The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-10-31

vision OF marvellous beauty. 1t was
not only pleasantly exciting 1t was tn,
easiest thing to do. And Lillian, above
all things. loved ease.
And then had come the early triI
into town, for Lindsay was leaving foi
Montreal. TO bring his mother home
and Lillian had to keep her engage
ment with Gibbs. Lindsay was all de
votion; this attitude. in fact. was the
one element In the matter of which
Lillian had taken no account. He
alarmed her with the vehemenoe OF
his affection. and made her nervous
he would leave her at the art studio,
hut instead he came upstairs. and the
two men talked together a few
| minutes.
During this time Lillian experienced
exquisite uneasiness. Gibbs showed a
disconcerting familiarity with old Mrs.
Peppers movements. When had she
gotten back? How did she find Mon
! treal?
81 didn't know you knew old Mrs.
Pepper so well? Lillian said, when
Lindsay was gone.
"Oh, / see her sometimes. watching
the Tennis he answered carelessly.
Now take your wraps off, and I'll
have Marie bring you in some coffee -
Her big fur coat in his arms, he caught
up her bare hand. mo ring?" he
smiled.
For he was painting her In dull
green robe. and the big jade ring she
frequently wore was an excellent bit
OF color in the picture.
If she had had the quickness TO say
that she had left it at homel But
Lillian was not quick at best. and just
now she was tired and confused. She
had left II on the washstand In the
bathroom next to Mrs. Peppers room
she remembered it's exact position. and
she said that she would write Mrs.
Pepper at once, and ask her to return
II.
well. run along and get into your
rigl" Gibbs said unsuspiciously. But
when she had disappeared into the
little models room. and when Marie
had brought in the coffee, and when he
had Ioitered about waiting idly. and
still she did not come, he picked up
the telephone book. AS well to settle
the matter quickly: the delay of
few hours might mean that the ring
was swept carelessly away and lost.
And so II was Gibbs turn TO have
his castle of dreams fall about him in
ashes. When Lillian came innocently
back from the model-room, eager for
the exquisite hour they had both been
anticipating for days. he saw for the
Arst time the woman she really was
"Your rings all right" he said pres
emily. 81 telephoned. The Jap-said
he'd found it,"
Her eyes flew TO his face. She saw
what he knew. and her color faded
little
Gibbs" she said quickly and breath
lessly. you know how ii happened
| wanted to tell you all about IL. any
way. But Lindsay asked me not to.
You see. it was stoIming horribly"
Beautiful. eager. in her green robe,
she poured out the story as she had
arranged and adapted ii in the night
And slowly mixing the colors on his
palette, not meeting her eyes. Gibbs !
listened. There was a certain shade |
Of yellow-brown that would always |
speak to him of this hideous moment, |
with its blare of hrassy truth. aud its |
taste of ashes. When she ended. with |
a wide-eyed innocent appeal, he
smiled. and still with averted eyes. he
nodded. "Blame you? No-o-o. ] don't
blame you. LiIlianl'' he said gently,
litter a silence.
But smile at me. Gibbs" she said.
With an uneasy laugh and a rather
uncertain resumption of her old con
ident manner "Or I'll have to come
,ver there and make you smilel"
Before he could speak again the
Ioor was opened by her husband
She knew that In the moment he
lad realized her deception about
lindsay Pepper she had come close to
osing Gibbs. She feif contempt for
he weakness In herself that had per-
nltted her to risk the love of the
nan she really desired for the old
dmlrer who had lost. by CONTRAST
With the new. any power TO stir her
But Lillian could not think that Gibbs
rould not return to her. He was hurt.
e was sore and angry now. but she
ad still. as a weapon. their danger
us propinquity and she had still the
disturbing and appealing beauty he I
nd found Irresistible
So Lillian played her game safely. ,
nd bided her time. This storm would
low over as other storms had. She
yould need only a little patience. she '
'ould need caution. Patience and
were among Lillian's
frtues.
Bur Gibbs knew thar II was all over
lie had made fool of himself. for her. I
e had told himself that II was only |
pretty and exciting game. He had 1
we'd in the light of those dark and I
Iagnificent eyes. he had thrilled to $
he touch Of her smooth. warm hand
That he had never actually been