Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1922-03-24

wife who was not his wife. That he
had ever taken q fatherly, advisory
tone with this woman was unbeliev-
able; her mere approach made him
catch his breath and lose his coheren.
cy. He had walked into her room-he
had patronized her--he had asked her
casually to marry him as II she had
been fifty, and as plain as she was
lovely
Richard shuddered as he thought OF
It. He made constant efforts to en-
gage her In personalities, but she evad-
ed him. There was a real thrill for
him In the quiet dinner at the Hoyts'.
Mrs. Carter. said slow old bewhlskered
John Hoyt, was an extremely pretty
woman. my wife"--I,ichard In answer
ing called her that--"looks particularly
well In an evening gown" Indeed she
looked exquisite In the blue and silver
dress, laughlng-still with that ador-
able mist Of strangeness and shyness
about herewith her neighbors at the
table, and afterward In the drawing
room, waving her silver fan slowly
while Freda Hoyt, who quite obviously
adored her. whispered her long conf
| dences.
Coming home In the limousine they
had neighbors with them, old Doctor
and Mrs. Carmichael, so he might not
have the word alone with her for which
he had been longing all evening. But
he stopped her In the wide, dim hall
way when they reached Crownlands.
"TiredT" he said, a, the foot of the
stairs.
| mot biti- There was an enchant-
Ing vitality about her. She had
slipped the thin wrap from her Shout
ders, and she turned to him her lovely,
happy face. "Did you want mer
IL wanted to say something to you"
Richard said. feeling awkward as a
boy.
an therer She nodded, suddenly
alert, toward the library.
| "Why In there?" he asked, with a
little husky laugh. His one impulse
was to put his arms about her.
II thought-bills, perhaps?" Harriet
said, inhocently. 1t was the third day
of the month; he had often consulted
her as to expenses before this.
NO." Richard said. with another I'M
steady little laugh. 1T wasn't bills.
was just wondering--if I had been
very stupid" he said, taking one Of her
hands, and looking up from the fin
gers that lay In his to the face that
now wore an expression little
frightened. despite the smile.
"Never with mel" Harriet said, In a
low tone.
Never so blind" Richard said,
never so matter-of-fact that | hurt
your feelings? Nothing of-that sort?''
always the kindest friend l ever
had !" the girl answered, unsteadily,
and with suddenly wet eyes. "The-
the most generOus"
He looked at her hand again. looked
up ut her as IL he would speak. But
instead, she felt her fingers pressed
and felt her heart thump with a deli.
ciOus terror.
BottOmley came no!selessly. dis
creetly, across the hall. Instantly the
woman In blue and silver was all the
. mistress.
as Mr.. Ward In, Bottomley2'
ale dined at 'Ome, Mrs. Carter"
"Oh, thank you You may lock up
then. Goodnight. Mr.. Carteri Good
: night, Bottomleyl"
She was gone. The blue-and-silvel
. gown and the punched folds of the
. furred coat vanished on the stairwa,
: landing. The tall clock that sh,
passed struck eleven. And Richard
going into his library, realized that h
, was deeply and passiOnately In love
He could think Of nothing else-he di,
! not wish to think of anything else
Her face came between him and hi
' book, her voice loltered In his ears
her precise, pretty phrasing, tn
. laughter that sometimes lurked be
. meath her tones.
: They were at the country club
\ Harriet chaperoning Nina, who wa
\ down at the tennis court with groul
of young persons: Richard breathles
4 and happy from hard game o
p eighteen holes. He had encountere'
e her on the porch, on his way to tn
e showers, experiencing, as he did SC
I the thrill that belongs only TO the un
|. expected encounter. Now they loitere
+ at the railing, In the shade of III
J. green awnings AS entirely Oblivion
l. of watching eyes as II the dubious
!. were the library at home.
Q Mrs. Carter" said woman u
!. bright yellow. coming up to them sud
4 denly. twill you be darling and com
Il and talk 20 my French officer? Tn
; girls have all been practicing thei
!, BerlItz on him. and he's almost iosin
|. his mind Dick" added this matroI
$ who had linked her arm about Hai
v rlet's waist, "fOr heavens sake <
s clean up! Can't you find time to tai
:. to your wife at homer I've bee
;. watching you for five minutes, gettin
= my arms burned simply black-wi
!. YOU come, Mrs Carter? That's tn
IA