New Britain herald., 1922-06-02
The Answer Nadge Read in Allen
brakes Eyes.


brakes Eyes.
I began my descent of the stairs
after the ring which announced Allen
brakes arrival, with but one thought
in my mind and that vain ana an
worthy.
Would ! read in his eyes the as
surance that my morbid reaction to
Dickys absence and carelessness had
made me crave--the assurance that
my appearance was unchanged
l had reached only the upper land
ing and had caught hnt a glimpse of
Mr. brakes tall figure bending in
courtly fashion over Mllian's hand,
when the sight of another figure
once as erect and shapely as that of
Allen Drake, now slightly bent and
bearing the unmistakable marks Of
age and care upon the still handsome
face-sent every emotion but remorse-
full tenderness from me and hurried
me down the remaining stairs and in
to my fathers arms.
To think that even for the few sec
onds which had witnessed my intro
spective study Of myself in the mirror
! had forgotten that my father was
with Allen Drake at the door |
scored myself numerically for my
folly. and with a fierce little desire
for atonement-as well as a self-con-
scious reluctance to look at our
brilliant guest remained in my
fathers arms, giving him the raptur-
Gus welcome he loved and deserved.
until he himself released me and
though I knew he was secretly most
said with perfunctory reproach-al-
pratified at my absorption in him;
My dear, do you not see Mr..
Drake?"
II do not see anyone when you've
just come home after so long, | re
turned emphatically. But I'm very
glad to welcome you, Mr.. Drake, to
our home, nevertheless"
turned, held out my hand and
compelled my eyes to meet the we'll
remembered eyes of the man whose
hand, slender. shapely as woman
yet with a tense grip that told of
steel-like muscles, had enVeloped
mine.
Lillian Helps Madge.
you cannot know how glad ! am
to be welcomed, he said Impressive
ly, gazing down at me with the bril-
liant eyes so oddly Swallowed by the
long womanish lashes which distln-
guish him.
l could not detect any wavering OF
his eyes from their direct look into
mine. and yet I had the eerie little
feeling that he had swept every de-
tail of my appearance with those in
dolent eyes ard that somewhere back
of them his fastidious brain was sit
ting in appraisal upon me
Then, with swift, graceful move
ment he had stopped and had re-
covered the scattered blossoms of my
corsage bouquet which my fathers
embrace had loosened.
"Oh. Daughter Your flowers :
my father cried remorsefully Are
they crushed"
NO, indeed | returned, although |
the nasturtium blossoms were some
what dilapdated. But l would not
have hurt my fathers feelings for a /
hundred bouquets and ! took them
from Allen brakes hands, arranged |
them hastily and fastened them to my |
gown again with fingers tremulous
with embarrassment.
For I was conscious, painfully so, !
that Allen brakes eyes, halt-closed,
inscrutabe beneath their Womanlsh |
lashes, We're watching every slightest
movement that my fingers made.
NY fathers attention had been dis /
tracted by my motherin who
had advanced to greet him, and by
Marion. who was clinging rapturously
to his arm. Lillian making one OF
their group, was standing SO that she
effectually shielded me from my
mother-in-law's critical eyes, and that
cautious lady CHANGED to look at me, |
so Allen Drake and I were left for
the second in comparative isolation,
and he bent toward me significantly
as I finished arranging the flowers.
Lucky Blossoms !"
LUCKY blossoms :" he said softly. |
but cannot your eyes leave them
soon? ] really would like to have
you look at me again"
His low, rich voice, with is sus-
picion of an indolent drawl, had an
unexpected effect upon me. | had
been self conscious, nervous, almost |
tremulous at the prospect of again !
being thrown into association with |
this fascinating man. But his hana |
was like tingling dash |
of ice water in my face.
He had not changed. He was the
old Allen Drake, so certain that every
woman he met was so anxious for his
attention that he did not trouble him
self even to originate a new bit of
fattery ! was as certain that he had
said exactly the same thing to a dozen
different women as ! was that his ut
terance of the platitude affected me in
no way but an inclination to laughter
| tilted my head a trf1e and looked |
\ 49, l.