Omaha daily bee., 1922-05-07

Some distance beyond the entrance 10
Kent housa park was another entrance with
a winding and unkempt driveway through
neglected looking trees 10 huge old brick
hous. which Marie. on her way from the sta
ton had mistaken for Kent house and where
shs had encountered Allen coifax. Collar
hall could not be seen from Kent house. but
from the lower end OF the park the brick pile
was d,stinguishable. Marie had thought II
the nearest house 10 Kent house. hut now, A.
they drove along beside the park wall. she
saw that there was small house between
the two places. a modern looking and arts
tie house which had been built 20 close 10
the Kent house park wall that its win
dows topped tho wall II was built just
above tho park cottage. . little vine COW
cred stone cottage which backed against
,he park wall, and on a terrace reared
against the park WALL ns II Its owner was
determined to overlook both wall and cot
tage and gain view OF Kent hoube park.
The pretty little house had an impertinent
air like head lifted above the wall and pry.
Ing Into the dignity OF q nelghborink estate.
IL was surprise to Marie. and she said
involuntariy. "Ah. did not notice that
house. ! thought the house Of Mr.. Colfax
was nearest TO yours. II IL close to the wall
OF your park"
1T is indced-fairly sitting on my cot.
tnge roof" Mrs Dunbsrton-Kent said Erimiy.
referring to the little dwelling near the Kent
house park wall " Some OF Allen Colfax's
work He sold the narrowest possible strip n
house could be built on to that Smith woman.
purposey to spoil our privacy. He has
ruined the cottage which my husband built
for quiet retiring place The men about the
place use the cottage now for q sort Of work.
shop--west has his tools and work bench in
one Of the rooms. That's what my dear
husbands little cottage has become. He
loved the little place"
Marie discovered that the big woman's
voice could be low and soft; II was SO when
she spoke Of her husband. "She loved her
husband dearly" was Marie's instant con.
clusion. I'm spite Of much money, think
she is lonely and distressed"
Marie felt. though severe. Mrs. Dunbarton.
Kent was an upright and honest woman. 1T
is difficult for woman with much money TO
be without husband" Marie reflected wise.
ly. There are always those who wish to
take advantage Of such lone woman. She
looked so shocked and distressed when told
her the truth about the garage. as II there
was no one whom she could trust. And as
yet she does not trust me. but shall lead
her to do so."' ...
Marie's wiles consisted mostly of a certain
sympathetic cheer. tinctured by native
shrewdness: Of softly bright glances and
pretty smileA - 1883
:" do not think well Of woman who would
build house disagreeable to a neighbor such
as yourself" Marie said to Mrs. Dunbarton.
Kent with genuine sympathy. She must be
person who considers only herself"
" She lives to herself, certainly" Mrs. Dun.
barton.kent said grimly. There are reasons
why no one here has anything to do with
her. Happily she's not here much She's
handsome woman Of ths high colored sort,
and good musician, though" she added as
II willing to give the woman her due. "They
say she is Russian"
Marie welcomed her first view Of Kent
house farm as better subject. 1t stood a
pastures width beyond the park. was snowy
white and green rooted and deep eaveG, with
tall elms about it and its white and green
barn. Even the barnyard, in which were
several horses and cows. suggested spotless
neatness.'
"Ah, madame! This now is most charm.
ing!" she exclaimed with genuine pleasure
ut is a little like my pretty Canada, the
green and white and the cattle! It seems so
peaceful and plentiful. even more lovely than
great mouse, think.
Mrs. Dunbarton Kent glanced down at her
and her face softened. Then she asked with
astonishing abruptness:
Was it in France you met my nephew
Breck?".
Marie's eyes widened, then the color swept
into her face. Mrs. Dunbarton. Kent had no
ticed then how she had started at her nephew
and she had thought 1t strange, just as Breck
himself had thought. But she could not ex-
plain to Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent any more than
she could to her nephew. Was she going to
be reminded forever Of that hateful expert
ence on the train?
Marie's annoyance and embarrassment
made her denial positive. II never saw or
heard Of your nephew, madame, until saw
him in your house today"
You looked as If you knew him. You
looked as If you'd seen a ghost" Mrs. Dun.
barton-Kent asserted vigorously.
He looks like soldier" Marie returned
firmly. I looked at him, but in one minute
I knew that had never seen him before"
The ghost Of a soldier, perhaps" Mrs
Dunbarton-Kent remarked, with bitter sar-
casm, " come back to haunt his family"
Marie caught her breath and crossed her.
self hastily. Madame! You have not seen
them die as have! Do not say such thingsv
Mrs. Dunbarton- Kent eyed her in a puzzled
and interested way, but all she said was
Don't drive in at the gate-keep to the
right. You know the way to the farm now,
II ever have to send you over here. Keep
on up this road. 1t comes out on the high.
road which runs behind all these places on
the sound"
They went on in silence up the road which
skirted the pasture and passed close to the
barnyard. The house and barn had hidden
what Marie saw now was a considerable
chicken farm, numbers Of runs, each with its
white and green rooted house. It was feed.
ing time. and two men, .Breck and an elderly
man, were feeding the chickens. They were
all white, not black fowl among them,
pretty sight.
Marie wished that Mrs. Dunbarton Kent
would order her to stop, but she did not.
"Andersonr she called to the elderly man,
who had paused to smile at her, come
down to the house this evening; 1 want to
see you" And he answered, II will, Mrs.
Dunbarton. Kent" To Beck she said moth.
ing; she did not appear to see him. though
he looked at them in his shadowed way and
lifted his cap.
They went on passing a vegetable garden,
an orchard. and berry patches covered with
straw, all in perfect winter order, then came
out upon a broad road, from which there