Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1923-12-05
XVII {conqlnued)

hearted Of the seasons debutaHtes,
but she had never interested him
until after her return from France.
where she had done admirable
work In the canteens. Then, sitting
next to her at a dinner, and later
for two hours in the conservatory,
be had thought her the finest girl
he had ever met He thought SO
still; but although she stimulated
his mind and they had many tastes
in common, be had soon realized
that when apart be forgot her ana
that only novelty had inspired his
brief desire. She might have every.
thing for another man as eXacting
as himself. but that unanalyzable
something his own peculiar essence
demanded no woman had ever pos.
sessed until he met Mary Zattiany.
He had begun too ardently to
cease bis visits abruptly and more
over, he still found her more com.
panionable than any woman he
knew; he continued to show her
frank and friendly devotion until
an attack OF influenza sent him to
the hospital for a month: when be
accepted the friendly Intervention
OF fate and thereafter timed his 0c.
casional calls to coincide with the
hour or tea. when she was never
alone. There was no more long
morning walks. 40 more long rides
in her car, no more hastily arrang.
ed luncheons at the Bohemian res.
taurants that Interested her ~
more dropping in" and long tele.
phone conversations. He still en-
toyed a talk with her at a dinner.
and she was always a pleasure to
the eye with her calm and regular
features softened by a cloud IT
bright chestnut hair that matched
her eyes to shade. her serene
brow and her exquisite clothes
She did not carry herself well ar.
cording to his standard well"
when she came out six years ago
had meant laxity of shoulders and
pride Of stomach. and in spite OF
her devotion to outdoor sports she
had fallen a prey to fashion she
so far disapproyed Of the new fash
ION In girls, however. that she was
making an effort to stand erect and
she had even banished powder
from her clear warm skin Today
she was becomingly dressed in
taupe velvet. with stole ana mGlf
and turban OF sable: bn, Claverius
had fancied that her fine face wore
a weary disconnected expression
until she saw him. when Il changed
swiftly to sort Of imperious glad
ness. 1t made him vaguely uncofh.
Portable He had never battered
himself that she loved him. but be
had believed in the possibility OF
winning her. He bad later chosen
10 believe that She had grown as
Indifferent as himself and he won
dered. as be stood plunging about
in his mind for an excuse to avoid
a tete-a-tete. why she had not mar
ried.
"Well-you see
Come, now! You don't 60 to
teas. men never call these days.
End you surely have done your col.
umH for tomorrow. Here is the
car You can spare me an hour"
He had always avoided any ap.
pearance of rudeness and In his
mind at least he had treated her
badly: he followed her without fur,
Their hesitation, trusting to his,
sEile mind TO keep her of the sub
3cct Of Madame Zattiany. This he
would do at the cost OF rudeness
itself, for he would not permit
fasco at the last moment.
The street was packed with auto
mobiles and taxis. and after a slow
progress toward Fifth avenue they
arrived In time to see the traffic
towers fash on the yellow light
end were forced to halt for another
three minutes. Z He had started an
immediate discussion OF the play
she had just witnessed. knowing
Yer love OF argument. but she sud.
denly broke off and laid her hand
on his arm.
Look" she exclaimed "The IA
nous Countess Zattiany In that
ear with mother or course you
know her: you were with her at
the Joera on the historic night.
weren't you? Tell me! What is
she like? Did you ever hear of
anything so extraordinary?
Never really know her very
slightly, But as | had met her and
she had kindly asked me to dinner,
was glad to return the compll.
ment when Mrs, Oglethorpe sent
me her box. as she always does
once or twice during the season,
you know. But go on. What you
said interested me immensely, al
though don't agree with you. L
have certain fixed standards when
II comes TO the drama.
She picked him up and the argu-
ment lasted until they were seated
in Pierres and had ordered tea.
"a might have taken you home"
she said then. 1--WE could have
had tea in my den. No doubt
Countess Zattiany was returning
with mother. who. it seems, has al
wavs adored her
This is ever so much nicer. for
we are far less likely to be inter
rnpted haven't had real talk
with you for months" And he
~aya har look NJ boyish Measure,