Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-12-02
FOURTH ~INSTALLMENT.
Il Betrothal and a Mystery.

~ ESS' heart was beating high over this :
adventure. She had never before been
in as rich a house as this. She felt
that she was q stranger to such an en-.
viroment, while all the others We're familiar
to it. Everybody was amiable and jolly as j
could be; but in this moment Of breaking the /.
ice she felt that arwoo was her real rock
to lean upon-and he had arranged 1t all for
her!@ She indegnitely Wanted to cuddle up to
him, squeeze his hand. Excitement made her
eyes shine even brighter and brought a faint
fluslIE to her cheeks.
"Shets very lovely!" a candid young
woman was thinking. In her high. vibrant
mood the loveliness flowed out TO HARDWOOD
in glance and smile, insmerely standing be-
side him. He felt the emanation like a
strong fragrance; and his cocktail tasted fiat
in comparison. She went in to dinner beside {
him.. - !,
All the while a lively sixth sense was help. +,
ing the other senses to take in her surround
ings-the walls, mantels. rugs, furnishings:
the flowers on the dining room table and the
thick, snowy linen; the candles, delicate
glass and china, Two soft footed, deft, hand:
ed men servants. Vertically, this was the
wand. rs -.9 -;
She soon got herself better aa3usted-in
truer focus, so. to speak. Impressions came
more clearly, among them a new impression
VI 41Al IA - tSAAaS AS AA1O .OAhy ~.
slight sense Of humor. Twice he told a story
that brought-a laugh-a story that he had
. heard, somebody else's story. There was no
! natural sparkling, as with the plump, snubs
nosed young man beside her who several
times made her laugh until the room rang.
II fhad occurred to her before that HARDWOOD
had: only a slight sense of humor; this eve
ming brought it into relief. But an able,
energetic man engrossed in important affairs
, might, easily be forgiven that; there were
always plenty Of people to. raise a laugh!
! I" After dinner they went into the library,
which she had not seen before. The tall,
narrow marble. mantel seemed to her the
finest thing in the house. The room, In sober
tones, was like Observation-Disclosures. with;
dignity. .4 :,
4, gliding, deft handed man servant fetch
ing coffee and cordials in there-+the men and
women keeping socially togetheF-and cigars
.and'cigarets. u
There were eleven guests besides herself
ali actually or passably young. All Of them
called Mrs. Orwell Sarah" but they called
the host M HARDWOOD" It was rather
difficult to imagine any one except his sister
calling him anything else. Only a slight
sense of humor.{ and consequently a some.
what dry note. But a perfect host; Of course
he would do everything just right!
AT one o'clock SIN, was back in her room at
tho hotel, a carnival in her mind--the hand
some house, the beautifully appointed table,
the: servants, the gay company; and Eliza
beth Maiden of Slow Riyer on the Lake
shore, drive! Indeed, Mrs. Orwell had actu-
aliy called her "Bess" at parting. To be
sure. Mrs, Orwell would be rather likely to,
call any one by a nickname on that long ac-
quaintance; vet it gave Elizabeth a warm.
snuggly feeling.
The wdhd continued TO wave for her Wig.
sorously. In fact, with no more ado she Yves
- - ,,,% .a-x<1 <hn 70 rn111y ~ GpSnHoy
Mrs. Orwell. called up. inviting her to q drive
in the afternoon. The brass buttoned boy
at the Deermoore regarded her with admira-
t;oh as she descended the stone steps to the
long, pale green touring car in which Har-
VI wood and Mrs. .Otwell waited at the curb.
The boy knew also how expensive g vehicle
that was, This was the third week in Sep
tamhel:. pleasantly cool, but still summer.
? NE foliage untouched with. frost. The usual
summer Sunday crowd had resorted to- Lin
cn1n mark. sitting on benches, on the grads,
stroliine Unfortunately. And Elizabeth real.
ixed with a little Inward smile, that there
was something rather odd about-it.
THAT Is, one week ago: back in Slow River,
.ha would have considered q stroll through
Lincoln park, or sitting ON o bench there. as
= nuite exciting adventure: But hast night
eKe had .dined in fashion. Today she; was
roll,ng smoothly through the park IN q very
l,ixurious. car, with a smart chauffeur at the
vheels and distinguished company on the
: .s.oft cushion with her. So she teltS g vague
NV Tor the. unfortunate people who merely
niodded or sat duly on benches staring at
ShaS show. Sort OF! odd! She realized Il with
Tar INFUSED smile that didn't cornesSto the sur.
~ face. s@ III ss.ESa.a,,
through the northern; suburnss along the laks
-nresentiy past<costly houses sers In broad
zrrounds-and so to big country, club house
vhsre there were. more introduction1 by
Nrs. otweaI or HARDWOOD. who seemed q
Inovv everybody. Some iofstle names wetv
fs,Hiiidr rs Elisabeth from metropolitan
asxspaper report -nalness of aristocratcs sig
ytncance to her The cnibhouse Wa of IN
Z HimSfanca. than. the fIoteis L6hgwoIth III Val
lsy CITY. which was rather q stsndsrd q