The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1922-03-03

had ever taken a fatherly, advisor,
tone with this woman was unbeliev
able; her mere approach made HIN
catch his breath and lose his coheren
cy. He had walked into her room-he
had patronized her-he had asked her
casually to marry him as If she had
been fifty, and as plain as she was
lovely
Richard shuddered as he thought of
1t. He made constant efforts to en-
gage her In personalities, but she eyad-
ed him. There was a real thrill for
him in the quiet dinner at the Hoyts'.
Mrs. Carter, said slow old bewhiskered
John Hoyt, was an extremely pretty
woman. MY wife"-Richard in answer
ing called her that--"looks particularly
well In an evening gown" Indeed she
looked exquisite In the blue and silver
dress, laughing-still with that ador-
able mist of strangeness and shyness
about herewith her neighbors at the
table, and afterward in the drawing
room, waving her silver fan slowly
while Freda Hoyt, who quite obviously
adored her, whispered her long conf
dences.
Coming home In the limousine they
had neighbors with them, old Doctor
and Mrs. Carmichael, so he might not
have the word alone with her for which
he had been longing all evening. But
he stopped her in the wide, dim hall
way when they reached Crownlands.
ho sol no Of 10
stairs.
mot bit!' There was an enchant-
Ing vitality about her. She had
slipped the thin wrap from her Shout
ders, and she turned to him her lovely,
happy face. "Did you want me?"
II wanted to say something to you"
Richard said, feeling awkward as
boy.
''In there?" She nodded. suddenly
alert, toward the library.
"Why In there?' he asked, with a
little husky laugh. His one impulse
was to put his arms about her.
II thought-bills, perhaps?" Harriet
said, innocently. 1t was the third day
of the month he had often consulted
her as to expenses before this.
NO" Richard said. with another I'M
steady little laugh. 1T wasn't bills.
was just wondering-if l had been
very stupid" he said, taking one of her
hands, and looking up from the fin
gers. that lay In his to- the face that
now wore an expression little
frightened. despite the smile.
"Never with me p Harriet said. In
low tome
"Never so blind" Richard said,
never so matter-of-fact that I hurt
your feelings? Nothing of-that sort?"
always the kindest friend l ever
hadl" the girl answered, unsteadily,
and with suddenly wet eyes. "The-
the most generousi I"
He looked at her hand again. looked
up at her as If he would speak. But
instead, she felt her fingers pressed.
and felt her heart thump with a deli
cious terror.
Bottomley came noiselessly, dis
creetly, across the hail. Instantly the
woman In blue and silver was all the
mistress.
rs Mr. Ward In, Bottomley?'
"He dined at 'ome, Mrs. Carter"
"Oh, thank you You may lock up, |
then. Goodnight. Mr.. Carter Good
night, Bottomley!"
She was gone. The blue-and-silver
gown and the punched folds of the |
furred coat vanished on the stairway
fan 81 no hn
passed struck eleven. And Richard,
going into his library. realized that he
was deeply and pass.onately In love.
He could think of nothing else--he did
not wish TO think of anything else
Her face came between him and his
book, her voice loltered in his ears,
ner precise. pretty phrasing, the
laughter that sometimes lurked be-
heath her tones.
They were at the country club;
Harriet chaperoning Nina. who was
Town at the tennis court with a group
II young persons; Richard breathless
md happy from hard game OF
Eighteen holes. He had encountered
Ter on the porch, on his way TO the
experiencing. as he did so,
he thrill that belongs only TO the un-
expected encounter. Now they loitered
t the railing. in the shade OF the
reen awnings, as entirely oblivious
( watching eyes as If the clubhouse
fere the library at home.
Mrs. Carter" said woman In
right yellow, coming up to them sud
emily, 'will you be a darling and come
nd talk to my French officer7 The
iris have all been practicing their
erlitz on him, and he's almost losing
is mind Dick" added this matron,
no had linked her arm about Har-
cts waist, "for heavens sake go
can upl Can't you find time to talk
your wife at home? I've been c
atching you for five minutes, getting
y arms burned simply black-will 4
III come, Mrs. Carter? That's the
Dor soul. over there with Sarah. / a
mt know why I've had a French gov
ness for that girl for seven years." n
- k.fT / .