Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-01
Mary or
Eloiseg
Which
Should Win
Unusudl Hero?
By Katharine
NetUIin Burt

listen with their eyes on the ground.
One night, though. one Of them did
speak. He'd been lying with his chin
in his hands. He sat up and looked
straight at Mrs. Fayre. She began to
giggle--you know her way--and say,
Isn't that funny? Isn't that funny?'
and Kew just spoke up gravely
and slowly. the way those West.
erners speak, with sort of drag.
You must excuse Inc, lady, for
not laughin' any, but l heard that
story years ago In COW -camp when
was a boy Lelo Grinscoombe had
given remarkable imitation Of the
drawl with its keen edge Of irony that
left cut across the silence. Katrina
moved uneasily.
"And she blushed?'
"Yes. She blushed all over her face
and neck and about five minutes later
she skunk of to her tent and went to
bed"
Served her damn right" said the
older young man. That's what they
need--that sort"
WAS his name really Kew" asked
Katrina In a rather meek voice.
That's what they called him. I.elo
had relapsed into languor again. She
blinked lazily at the smoke Of her ex-
piring cigarette.
Then Pom dropped marshmallow into
the fire and there was q furry Of rescue
and reproach. In the midst Of 1t q
young and rosy man. servant stepped
softly into the room, came to Lelo 8
chair, and handed her slip of paper.
"A-er-gentleman to see you, miss.
You would be expecting him, he said.
He had no card, miss, and couldn I
catch his name. SO he wrote 1t down
for you, miss
Heloise Grinscoombe bent her golden
helmet and her crescent of brilliants
over the paper.
%. T. Kinwydden," she read to her.
self and looked up. The boredom and
the sullenness had left her face, which
was quite radiant with surprise, amuse
ment, and sort of fantastic dismay.
Where is he, james,"
I'm the south room, miss
Very well. I'll see him. Tell him
Ill be there"
She stood up to a slim, tall height.
III be back In minute she said
smiling down at the expectant faces.
Then I'll have something amusing
to tell you. As Mrs. Fayre would say
Isn't it funny? Isn't it funny|"
She moved slowly out from the circle
of fire glow through the large dimness
of the room and shut the door. Gu.
riosity was left to toast its marshmal
lows.
Facing =. +. Kinwydlen, where he
stood waiting in the south room, there
hung on the wall above the tireplac,
portrait of Heloise Grinscoombe'
great great and many greats grand.
father. The portrait was we'll COPIED
from the original in the London Nation
al Gallery. The gentleman wore al
enormous curled and powdered wig
lace cravat, n wine -colored coat, ant
long rufi1es over hands that rested OF
the golden knob Of stick. Wedge.
shaped and pale between the masse
of his wig, his face looked dOwn--i
, handsome and unpleasant countenance
' He had narrow green gray eyes, an,
sneering lips. There were lines Of dis
sipatiOn and Ill ll-humor about his mouth
The brush that had painted him mus
have been dipped into an understandin
hatred. The sitter seemed to know thi
; and to be rather ironically amused
Kinwydden's observation, being quickl
! done with the low ceilinged room an,
n its delicate old gilded and brocade
e furniture, centered on this portrait
v Presently he strobe close and stare
il straight up into the contemptuous eyes
4 "You ID curly'---he used IN
{ II you amt man. A fantastic hatre
1 possessed him. Deliberately he lifte
his fingers and snapped them close be
q fore the long and delicate nose. %
:. aint afeared of you,' he said.
: There was a slight sound in the ha
= and Kinwydden faced about an
y Strengthened. He crushed his soft ha
behind him in his hands. He was pal
under the eternal brown of his Wcster
Z sun. Except for that, no one woul
i have guessed at the terrifying labor q
d his pulses. In the slight grace of hi
e surroundings he looked especially tai
: and grim, stately, not unimpressivt
!. The long gold -colored curtains parte
Q !, and Heloise came quickly toward him
holding out her hand.
+. "Why, Kew" she said In her ligi
. cool voice: this is the most delightfr
= and thrilling surprise"
y His hand closed like warm iron owe
Il hers. He looked at her with no chang
a In his mask. But, for moment,
d was impossible for him to speak. II
!. was struck breathless by her beauty
d He had never seen her like this. St
d had looked in camp, in her riding
k breeches and flannel shirt, her hair
= double lump of gold on her neck,
z much younger and less considerab
n person. She had had frankcr an
:: more simple air. Her beauty had bee
- more native, more homely, more
% the woods. There had not been tn
, long grace Of step and carriage. Nov
!. his Imagination leaped TO the memor
/, Of bright new moon shining above h
!. camp fire just silvering the tops of Il
e frs.
: She drew away her hand and
d got back his voice and his smile, bot
~ Of them badly shaken.
TX ut hadn't ought to surprise yo
y any-me bein' here" he said. :
!. meant what told you"
- Heleise sat down and he too. obeyiT
"a her gesture, drew up one of the glide
chairs.
d He kept his eyes bravely upon he
II but there was an air about him no
of wary wild thing half conscious
le q trap.
,e "Do you suppose | remember ever,
IN thing you told me-out there in {
err hills! Oh, Kew'-dropping her dete
a mined and mocking lightness--''w 'wasr
@. 1t wonderful! How wish we we
ir there now--up In the mountains