The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1923-08-16
She Was the
Understudy
BY ELLA SAUNDERS

6OWdI Sldnceu from the pretty
splendidly CARRIED girl who was hold
Ing her reception at the dem1re, quiet
little woman Of thirty-fve in the chair
beside her.
Excuse my not rising, Mr.. How
ard" said Aunt Mary. II am some
thing Of an invalid"
Towards eyes were following Miss
Hardness as she flashed brilliantly
among the guests. He was conscious
of a sense of acute disappointment. A
man OF forty, a famous European
painter. he had had a correspondence
for nearly a year with Agnes Hark-
ness, whose novel, Hearts Astir," had
electrified two continents.
Miss Hardness was an American
lady, living in Jamaica, and they had
arranged to meet In New York, which
both Of them planned to visit stimuli
%taneously. For the correspondence had
been a very rare and precious one, a
mutual revelation Of two souls. 1t
1ad been almost tender.
And this was Agnes Harkness-this
well-gowned, hard, youngish woman,
exchanging repartee with the guests
who had come to honor the celebrated
authoress on the occasion Of her first
visit to New York in years.
Miss Hardness was introducing him.
Howard felt a little sighted. None
Of these people seemed to know him
as anything more than a mere lame.
He began to feel bored. He went back
and talked to the aunt, whose yes
watched his with quite amusement.
II hear you and my niece know
each other almost intimately by cor
respondence," she said.
Eyes" answered Howard %unhappily.
agnes is a singular character. She
Is fine underneath the scintillati0ns.
But she has been out of New York so
long, and worldly things do appeal to
her."
ST see," said Howard.
you must stay after the others
have gone and talk thingE over to-
gether. l know she has been burning
with curiosity to meet the man who
has been so long In communication
with her."
So Howard stayed through a dreary
afternoon, and as 1t progressed he
came to like Agnes Hardness less and
less. In the end, hearing her hard
brilliancy, he cordially disliked her.
He felt, too, hat he had made a
precious fool Of himself in writing the
deepest things of his heart to an I'M
known woman
The last of the guests was going.
Howard had drifted toward the door,
irresolute. The aunt was not In the
room.
'In really have to be going, too,"
Howard said to Agnes Hardness.
ooh, do please stay" she answered.
my aun wants to have a chat with
you, and so do l."
The prospect of a chat with the
aunt did not seem very appealing to
Howard.
We've got a lot Of things to talk
over, haven't WEI" asked Agnes. SAT
least, it's such a long time since we
met, I'm sure. Let me see, how long
is it?'
She knitted her brows, evidently
waiting for Howard to lead. A surge
anger swept across him at the re-
Il am sorry your memory doesn't
serve you better, Miss Hardness" he
answered. "As a matter of fact, we
have never met before, but we both
arranged to meet in New York to
make each others acquaintance. Now
that we have made It," he added bit
terly, "there seems nothing left for
is to do but say good-by."
"Oh, you men are s~ensitive-you
!" said Agnes Hardness nervous
". "Im sorry If l forgot. 81"
She was looking irresolutely about
Ter. "Aunt Mary" she called, 'Mr.
Howard can't be persuaded to stay
longer. He's so angry because /
'orgot that we had neve met before"
"Oh, we must persuade Mr.. How
,rd," said the aunt, reappearing. MIR.
Howard, for my sake?" she pleaded.
For the sake of those things that
we're to be talked over when we met"
And, as he looked at her without
Iuite understanding, she added:
you see, it was a little deception,
Tut not on you account, Mr.. Howard"
he continued, smiling. 81 am Agnes
larry Hardness, the author, and your
correspondent, and my niece kindly
me this afternoon be-
/ hate meeting stupid people,
nd l am not strong. Come, forgive
ne and let is enjoy our visit and
nd talk over those letters % ours,
are strictly our own seclat."
And In her eyes Howard saw a sud-
light of tenderness.
you will forgive me?"
It'll forgive you and stay an
wered Howard. feeling Ills heart sud-
emily uplifted.
Might Have Been II terestina.
"And were you ever really embar-