The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-07-23
CHAPTER XXX.


lilac bush n fow feet away
from tho open easement was
mingled with the fainter odor Of
jessamIno and homoly stocks. In
the soft morning sunshine the ter.
rurs of last night seemed a thing
far removed from ug. We sat at
breakfast In our little sitting room,
and as though by common though
unspoken consent we treated tho
whoie affair as a gigantic Joke.
We ignored its darker aspect. We
p spoke OF Il as an "opera-bouffe" Mt.
tempt never likoly to he repeated
tho hare Drained scheme OF a mad
foreigner. over anxious to earn the
favor OF his mistress. Hut beneath
all our light talk was an undertone
Of seriousness. think that Ma
bano and |. at any rate, realized
perhaps for the first time that the
situation. so far as Isobel was con.
cernod. was fast becoming an i'm.
possible ono.
After breakfast we all strolled
out into the garden. Isobel, with
her hands full OF flowers. fitted In
and out amongst the rose bushes.
laughing and talking with all tho
inyincihlo gaioty of light-hoarted
youth, and Arthur hung all the
while about her, HIS eyes following
her every movement, telling her all
the while by every action and look
If indeed the time had como for
her Ia discern such things-all that
our compact forbade him to utter. /
Presently I slipped away. and shut !
ting myself up In the tiny room ,
whore | worked, drow out my pa
pers. In few minutes had made
n start. | passed With a little un-
conscious sigh OF relief into the
detachment which was fast becom.
ing the one luxury of any life.
An hour may have passed. per-
haps more. when | was interrupted.
| heard the door softly opened. and
light footsteps crossed the room 10
my side, isobers hand rested on
my shoulder, and she looked down
at my work,
Arnold" she exclaimed. how
dare you! You promised to read
your story when you had finished
six chapters, and you are working
on chapter twenty nowl"
Her long white forennger point
cd accusingly to the heading of my
last page. Then | realized with a
sudden nash OF apprehension why
| had not kept my promlse-why
! could never keep II. The story
which flowed so smoothly from my
pen was record of my own emo
tions, my own sufferings. Even
her name had usurped tho name OF
my heroine. and stared up at mo
from the half.tlnished page, 1t was
my own story which was written
there, my own unhapplness which
throhhed through every word and
sentence With little nervous
gesture | covered over the open
sheets. ! rose hastily 10 my feet.
and | drew her away from the table.
Another time. lsohel." | said.
ut Is 100 glorious day to spend
indoors. and ARTHUR has taken holi.
day too. Tell me. what shall we
do?" u
she looked at me little doubt.
fully. | had grown into tho habit
OF consulting her about my work, OF
reading most of ii TO her Some.
times, too, she acted as my secre.
tary. Perhaps she saw something OF
the trouble In my face. for she ans
werod me very softly.
Il should like" she said, "to sit
there before tho open window on a
cushion, and 10 have you SIT down
In that easy chair and read TO me.
That is how | choose to spend tho
mornmEl"
| shook my head.
How about the others?" asked.
"Oh Arthur and Allan can so for
walk she declared.
what Seldshness,' | answered,
as lightly as | could. Arthur must
20 back to town tonight, he SAYS.
| think that We ought all TO spend
the day together, don't you?
rather thought that you young peo.
pie would have been of somewhere
directly after breakfast"
She looked at mo earnestly
"Of course" she said, IT you
want 20 be left alone "
But don't" interrupted,
reaching for my hat Il want to
come too"
you nice old thing" she ex.
claimed, passing her arm through
mine. wen walk to Heather I'M.
Arthur says that we can see the
sea from there. Come along!"
So wo started away the four OF
us together Presently however,
Arthur and lsohel drew away in
front Allan, with a little grunt,
stopped TO light his pipe.
Arthur may keep his compact