Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-02-23

steel of her knife sank deep into the
red of the steak. the quiet dignity of
her Keep the change" and the OBJ
sequious bow of the waiter. TIE new
boarder in the adjoining room lurched
noisily about, and with the WEAKNESS
born of experience she closed the win
dow which opened out on the Joint
| fire-escape landing and turned the key
Ia the bureau drawer which contained
her Bible and mother-of-pearl card
case; incidentally she turned her back
on Minnie
! There is parlor In the highest
priced and highest-storied hotel on
Broadway, which Is done in pale gold
and pink; II is like a small, rare jewel
box softly tufted in satin and lighted
with opal globes; through its graceful
ly hung doors you can see into the
/ glistening lobby beyond, but the only
sounds that penetrate are strains of
| tar-away music and the soft swish OF
women's gowns.
Within this golden retreat Minnie
dropped into the soft embrace of a
i brocade divan and gave herself up to
its luxury; closing her eyes ever so
| slightly she could imagine herself
| journeying through Lady Audreys gar
dens, IN gold and crystal sedan chair,
with a graceful ennui in her pose and
Gala lilies in her hair. The hush Of
velvet rugs and faint music luled Min
MES dreaming senses, her tense hold
on the tan purse-one dollar and thir-
deeper in the pink brocade.
\ man in frock coat and shiny
patent shoes dropped YEARLY on the
| farthest end of the divan. His hair
was gray at the temples and his eyes
We're surfeited with too much living !;
he was the typical clubman and diet
tante of the seventh-day world.
Minnie regarded him with the little
intake of breath which proximity to
those of his sphere invariably caused
her. From the supercorrect cut OF
coat to the shining fingernails he be-
spoke Inverness coats and cabs. Min
ME did not exactly know what consti-
tuted an Inverness coat, but no draw
| ingrOom novel was complete without
one. She could also picture this tired
eyed man in the dark mahogany quiet
of his den, or strolling the white and
brass deck of a yacht. Her half-closed
eyes to all intent and purpose We're
| regarding an oil painting which hung
beyond his head, but none of his de-
tails was lost upon her she knew that
his cane had gun-metal knob and
that his shirt studs We're gold.
She had rehearsed her hour for so
long that she was not even surprised
when he leaned toward her and spoke.
''That is very warm and rich bit
of work. You admire his school?" He
referred to the oil painting, and his
tones were deep and serious.
Its just beautiful, replied Minnie.
who had not even observed the por-
trait.
Her temples were throbbing violent
ly. She felt that she was contamnat-
ing this seventh-day creature in even
replying, and that he would resent her
4 If he knew. just as she resented Mr..
Snuggs in the white goods.
Il see you riding in the park quite
often. Only a few mornings ago / was
bold enough to canter after you, ad-
miring your mount"
'.Thank YOU" she replied taking the
plunge and fitting her small head bit.
"The women in my family have al
ways ridden we'll"
IF you bespeak the race, doubt it
not"
He spoke the words with a patrician
grace that thrilled her; she CROPPED for
suitable reply, but none came There
was a pause; she observed that he
wore a crested ring on his right hand.
She felt it incumbent upon her to jus
! tify her unattended presence, and
glanced with well-restrained impa-
thence into the lobby beyond
He was on his feet Immediately.
Z you are waiting for some one Can
l be of any assistance"
''Thank you; no. My maid will be
here presently she is unnecessarily
long"
She sank back and let her eyes rest
on a misty landscape framed in silver.
He followed her gaze.
II have the twin Corot to that rare
bit In my private collection. ] am
very fond of it."
"Oh y she murmured. "How lovely! !"
"There is something compelling in
\ the strength of that stretch of mere
meadowland."
yes" she agreed cautiously. II
love the country"
4 He adjusted pair of pince-nez and
regarded her as if seeing her for the
I first time.
you are an exotic, and yet you
crave the natural?"
/ She closed her eyes and the delicate
line of her profile met the pink