The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-03-21


Nina. But she found the child ex-
tremely trying In this puritanical
mood. Granting that this affair with
Tony did her, Isabelle small credit,
at least it was not for Nina to sit in
Judgment. Rebellious, Isabelle fondled
the loving nose of the hound with
small, brown, jeweled hand, and
glanced obviously at Tony's uncom-
promising back.
"Trot back, Nina, love-" said she to
her daughter, cheerfully, land ask
Miss Harriet to come out and pour
I'll be there directly. Well come right
up. Run alongw
To Nina, in this ignominous dismis-
sal, there was sweet. She adored Miss
Harriet" the Miss Field who had
been her governess and her mothers
secretary for the three happiest years
Of Nina's somewhat sealed young life
1t would be fun" to have Miss Field
pour Nina leaped obediently up the
steps, with Hopping of thick braids
and the scrape of sturdy shoes, and
the sweet summer world was in silence
again.
Isabelle sat on, stroking the hound.
her soul filed with perplexity. An
thongs eloquent back gave her sudden
understanding of his fury "Ah, please,
Tony" she pleaded, what can do?"
Nothing" he answered, suddenly
plant. Nothing, of course" And
he turned to her boyish face stern
with pain. "Of course you can do
nothing, Cherie. I'm not such a-such
a fool" his voice broke angrily-
that I can't see that Come on, Well
| go up and have tea-with the Bel
lamys. And I-Pll be going tonight.
I'll say good-by to you now-and per-
haps you'll be good enough to make
my good-bys to the others"
The youthfulness of it did not rob
it of real dignity. Isabelle, wretched-
ly mounting the steps beside him, felt
! her heart contract with real pain. He
would go await would all be over
and forgotten In a few weeks-and
yet, how she longed to comfort him,
| to make him happy again! -
She looked obliquely at his set face,
| and what she saw there made her
| feel ashamed.
| On the bright level of the upper ter
race tea was merrily in progress. Miss
| Field had duly come down to preside,
! and all was we'll. Isabelle, as she
dropped into a chair, gave sigh of re-
! lief; everyone was amused and alb
sorbed and happy. Everyone, that is,
except the magnificent and sharp-eyed
| old lady who sat, regally throned,
near her, and favored her Immediately
with a dissatisfied look. Old Madame
| Carter had her own good reasons for
being angry, and she never spared any
one available from participation in her
mood
She was remarkably handsome. even
at seventy-ive; with a crown of pulled
white hair, gold-rimmed eyeglasses,
and an erect and finely preserved fig
ure. Her voice was Electrically deep
and clear, and her manner vigorous
and impressive.
"Well, my dear, your friends were
naturally wondering what important
matter kept their hostess away from
her guests" she began. Isabelle
shrugged and smiled carelessly, with
an Indifferent glance at the group.
Harriet is managing very nicely
she said, cOntentedly, as Tony, with a
somber face and averted eyes, brought
her her tea
$50 Ward seems to think" observed
Wards grandmother with acidity. lisa.
belle laughed indifferently. Her son
slender and tall, and with something
of her own eagerness and fire in his
sunburned young face, was beside Miss
Field, who talked to him in a quiet
aside while she busted herself with
cups and spoons.
Perfectly safe therel' Isabelle
said.
ST should hope sol" old Madame Car
ter remarked, pointedly. "At least Il
there's any Of our blood in his veins
but of course, he's all Slocum. They
used to say of my Aunt Georgina thai
she never married because the only
man she ever loved was beneath hel
socially"
Isabelle knew all about Aunt Georg
ina, and she looked YEARLY away. 1.-THE
Bellamys are coming In for awhile,
she observed, with deliberate irreley
: ance, land I hope they'll bring theil
Swami-or whatever he Is, with them
He must be a queer creature"
He's not a Swami, he's an artist,
Tony said, drawn into a casual CONVEX
sation much against his will. 'Blon
din-rve met him. / can't bear him
he makes me sick -
He relapsed into gloomy silence, ant
Isabelle put into her laugh sOmethin,
affectionate and soothing.
auo o,-idantlu lives nv his Wits Shl