through the lobby she saw lettering
heads turn as she passed. She even
| rehearsed the racy moment when the
/ steel of her knife sank deep into the
red of the steak, the quiet dignity OF
her Keep the change" and the OBJ
sequious bow of the waiter. The new
boarder In the adjoining room lurched
noisily about, and with the WEAKNESS
born of experience she closed the win
dow which opened out on the joint
ire-escape landing and turned the key
in the bureau drawer which contained
her Bible and mother-of-pearl card
case incidentally she turned her back
on Minnie.
There is a parlor in the highest
priced and highest-storied hotel on
Broadway, which is done in pale gold
and pink it is like a small, rare jewel
box softly tufted in satin and lighted
with opal globes through its graceful
ly hung doors you can see into the
glistening lobby beyond, but the only
sounds that penetrate are strains of
far-away music and the soft swish of
women's gowns.
Within this golden retreat Minnie
dropped into the soft embrace of a
brocade divan and gave herself up to
its luxury closing her yes ever so
slightly she could imagine herself
journeying through Lady Audrey's gar
dens, in a gold and crystal sedan chair,
with a graceful ennui in her pose and
Gala lilies in her hair. The hush of
velvet rugs and faint music lulled Min
MES dreaming senses, her tense hold
on the tan purse-one dollar and thir-
ty cents-relaxed, and she nestled
deeper In the pink brocade.
4 man in q freck Goa and shiny
patent shoes dropped YEARLY IN the
farthest end Of the divan. His hair
was gray at the temples and his eyes
were surfeited with too much living;
he was the typical clubman and dilet-
Of the seventh-day world.
Minnie regarded him with the little
OF breath which proximity to
Of his sphere invariably caused
her. From the supercorrect cut of
coat to the shining fngernails he be-
spoke Inverness coats and cabs. Min
ME did not exactly know what consti-
-uted an Inverness coat, but 40 draw
novel was complete without
)ne. She could also picture this tired
Eyed man in the dark mahogany quiet
If his den, or strolling the white and
,rass deck of a yacht. Her half-closed
yes to all intent and purpose were
egarding an oil painting which hung
'eyond his head, but none of his de-
ails was lost upon her; she knew that
is "a had a gun-metal knob and
hat his shirt studs were gold.
She had rehearsed her hour for so
ong that she was not even surprised
,hen he leaned toward her and spoke.
'That is a very warn and rich bit
f work. You admire his school?' He
to the oil painting, and his
1nes were deep and serious.
TITS just beautiful" replied Minnie,
no had not even observed the por-
ait.
Her temples were %throbbing violent
She felt that she was contaminat-
lg this seventh-day creature in ever
and that he would resent her 81
he knew, just as she resented MI.
nuggs In the white goods.
81 see you riding in the park quite |
ten. Only a few mornings ago l was "
Did enough to canter after you, ad-
iring your mount"
''Thank you," she replied, taking the OF
unge and fitting her small head a bit.
women in my family have al la
avs ridden WELL" Il
eff you bespeak the race, l doubt it tn
He spoke the words with a patrician 81
ace that thrilled her; she CROPPED for
suitable reply, but none came. There &C
a pause; she observed that he
IRE a crested ring on his right hand. tn
felt it incumbent upon her to JUS al
her unattended presence, and
anced with well-restrained impa-
nee into the lobby beyond. sh
He was on his feet Immediately. he
are waiting for some N Can Its
be of any a~ssistance?"
THANK you; no. My maid will be sh
presently; she is unnecessarily
lg." WI
She sank back and let her eyes rest
a misty landscape framed in silver. fro
He followed her gaze.
4 have the twin Corot to that rare en-
in my private collection. / am on
y fond Of It." sal
she murmured. "How lovely -
There is something compelling In sp,
strength Of that stretch of mere ]
fro
Yes" she agreed cautiously. Fl
e the country"
adjusted q pair of pince-nez and frs
,arded her as If seeing her for the an,
It time. era
You are an excite, and yet you :
We the naturalY' ne,
closed her eyes and the delicate 7
of her profile met the pink q
49,