The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-04
CHAPTER VIII. Hubert Begins to See.


 That good and amiaible soul, Mrs. Dunton, having devised an innocent little plot, was carrying it out with a fine and comforting sense of artful avoidance of all appearance of de- sign.
 Naturally enough, she was eager to l learn what progress had been made l toward a reconciliation of Hubert and Margaret; and at the same time she planned a demonstration of one of the girls accomplishments which were to fit her for the lofty station Prince Charming would give her. So Margaret was now at the piano and Mrs. Dunton had becl<oned Ten ney to a place beside her in a corner of the comfortable library living room, while Trachtman, left to his own de- vices, Iounged near the musician.
 A glance at his hostess had assured Penney that Traohtman as yet had done nothing to shake her belief in the romance. and, satisfied of this, he settaled himself to listen admiringly to the performance.
 The girl played we'll, not shovi1y or brilliantly, but with feeling.
 "I love to hear her play-don't you" Mrs. Dunton whispered Its so--so sympathetic, you know; critics have told me her touch is really won derfuI.'
 You've done a lot things for her, Mrs. Dunton; you've been 8 fairy god mother"
 The lady beamed.
 Its dear of you, Hubert, to say so. But I haven't done a great deal, after all-merely what I could. Of course, I knew how you looked at <life-how you must look at it, with your for tune and your ancestry and your en- vironment, And I wanted Margaret to be prepared to take the position in society you would give your wife. And--and-' again the anxiety crept into her voice-"and it's going to come out all right. isn't it, Hubert?''
 T hope so. most devouted1y.''
 ''Then shall be amply repaid"
 Penney shook his head.
 I'm a afraid that can't be, Think of, all you've done for her the mas ters and the travel you've given her. Such things are-wel1, to put it blunt ly, they're expensive. The spirit of good deeds is the chief element, per haps; but we can't get away aItogeth- CT from the other eIements-the cost for instance
 Don't think of it for an instant"
 Pardon me, but I must think of it." he insisted. 'Luxuries are costly. and Margaret has had luxuries- thanks to you"
 A shadow seemed to fall upon Mrs. Dunton's face.
 why, living is frightful1y expen- sive," she confessed. The money melts away one doesn't know how. But that isn't due to Margaret; it's due to ito everything"
 She waved a hand as if to take in the household in a comprehensive ges- ture.
 'Yes, it is everything. I don't un- derstand it. Roy tries to explain-l he manages my affairs, you know; but I've such a wretched head for fig ures that what he tells me comes in at one ear and goes out of the other. Don't let's talk about money, though-l hate the sound of the word''
 Very wen,'' said Penney. we'll drop it for a pleasanter theme Tell me about the trips you've taken with Margaret"
 The shadow melted and Mrs. Dun- ton beamed once more Across the room Trachtman lazly got upon his feet and moved to the piano, resting an arm upon it and looking down at the girl.
 For a time he stood thus, in silence: then spoke
 She, raised her head and calmly met his gaze The man glanced at the pair in the corner and showed his teeth in a cynical grin. Mrs. Dunton was now talking busily, and Penney listened with every appearance of ab- sorbed attention.
 Trachtman strolled to the table. picked up magazine, turned it's leaves with a pretnese of languid interest, 1 and drifted back to his former place beside the piano The girl was play ing very softly, but he spoke to her | in tone clearly audible from one end of the big room to the other
 You deserve better treafment Mar gie. That pair wonder are flirting | scandalously. 'Pon my soul. didn't l think it of Aunt Emma!''
 Mrs Dunton heard. and left a sen-