The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-01-28

demanding his every waking
thought. And she had been out OF
town and unaware that he had de.
liberately avoided her. Had. taken
for granted that he had been pc.
lite enough to call-and had left
his cards at home.
/ Should he go? He'd have his
breakfast first and do his thinking
afterward.
He did ample justice to the
breakfast. which was also lunch,
read his newspapers, cursed the
printers of his own for two type.
graphical errors he found in his
column, then called up her house.
Feeling as normal and unromantic
as a man generally does when di.
costing a meal and the news. he
concluded that to refuse her invita-.
ton, to attempt to avoid her. in
short, would not only be futile, as
he was bound to respond to that
magnet sooner or later, but would
be further confession OF coward
ice. Whatever his fate. he'd see it
through.
He gave his acceptance to the
butler, went out apd took a brisk
walk, returned and wrote his col.
umn for the next day. then visited
his club and talked with congenial
souls until 1t was time. to dress for
dinner. No more thinking at pres.
ent.
Nevertheless, he assembled her
steps at exactly half-past eight
with the blood pounding in his
ears and his heart acting like
schoolboy's in his first attack OF
calf loves But he managed to com.
pose himself before the footman
leisurely answered his ring. II
there was one point upon which he
was primarily determined 1t was to
keep his head. II he gave her
hint that she had reduced him to a
state OF imbecility before his mo.
ment came-iS it ever did!-his
chances would be done for-dish.
ed. He looked more saturnine
than ever as he strobe into the
hall.
Dinner will be served in the
library, sir" said the footman.
Madame will be down in a mo-
ment."
A tete-a-tete by the fire! Worse
and worse. He had been fortified
by the thought Of the butler and
footman> An hour under their su-
perciltous eyes would mean the
most impersonal kind OF small talk.
But they'd hardly stand rouHd tie
However. the small table before
the blazing logs looked very COSY
and the imposing room was full OF
mellow light. Two Gothic chairs
had been drawn to the table. They.
at least, looked uncomforta BILE
enough to avert sentiment. Not
that he felt sentim-nta7. He wa
holding down something a good
deal stronger than sentiment, but
he flattered himself that he looked
as saturnine as Satan himself as
he warmed his back at the fire. He
hoped she had cold in her head.
But she had not. As she entered.
dressed in white tea gown OF
chiffon and lace, she looked like a
and as If no mortal in
disposition had ever brushed her
in passing. Instead of her pearls
she wore long thin necklace OF
diamonds that seemed to frost her
gown. She was smiling and gra-
cious and infinitely remote. The
effect was as cold and steadying as
his mornings icy shower.
He shook her hand firmly. "Sor.
ry you've been seedy. Hope it
didn't lay you up"
ooh, no. fancy merely want.
ed an excuse to see Atlantic City.
1t was just touch Of bronchitis
and fed at once"
Like Atlantic City," ~. ~
mo. It is merely an iterminable
line Of ostentatiously rich hotels
on a board walk! None OF the
grace and dignity OF Ostend- poor
Ostend as 1t used to be. The digue
was one of the. most brilliant
sights in Europe-but no doubt
you. have seen it," she added po-
litely.
Yes, I spent a week there. once.
hut Bruges interested ME more.
was very young at the time"
"You must have been! Don't
you like to gamble? The Kursaal
could he very exciting"
"Oh. yes, like to gamble occa.
(God! What banal
talkD Gambling with life, how
ever. Is long sight more exciting"
Eyes, is IT not? Atlantic City
might do you good. You do not
look at all WE'LL"
Never felt better in my life. A
bit tired. Generally am at this
time Of the year. May take a run
down to. Florida"
IT should" she said politely,
Shall you stay. lohg?"
That depends" presence OF
servants superfluous! Are You
fond of the sea?"
II detest it---that boundless fiat
gray waste. A wild and rocky
coast in a terrific storm, yes-buf
not that moving gray plain that
comes in and falls down, comes in
and falls down. 1t is the noun.
tains turn to when I can, l often
long for the Austrian Alps. This