Graham guardian., 1922-10-24

quite interesting, | am sure" Coo
lldge turned to the colonel. "You are
southern also, believer"
s"Very much So" was the quick re-
sponse. "And chance to know the
name Of Judge West rather well. l
congratulate your niece on her choice
of life companion. There is no bet
ter blood in Georgia"
West passed the ensuing evening
rather pleasantly, although obliged to
he always on his guard against any
incautiOus remark. Mr.. Perciyal Coo
lidge was outwardly cordial enough,
yet his manner continued distinctly
reserved, and somewhat cold. West,
however, attributed this largely to the
nature Of the man, and finally dis
missed the thought from his mind al
to puzzle him most was Natalie Coo
lidge, nor was he able to approach
her in any way so as to obtain a whis
pered private word Of guidance. He
most carefully, but the Information
obtained was infinitesimal, although 1t
bore TO some extent on the problem
confronting him. The colonel innocent
ly lifted the veil slightly, permitting
him to learn that this was weekend
party, and that Miss Coolidge was the
mistress of the place, her parents hav-
ing been dead for two years. Percival
Coolidge. her fathers brother. and
manufacturer in the city, was her
guardian, and the affairs of the estate
were not yet entirely liquidated, Be
yond this he apparently knew moth
Ing of the family history. which he
felt at liberty to communicate.
West was assigned to escort. Miss
Willis, tall willOwy blonde, and
quite talkative. into dinner, but her
conversation ran largely to the the
atrlcal offerings In town, and he found
1t impossible to change her trend OF
thought into other channels. Once the
smiling Natalie appealed TO him, IA
miliarly calling him 'Matt'' across the
table, and he responded with equal In
timacy, yet her eyes avoided his. and
1t was plainly evident to his self-con-
sciousness, that her remark was
merely part Of the play. More and
more her actions mystified and per-
picked; he could not discover the key
to her hidden motive, or guess at her
purpose In this masquerade. Nothing
remained but for him to go quietly for.
ward, playing the part assigned. She
cOolly and deliberately defeated. every
effort he made to get her alone, AMI
yet this was accomplished in man.
ner so as not to attract the attention
of others. Even Percival Coolidge.
Who. West felt, was watching them
both shrewdly, never suspected the
quiet game Of hide and seek being
played Under his very eyes. As the
evening progressed West became al,
most convinced that Natalie's princi-
pal object was to deceive this gentle
man: that she really cared nothing for
what the others might think, or say.
1t was all masterpiece of acting, so
: exceedingly well done. as to finally
convince the young man that she was
greatly In earnest as to It's success.
She desired Percival Coolidge to have
no lingering doubt of her engagement.
And. finding all opportunity Of ex-
PLANTATION denied him, West yielded to
the Inevitable, and. for the evening at
least. silently accepted his fate.
Nor did circumstances favor him
when the company finally broke up.
and retired for the night. He had
thought this moment might be propi.
tious, but she calmly outgeneraled
him again, suddenly bidding the men
remain and smoke as long as they
pleased, and disappearing herself up
the stairway with Miss Willis. West,
convinced that her retirement was
final, soon sought his own room. II
was eleven O'clock Of bright. moon
light night, and. feeling in no degree
sleepy, he seated himself at the win.
dow TO finish his cigar. Again and
again his mind reviewed the strange
events of the evening, unable to ar
rive at any definite conclusion. The
harder he sought to delye into the mys-
terry. the more obscure 1t became.
He had. indeed, reached some con
clusions already. These might mt be
correct, yet they were already I'M
plnnted in his mind. The guests Of
the night We're mere puppets having
no real connection with the game be-
ing played, utterly ignorant Of what
was going on behind the scenes. The
only one present having any real part
was Percival Coolidge, and West had
taken an instructive dislike to this
man. Only one explanation flashed
into his mind Ia, account for Miss Coo
lidge's unexpected announcement of
an engagement between them-thIs
would excuse any future intimacy;
would enable them to meet alone free
Iy without arouslng comment. This
appealed to him as the most reasonable
explanation of the situation. But be-
yond this vague guess, II was impossi-
Bile TO delve.
TIred nv the uselessneSs of such