Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-11-02
(Installment No. 25)

They entered the tent.
"I'll read the names," said Hardy
man, "and you find the cards and
tear them up. Stop I'll keep the
cards. You're just the sort o1
woman my father likes. He'll be
reconciled to me when he sees you
after we are married. If one of those
men ever asks him for place, I'll
take care, if it's years hence, to put
an obstacle in his way. Here, take
my pencil, and make a mark on the
cards to remind me; the same mark
set against horse in my book
when 1 don't like him-a cross en-
closed in a circle" He produced his
pocketbook. His hands trembled
with anger as he gave the pencil te
Isabel and laid the book on the
table. He had just read the name
of the first false friend, and Isabe
had found the card, when a servant
appeared with message. Mrs
Drumblade has arrived, sir, and wish
es to see you on matter of the
greatest Importance"
Hardyman left the tent, not very
willingly. wait here" he said tt
Isabel; "Pll be back directly"
She was standing near her owl
place at the table. Moody had lef
one end of the jewelers. case visible
above the napkin, to attract her at
tention. In a minute more the
bracelet and the note were in hel
hands. She dropped on her chair
overwhelmed by the conflicting emo
tions that rose in her at the sight
of the bracelet, at the reading of the
note. Her head dropped, and the
tears filled her eyes. "Are al
women as blind as I have been te
what is good and noble in the mer
who love them?" she wondered, sadly
Better as it is." she thought, with
a bitter sigh; II am not worthy Of
him.
AS she took up the pencil to write
her answer to Moody on the back oi
her dinner card, the servant appeared
again at the door of the tent.
"My master wants you at the cot
tage, miss, Immediately.
Isabel rose, putting the bracelet
and the note in the silver-mounted
leather pocket "a present from Har
dyman which hung at her belt In
the hurry of passing round the table
to get out, she never noticed that
her dress touched Hardyman's pocket
book, placed close to the edge, and
threw it down on the grass below
The book fell into one of the heat
cracks which Lady Lydiard had no
ticed as evidence of the neglected
condition of the cottage lawn.
"You ought to hear the pleasant
news my sister has just brought
me" said Hardyman, when Isabel
joined him in the parlor. Mrs
Drumblade has been told, on the
best authority, that my mother is
not coming to the party"
There must be some reason, oi
course, dear Isabel" added Mrs
Drumblade. Have you any idea o1
what it can be? 1 haven't seen my
mother myself, and all my inquiries
have failed to find it out"
1t was not merry party. The
luncheon was attacked by the com
pany with certain silent ferocity
which the walters noticed as remark
able, even in their large experience
The men drank deeply, but with
wonderfully little effect in raising
their spirits ;the women, with the
exception of amiable Mrs. Drumblade
kept Isabel deliberately out of the
conversation that went on among
them. General Drumblade, sittins
next to her in one Of the places o.
honor, discoursed to Isabel privately
on my brother-in-law Hardyman's
Internal temper" A young marquis
on her other side-a mere lad, choser
to make the necessary speech il
acknowledgment of his superior ranl
rose, in a state Of nervous trepida
ton, to propose Isabel's health al
the chosen bride of their host Pale
and trembling, conscious Of havinf
forgotten the words which he hat
learned beforehand, this unhappy
young nobleman began, Ladies ant
gentlemen, l haven't an idea" HI
stopped, put his hand to his head
stared wildly, and sat down again
having contrived to state his owl
case with mastery brevity and per
feet truth in speech of seven words
While the dismay in some case!
and the amusement in others wa.
cti11 ito baiobf To ,xo1.