The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-09-03

Hi c6s.t
suits. The doctor had recon,
mcnded sea voyage TO tho WON
an. and the old fool had taken
him az his word
IL was not that Lenoro felt she
could not spare. for some montha,
her mothers guiding influence, II
was merely that sea voyages cost
money. and money. AZ that paFtic'
ular time. was scarce and growing
scarcsr about tho Hardenworth
apartment, LenoFc needed all that
was available for her own fan and
winter gowns a mink or martcn
coat TO take the place Of her near,
seal cloak. and for such entertain
ms as would be needed 90 hold her
place IN her own set Seemingly
the only course that remained was
20 move forward the date OF her
marriage TO Ned. at present set FOR
tho following spring,
She dried her eyes. powdered
her nose3 and for all tho lsts storm
made hewitehlng picture rs she
trpped 70 tho door In answer 10
her finneos knock. Lsnoro HAr
donworth was in all probability
tho most beautiful girl in her own
stylish set and ono % the most
hHudsome women in her native
city She was really well known.
remembered Ions and In many
places. Tor her hair. II was aim.
ply shimmcring gold and IL framed
face OF nowerilks bcauty--an
cvcnsfeaturcd. oval face. softly tint.
ed and daintiiy piauant Hers was
not a particularly warm beauty.
yet Il never failed 70 win a second
glance shs had fine. fIsns- iipA.
a delicate throat. and shn had
picked UP an attractive way oil
haif.droppiug firm. white lids over
her gray. dangerous eyes.
No ono could wonder that Lcuore
Hardsuworih was a social success.
Besides her beauty Of face, the
grace OF slender but wellmusciedI
form. she unquestionably had al
great deal OF ambition and spirit
she was well sehooled in the tricks
Of her trade: charming and in.I
gratiaung with her girl friends.
sweet and deeply respectful to the
old. and striking a fine balance
between reckiossnesH and dsmurc
ners with available men. II can
DO said for Lenore that she wasted
no time with men who were not
eligible. IN every sense Of the
word. Lcnorc had her way 20
make in this world Of trial and
stress.
Long ago Ned had chosen her
from among her girl friends as the
most worthy OF his courtship-a
girl who could rule over his house.
who loved the life that he lived.
whose personal appeal was the
greatest. Best Of all. she was the
product Of his own time; mt,dcrn
girl in every sense Of the word
The purltanism be dcplored In his
own parents was conspicpously ab.
sent In her. She smoked with the
ease and satisfaction OF n man;
sho held her liquor like a veteran
and OF prudory she would never be
accused. Not that she was ever
rough On crude. Indeed there was
a flnesse about her harmless little
immoralities that made them. to
him. wholly adorable and charm.
ing. sho was always among the
first 10 learn :h9 nav dances, and
no matter what their murky origin
whether tho Barhary Coast or
some sordid tenderIoin OF great
Eastern city-shs seemed TO be
able to dance them without ever
conveying the Image OF vulgarity.
Her idea OF pleasure ran along
with his. Life. at her side. offered
only tho most delectable vistas.
Besides. the man loved her. His
devotion was such that Il was the
subject OF considerable amusement
among the more sophisticated Of
their set He'd take the egg. rath-
or than the horse.and.buggy. they
told each other. and 10 those Injured
In the newest slang. the meaning
was simply that Lenore. rather
than Ned. would be head OF their
house. The reason, they explained
wisely, was that II spelled disaster
to give too much of ones self 10
n wife these days. Such devotion
put a man at n disadvantage, The
woman, sure OF her husband. would
be speedily bored and soon find
other interests. or course Lcnore
loved him. too. but she kept her.
self better In hand. For all his
modern viewpoint. II was TO he
doubted that Ned had got com.
Dletely away from the influence
Of a dead and moth.caten genera.
ton. Possibly some little vestige
Of his parents purltanism pro
vailed in him still!
Ned came In soberly. kissed the
girls inviting lips. then sat beside
her on the big diyan. Studying
bis grave face, she waited for him
to speak
Bud news" he said az last.
She caught her breath In quick
gaSp. II was curious thing, IN.
decking, perhaps, more dcvout
interest in him than her friends
gave her credit for. that a sudden
sense OF dlsmny seemed TO sweep
over her. Yet surely no great dis
astcr had bofallcn. There was no
cause 10 fear that some one os the
mighty arms ON which they leaned