The Holbrook news., 1922-01-06

mistake. She should have killed this { affair at the very beginning. Tony was not like the older men. willing to play the game with just little scorch- ing of fingers. Appearances meant nothing to Tony. and she had let the play go too far now to convince him that she did not return something Of his feeling.
 Sl,e luOSed down at him now, con- tent to be alone with her and at her feet. and q hundred mixed emotions stirred her. His feeling for her was not only pitiable and absurd in him, but it was rapidly reaching the point when it would make her absurd and pitiable. too. Nina, instinctively scenting the affair, had already ex- pressed herself as "hating that idiot; :" Ward had scowled. of late, at the mere mention of Tony's name. Even her husband. the patient Richard, seeing the youth ensconce himself firmly be- side hel in the limousine. had had aside his mild comment: "lS tliis young man Il fixture in our family, dear?'
 You should be playing tennis, Tony" said Isabelle.
 "Tennis." A look of distaste crossed Anthony's face.
 "Please-Cherie! he begged.
 There was a silence brimming with sweetness and color. Tony laid his hand against her knee. groped until In his own.
 Docs Mir. Carter play golf tomor- rowg' he asked. presently!
 ''I suppose sol"
 And yOu-what do you do?"
 "Oh, I have full day! People to lunch, friends of Madame Carter"
 The boy laughed triumphantly.
 q knew you'd say that!" he said. ''Now, I'll tell you about tomorrow. You and I are going to slip away, at about one o'clock, and go off in the gray car. Wen go up to-well. some where. and we'll have our lunch under the trees. We'll be back at about four, for the tea callers, and they may have you until I come back for dinner. After dinner we'll walk on the terrace -as we did two wonderful. wonderful nights ago, and perhaps" His voice had fallen to rich and tender note. his eyes were rGpt. "Perhaps," he said, just before we go in, at the end of the terrace, you'll look up at the stars again."
 Tony" Isabelle interrupted, her face brilliant with color. Ny dear bOy-my dear boy, think where this is going to end. In all reason-in all reason"
 isabelle. what in Gods name has reason to do with it." He knelt be- fore her. and caught her hands, and Isabelle had a terrified fear that Ward. or Nina. or any one else, might start up or down the terrace steps and see him. "The instant you realize what you and I are to each other, my darling" he said, you begin to talk of reason. Love isn't reason, Cherie. It's the divinest unreason in the world, Cherie. there's never been IlOlIeT MOlllStil tLGlC iiONCi Will be, I can't live without you; I don't want to, You're frightened now, you don't know how we can manage it. But I'll find the way. The only thing that matters is that you must belong to me-you shall belong to me as I to you in every fiber of my be- ing"
 ''Tony-for Heavens sake-w Isa- belle was in an agony. Somebody was approaching. He had gotten to lis feet, and was gloomily staring at the river. when Nina Carter, followed by a great white Russian hound, came flying down the steps.
 "Mcther-" Nina, q tall, overgrown girl. with spectacles on her straight nuse. and straight, light-brown hair in thick braids, stopped short and gave her mothers companion look of whitening distaste. "SIother," she be- gan again, aren't you coming up for teaf"
 "Asi; Betty Allen to pour" said Mrs. Carter, regaining her composure rapidly, and assuming the air of host ess at once.
 Betty went home for tub" Nina explained. She's coming back. But, Mother" she added. with a faintly re- proac!lful and whining intonation, really, you ought 10 be there"
 Mrs. Carter knew this as well as Nina. But she found the child ex- tre,nely tryisg in this puritanical mood. Granting that this affair with Tony cid 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 sfaall. brown, jeweled hand, and glanced dubiously at TOny's uncom- promising back.
 .Trot bac;z, Nina. love-" said she to her daughter, cheerfully, land ask Hiss Harriet to come out and pour I'll be there directly. We'll come right up. Run along"
 To Nina, in this ignominous dismis- s;i. there WAS sweet. She adored Miss Harriet" the Miss Field who had been her goveraess and her mothers secretary for the three happiest years