White County record. [volume] (Judsonia, Ark.) 1922-200?, 1922-06-29

~ - ''NNh d ldlHeTly, ADVISORY
tone with this woman was unbeliev-
able; her mere approach made him
catch his breath. and lose his coheren-
cy. He had walked into her room-be
| had patronized her--he had asked her
casually to marry him as if she had
been fifty, and as plain as she was
lovely!
Richard shuddered as he thought of
| 1t. lie made constant efforts to en-
gage her in personalities, but she evad-
ed him. There was a real thrill for
nm in the quiet dinner at the Hoyts'.
Mrs. Carter, said slow old bewhiskered
John Hoyt, was an extremely pretty
woman My wife'-Richard in answer
ing called her that-"looks particularly
well in an evening gown" Indeed she
looked exquisite in the blue and silver
dress, laughing-still with that ador-
able mist of strangeness and shyness
about herewith her neighbors at the
table, and afterward in the drawing
room, waving her silver fan slowly
while Freda Hoyt, who quite obviously
adored her, whispered her long conf
dences.
Coming home In the limousine they
had neighbOrs with them, old Doctor
and Mrs. Carmichael so he might not
have the word alone with her for which
he had been longing all evening But
he stopped her in the wide, dim hall
way when they reached Crownlands.
'Tiredf" he said, at the foot of the
stairs.
Not a bit ~ There was an enchant-
ing vitality about her. She had
slipped the thin wrap from her Shout
ders, and she turned to him her lovely,
happy face. did you want me?"
Il wanted to say something to you,"
Richard said, feeling awkward as a
boy.
I'm there?" She nodded, suddenly
alert, toward the library.
"Why in there?" he asked, with a
little husky laugh. His one impulse
was to put his arms about her.
Il thought-bills, perhaps?" Harriet
said, innocently. 1t was the third day
Of the month; he had often consulted
her as to expenses before this.
NO" Richard said, with another un-
steady little laugh. 1T wasn't bills. |
was just wondering-if | had been
very stupid" he said, taking one of her
hands, and looking up from the fin
gers that lay in his to the face that
now wore an expression little
frightened, despite the smile.
"Never with mel" Harriet said, in
low tone.
"Never 50 blind" Richard said,
never so matter-of-fact that 1 hurt
your feelings? Nothing of-that sort?"
always the kindest friend | ever
had" the girl answered, unsteadily,
and with suddenly wet eyes. "The-
the most generous!"
He looked at her hand again, looked
I'D at her as if he would speak. But
instead she felt her fingers pressed,
and felt her heart thump with a deli
cious terror.
Bottomley came noiselessly, dis
creetly, across the hail. Instantly the
woman in blue and silver was all the
mistress.
as Mr.. Ward in, Bottomley?"
"He dined at 'ome, Mrs. Carter"
ooh thank you You may lock up,
then. Goodnight, Mr.. Carter! Good
night, Bottomley"
She was gone. The blue-and-silver
gown and the punched folds of the
furred coat vanished on the stairway
landing. The tall clock that she
passed struck eleven. And Richard,
going into his library, realized that he
WAS deeply and passiOnately in love.
He could think of nothing else--he did
not wish to think of anything else.
Her face came between him and his
book. her voice loitered in his ears,
her precise, pretty phrasing, the
laughter that sometimes lurked be-
meath her tones.
They were at the country club;
Harriet chaperoning Nina, who was
down at the tennis court with d group
of young persons; Richard GREATNESS
eighteen holes. He had encountered
her on the porch, on His way to the
showers, experiencing, as he did so,
the thrill that belongs only to the I'M
expected encounter. Now they loitered
at the railing, in the shade of the
green awnings, as entirely oblivious
of watching eyes as if the clubhouse
were the library at home.
Mrs. Carter" said woman III
bright yellow, coming up to them SUD
denly, twill you be darling and come
and talk to my French otlicerF me
girls have all been practicing their
Berlitz on him, and he's almost losing
his mind! Dick" added this matroh'
who rad linked her arm about Har-
rjets waist, "for heavens sake go
clean up! Can't you find time to tax
TO your wife at home? I've been
watching you for five minutes. getting