Gunnison news-champion., 1924-02-15

tr-'r and ~'ra.rf. The wines were
not orIy costly hut rar. Wstchful
hu'Isr. attended uoS and then by
Trim par,or mslt. superin'ented tn.
service, only once. when she ordered
a Dr1I q towers removed from tn,
tatf- 80 their mistress address either
- them Couvr-Sa''on after the first
'aa Bu"al'lrs Suret.'y heeHue almost
uurn.u.Ge Our man talked whilst
''.. others ms'.nrG md the man who
'aIE,-t NHs oliver Hr'Irch ~" pos.
-.r..-l 'nr rr-s s.F' o., lnrar''ng colo.
arI r~'..''g 20 r"w phrases TO the
srr1r-, .. ..r- ~ uhIrh 20 spoke. 81
l-.r-rs 't" very ''rl1 - strange. hap
r... l-- .-,u rhn -saauvy room l.
-....,.I thar -nyrr 1871. srrrrriy r,ur
'r, ~ 'la a--'H with De had not vls-
n.rl .aGr'r5. rla' is 20 say. Uhcr'
,rrr runErcga,". fur De" admitted from
'r" arsy rau' D., aas q ~lty wurshlp"-.
'Na' 'h~ empty places possessed No
charm pr him
- ann not even a sp"rrsman.' he con
'--.1 "r.e aaf arnIosr'.ralIy. in re-
Ily 90 question from his guest NJ
.ur. desire has b,--n 10 reach the next
,.n~e nh"rr men and women were.
Som" day We wiu talk of them"
Tell me-" Francis asked his host
during one ~ the brief paus-s In 'h-
rnEs"r,HiInu. "AHve y"u ever tried
70 nuulyze this interest ~ yours n
human beings md crowded cities. this
hatred of SoItud" and empty -pacesf"
oliver H.Iditrh smiled thoughtfully.
and Cazcd at q saI'cd almond which
he aas just balancing between the tips
Of his fingers
= 'hlnE." o.. said simply. 1T Is De
cause | have no soul
Tn" three diners fingered for tnly
short time over tI"lr dessert. ATer-
wards. they pussed together into
very delightful library. HIldltch e1.
cuset himself for a moment.
q have some cigars which Keep
IN my dressing room" he explained.
and which am anxious for you TO
try. There Is an electric STOW. there
and can regulate the temperature"
He departed. closing the door behind
him Francis came little further
into the room His hostess. whn hid
subsidized into IN ~nSychalr and was
holding n screen between her face and
the fre. ro'iOned him 70 seat himself
opposite. He did so without words
He felt curiously and ridlcuIousiy
tongue. tied. He fell to studying the
woman Instead OF attempting the ba.
nnlity ~ Pnintless speech. From the
smooth gloss OF her Furnished hair.
to the dalnriness OF her low. black
hrucaded shoes. she represented. 50
far as her physical and outward self
were concerned. absolute perfection
No ornament was hInlsS, no line or
curve Of her figure other than perfect.
ly graceful. Yet even the fires glow
which she had seemed TO dread brought
no tlnsh Of color TO her cheeks Her
appearance OF complete lifclessness
remained. II was as though some sort
OF crust Ind formed about her being.
condition which her very physical
perfection seemed TO render the more
lncomprehensible.
You are surprised to see me here
living with my husband. after what
told you yesterday afernoon7" she
said calmly, breaking at last the 81.
ience which had relgned between them.
Il am" he admitted
1T seems unnatural TO you. ! sup
pose
Entirely
You still believe all that l told
your"
Il must"
She looked at the door and raised
her head little. as though either
listening or adjudging the time be-
fore her husband would return Then
she glanced across at him once more.
"iiRtrcd" she said. does not always
drive Sometimes I, .t,-pc,s
Sometimes the person who hates can
scarcely bear the other out OF his
sight. That is where hate and love
are somewhat alike"
The room was warm, but Francis
was conscious OF shIvering. She
raised her finger warnIn.ly. II seemed
pIcal Of the woman, somehow. that
ihe message could not he conveyed by
any glance or gesture
''He Is coming" she whispered.
Oliver IIilditCh reapneared. carrying
cigars wrapped in gold foil. which he
had brought with him from Cuba. the
tobacco ot which was revelation To
his guest The two men smoked and
slipped their coffee and brandy. The
oman sat with hnlf-closed eyes II
was obvious that HIlditch was stiil
in the mood for speech.
Il will tell you, Mr.. Ledsam.- ne
said. why am so happy to have yon
here this evening. In the first place.
| desire to tender Won once more my
thanks for your very brilliant efforts
on my behalf The very fact that
am able to offer you hospitality nt
all is without a doubt due 10 these"
Il only did what was paid to do"