Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1922-01-26
'EIIlEEllIIlI IgEllll
Copyright by Kathleen Norris

Oh NlmaA 6OmSWMhE seated young ul6.
It would be '.fun" to have Miss Field
pour. Nina leaped obediently up the
steps. with q Topping 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?'
"Nothingi' 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 Rngrily-
shat can't see that Come on, we'll
60 up and have tea-with the Bel
lamys. And I'm 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
1t Of real dignity. Isabelle, wretched-
" mounting the steps beside him, felt
her heart contract with real pain. He
would 60 AWAIT would all be over
and forgotten In few weeks-and
yet, how she longed to comfort him,
to make him happy againi
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 well. Isabelle, as she
dropped into chair, gave sigh OF re-
lief; everyone was amused and abb
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-five; with crown Of puffed
white hair, gold-rimmed eyeglasses
and an erect and finely preserved fig.
ure. Her voice was Electrically deer
and clear, and her manner vigorous
and impressive.
swell, my dear, your friends wert
naturally wondering what important
matter kept their hostess away from
her guests" she began. Isabelle
shrugged and smiled careIessly, witt
an Indifferent glance at the group.
Harriet is managing very nicely,
she said. contentedly, as Tony, with |
somber face and averted eyes, brough
her her tea.
$50 Ward seems to think" observe,
Wards grandmother with acidity. lisa
belle laughed indifferently. Her sor
slender and tall, and with something
of her own eagerness and fire In hi
gunburned young face, was .ide Mis-
Field, who talked to him In a Quie
aside while she busted herself wit
cups and spoons.
Perfectly safe therel' Isabel
said.
II should hope so |" old Madame Ca
ter remarked, pointedly. AT least
there's any OF orr blood In his veins
but. OF course, he's all slocum. The
used to say OF my Aunt GeOrgina this
she never married because the onl
man she ever loved was beneath hi
socially"
Isabelle knew all about Aunt Geor
ina. and she looked YEARLY away. I'll
Bellnmys are coming In for awhile
she observed, with deliberate irrele
ance, land I hope they'll bring the
swami-or whatever he Is, with theI
He must be queer creature"
Hes not Swami, he's an artist
Tony said, drawn into casual conve
sation much against his Will. "Blo
dfn-T've met him. ! can't bear hii
he makes me sick |"
He relapsed Into gloomy silence, al
Isabelle put into her laugh somethii
affectionate and soothing.
"He evidently lives by his Wits" s.
suggested. (which Is something Y,
have never had to dol"
Tony scowled again. It was pa
Of his charm for her that he was t
spoiled darling OF fortune. Handson
and young, and with no family ties
restrain him. he had recently cor
into his own enormous fortune. .
manner with servants, his ready che
book, his easy French, and his unru
fed self confidence in any imaginab
contingency, coupled with his yout
had strong attraction for a womi
conscious of the financial restriction
OF her own early years and the limit
lions Of her Rublic-sehool education.
AWhy don't you go to the club o.
dress now, and come back and Oil
with us7" she said. In an undertone.
@Do you want meY' he aske
auIkiIy.
"I'm asking your
Tor answer he stood up, and smil'
wistfully down upon her, with he
fancy she knew well how to interpr
iii hie eyes He had been longing