The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-16
XVII (continued)

OF the prettiest, and most light
hearted Of the seasons debutantes
but she had never interested him
until after her return from France
where she had done admira bic
work IN the canteens. Then. sitting
next to her at a dinner, and later
for two hours in the conservatory
he had thought her the finest girl
he had ever met. He thought sc
still; but although she stimulated
his mind and they had many tastes
in common. he had soon realized
that when apart he forgot her and
that only novelty had inspired his
brief desire. She might have every.
thing for another man as exacting
rs himself. but that unanalyzable
something his own peculiar essence
demanded no woman had ever DOS.
sessed until he met Mary Zattiany.
He had begun too ardently to
cease his visits abruptly and. more.
over. he still found her more com.
panionable than any woman he
knew; he continued to show her a
frank and friendly devotion until
an attack OF influenza sent him to
the hospital for month: when he
accepted the friendly Intervention
OF fate and thereafter timed his oc.
casional calls to coincide with the
hour OF tea, when she was never
alone. There was no more long
morning walks. no more long rides
in her car, no more hastily arrang.
ed luncheons at the Bohemian res.
taurants that interested her, no
more dropping in" and long tele.
phone conversations. He still en-.
joyed = talk with her at, dinner,
and she was always q pleasure to
the eye with her calm and regular
features softened by a cloud of
bright chestnut hair that matched
her eyes to a shade. her serene
brow and her exquisite clothes.
She did not carry herself we'll &C.
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 disapproved 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
Ihe was becomingly dressed in
taupe velvet, with stole and muff
and turban OF sable: but Clavering
had fancied that her fine face wore
weary disconnected expression
Until she saw him, when It changed
Gwiftly to sort Of imperious glad.
less. iIt@made him. vaguely uncom.
ortable. He. had never battered
himself that she loved him, out he
had believed in the possibility Of
winning her. He had later chosen
TO believe that she had grown as
Indifferent as himself. and he won
dered, as he stood plunging about
h his mind for an excuse to avoid
. tete-a-tete. why she had not mar
eied.
"Well-you see"-
"Come, now! You don't 90 to
teas, men never call these days.
and you surely have done your col.
umn 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
agile mind to keep her of the sub.
Iect Of Madame Zattiany. This he
would do at the cost of rudeness
itself. Tor he would not permit.
dasco at the last moment d;'
The street was packed with auto
mobiles and taxis. and after a slow
progress toward Fifth avenue they
arrived In time to see the trafiic
towers flash on the yellow light
and were forced to halt for another
three minutes. He had started an
immediate discussion Of the play
she had just witnessed, knowing
her love Of argument, but she sud.
denly broke. of and laid her hand
on his arm. -tas., "a.
"Look!" she exclaimed. 1.-THE IA
nous Countess Zattiany in that
car with mother. OF course you
know her: you were with her at
the opera on the historic night,
weren't you? Tell me! What Is
she like? Did you ever hear Of
anything 80 extraordinarily"
"Never. really, know her very
slightly. But as had met her and
she had kindly asked me to dinner
I was glad to return the compli.
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 l don't agree with you. !
have certain fixed standards when
Il comes to the drama"
She picked him upiard the argu.
ment lasted until they were seated
in Pierre's and had ordered tea.
n might have taken you home"
she said then. Eve could have
had tea in my den. No, doubt
Countess Zattiany was returning
With mother, who. It. seems. has al
ways adored her"
This is ever so much nicer. for
We are Tar less likely to be inter.
I haven't had a real talk
with you for months" And he
gave her look Of boyish pleasure.
nj, ol1v fna{n rnpo hu$ ca wal1g douo