The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1924-09-04


ianguid interest In the conversation,
interviewed for the first time.
Where is the young person nowr'
he inquired. '
ain some rooms one Of the house
keepers at the hotel found for me. sir, !"
Gerald replied.
Lady Mary rose to her feet.
II can't decide" she said, (which Of
you two has lost his heart to this
paragon of village loneliness. How
ever feel sure that my advice Is the
best. Send her back to her people"
Gerald strolled to the door with his
sister and returned to his place. finger
ing his cigarette case irritably.
Lord Hinterleys slipped his wine
thoughtfully. so 1,
Il am not suggesting for single
moment" he observed, shat your atti-
tude toward this young woman is not
and will not always be entirely ire
proachable. but at the same time you
must remember that We are in q cOun-
try where such adventures are likely to
be misunderstood / feel inclined.
| tO fIluOl DC SOuI SiStCi . az
vice. I should do all that l could to
encourage her to return to her people"
"Wen talk to her In the morning,
SIR" Gerald promised.
II shall retire to the drawing room
and persuade Mary to sing to me, and
you two young fellows can smoke to
your hearts content. Give me your
arm, Gerald"
Don't think we shall stop long, il
you'll excuse us, SIR" Gerald confided,
as he rose to his feet. Its Christie
piers first night in Monte Carlo and
I want to show him the ropes. Come
along, old chap. and make your
adieux." he added. turning to his
friend.
Lady Mary made room for Chris
TOPPER by her side. She was scarcely
possessed of her brothers good looks,
hut her complexion was good. her fea-
lures unexceptionable, her eyes clear
and as rule sympathetic, her, tone
and manner attractive. Her figure, es-
pecially in "a riding habit, was unde-
Unable. her skill at golf and tennis far
above the ordinary amateur. 1t was
not for lack of offers that, at twenty
four years of age, she was still I'M
married.
They talked Tor some time with in
terest Lady Mary's wit was keen and
ner insight unusual. During pause
In their conversation, Lord HinterleyS
looked across the room through his
horn-rimmed eyeglass.
"Your friend seems to get on very
well with Mary" he remarked.
They've always been pals" Gerald
acQuiesced
Doing pretty wen at the bar. Isn't
her
laundering wen. They say he's
certain to be one Of our youngest
K. Cs"
Lord Hinterleys said nothing for
several moments.
MARY has her aunt's hundred thou
sand pounds" he said at length. "She
Is difficult young person to marry.
Knows her own mind, though.
should never interfere"
"Chris Is q good fellow, but don't
fancy he has any thought of marrying
just yet" Gerald remarked. "You
won't mind II take him Off now, sir?
We shall meet for lunch at the Golf
club tomorrow"
Christopher obeyed his friends sum-
mons without enthusiasm. Gerald,
! however, was both insistent and i'm
patient, and the two young men took
their leave few minutes later. q
Gerald dragged his friend into the
bureau of the casino, where they OBJ
tanned their tickets for the Cercle
Prive, and afterwards on to the Sport
ing club, the Mecca Of Gerald's de-
sires for the evening, at any rate.
Christopher breathed a little more
freely here than In the casino; the
atmosphere was less perniciOus, the
crowd by which he was surrounded
far more attractive. After Gerald had
taken a seat at the baccarat table, he
wandered around for some time, .fasci-
mated by this strange, cosmopolitan
gathering, their diversity In class,
manners and dress. Presently he
found seat In the little bar, ordered
q whisky and soda and leaned back to
watch the never-ceasing stream OF
pleasure-seeking loiterers. Suddenly,
without any warning, his thoughts
played him queer trick. He was back
on the cool, sunlit hillside, with the
odor Of the violets and the pines In
his nostrils. and the girl looking over
the gate. She turned her head and
he saw her face-her beautiful eyes,
with their passionate, terrified appeal
her Quivering lips. her child's figure
the tender appeal Of her, the soul and
sweetness Of her innocent youth cling
Ing like some fresh. sweet perfume
to her trembling body.
Gerald stood suddenly before him.
his face aflame, his eyes brilliant. His
voice quivered slightly with subdued
excitement.
"Christopher, you moonstruck old
dodderer," he cried. wake upi
III