The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-10-19

the wCll-knOwn Bullock family died
when you were about fifteen, and her
widowed sister has since been the
hOusekeeper. You are graduate Of
the University Of Virginia. being
fourth in your class in scholarship.
Your engineering course was COM
pleted In Massachusetts,, and you later
became connected with the Wyant
Contracting company, of Chicago. You
were here, however, only q very brief
time, making but few acquaintances,
when the war broke out. You i'm.
mediately entered the first officers
training school at Fort Sheridan, grad
uating with the rank OF first lieuten.
ant, and were assigned to a regiment
of engineers, among the earliest to
sail for France. While there you were
wounded twice, and cited once for
special gallantry in the rescue of
seriously injured private. Your last
wound caused your return to the
United States on q special mission,
and also won you the rank Of captain.
Since then you have been honorably
discharged, but have made no effort
to resume professional work. You
are twenty-six, and unmarried Is
there anything else you care to
l. knowT
II think not; really your agency has
been most efficient. And so this re-
view satisfied you that was really the
man you sought"
mo, it did not wholly satisfy, but 1t
looked promising. You were evidently
courageous, and q gentleman. These
qualities were essential whether in
other respects you measured up to my
purpose, could only he ascertained
through a personal interview. There
was no other way"
"And now?" he persisted.
"Still encouraging, I must admit
although the test IS not yet complete.
However, we are now approaching the
end Of our journey. Before we turn
in am going to- ask favor Of YOU
call me Natalie"
''Natalie; that will be easy"
"And also forgive me If 1 fail in
always addressing YOU formally as
Captain West. presume your friends
say Matt, do they not?"
Some have that habit"
''Then 1 claim also the privilege"
She bewildered him. left him in won
dcrment as to what she would do next,
but there was scarcely time in which
to answer before the speeding limou-
sine turned abruptly into q private
driveway, curving gracefully to the
front of rather imposing stone man.
sion, set well back from the road.
Soon they were at the side entrance,
and servant, in the same unobtrusivs
livery as the chauffeur, was quietly
opening the door. He turned and
helped his companion to emerge.
"1'ake the gentleman's bag to the
blue room, Sexton" she said calmly,
"and then lay out his evening clothes"
Eyes, miss"
81 will be in the hall when you come
down, Captain, but there is no hurry"
West followed the servant up the
softly carpeted stairs, finding the
apartment assigned him not only eX-
tremely comfortable, but even elegant
In It's furnishing Evidently he was in
q home Of wealth and refinement. Who
could this strange girl be? this Ma.
talie Coolidge? And what could she
possibly desire Of him? He stood i'm.
mersed in these thoughts, when Sexton
spoke
''Shall I assist you, sir?"
mo; it will not be necessary. What
is the hour for dinner?"
"Seven o'clock, sir"
u have ample time, then. That will
be ALL"
The man retired noiselessly, closing
the door after him, and West hegan
slowly to dress, rather amused at the
care he took, that all details should
be as correct as possible. Unquestion,
ably the girl interested him oddly,
He endeavored to analyze what con.
stituted her peculiar attractivenesS,
but without arriving at any definite
conclusion. She was young, Of course.
and undeniably pretty, with eyes really
remarkable and a smile not to be
easily forgotten. Then she was SO
self-poised, so confident of herself, 81
naturally Informed. All these things
had their charm, and, coupled with
her undoubted beauty, left his braiu
In q whirl.
He was. satisfactorily dressed al
last, and descended the broad stairs
conscious of thrill of expectancy
nor was he doomed to disappointment
Miss Coolidge met him in the dimly
lighted vacancy Of the hall with smll'
ing eyes of welcome. She was in eve
ming dress creamy satin, revealing
white shoulders, and rounded, beautt
fully nodded arms, visible beneath
folds of filmy lace. If he had dreamed
the girl attractive before in the plain
ness of street costume he now beheld
In her q new vision of lOvelineSs. His
heart throbbed at the sight, ever!
nerve. tngling to the intimate tones
Of her voice She was apparently ir
the highest spirits, eager to oversteE
all cOnventiOnality.