Milford chronicle., 1925-06-05

The numbering bore shook hands with
the imported marquis. San Pillar ap-
praised him rapidly. He wore the
same mark of race that they all had,
but it had diminished into little more
than a family resemblance. A stranger
the Spaniard had noticed this pecu-
liarity with a certain shrewdness.
Grandfather, son, grandson-Peakes on
diminishing scale. Was it true, ne
asked himself, that these North Ameri-
cans lacked vigor of blood to maintain
their families through many genera
tions?
The cocktails were going round
again and Bunny-Flora Lee insisted
on that name after her second drink
was making boon companions of them
all. A man of the world, quick on his
feet, he could adjust himself instantly
to the Faubourg Saint German or the
Bal Tabarin. The chatter and CO.
quetry of the younger fry amused and
excited him. Flora Lee, her deathless
animation heightened by three cock
tails, had gathered her usual group of
young men, and-by the languid manage
ment of her eyes was leading at least
two of them to believe that there was
yet little hope. The Judge and Gar
nett and the second Mrs. PedKe had
Joined a circle of the elders under the
central chandelier and the old gentle
man was grimly hiding his disapproval
of his youngest grandchild, smoking
cigarette and calling to Harris for
another cocktail.
where's Margaret?" he asked
abruptly of his daughter-in-law.
"Oh-she's late-Im sure 1 don't
know"
"Remarkabler' muttered the o.
gentleman. Margaret was seldom IaU.
If it had been Flora Lee, now.
Just then the Marquis de San Piias
raised his eyes to see another Flora Lee
grown little taller, a little older,
little more serious, standing on the
threshold of the wide door. She lacked
some of the sparkle and the deviltry Cf
Flora Lee, just as her hair was less
lustrOus, her skin less transparent. Blu
she had fine eyes.
The owner of those fine eyes moved
forward and the Pealles distinguished
was presented to her. She received his
compliments with a small, secretive
smile and her manner, although excel
lent, was rather cold. He judged her
to be sarcastic. San Pillar should have
known, for he had studied many
women. She fingered just an instant,
then crossed the room to where her
stepmother stood.
Miss Nellie" she began-she had
never learned to call her Mother" as
Flora Lee. did so glibly-"can't you
change my place or let me stay out?'
Margaret, darIinOi' This in
worried stage whisper.
JEFF Carter can't come. He's just
telephoned. Something about business
in Baltimore"
"How horrid of him. began Mrs.
Peake, then more practically, "Hebe
Savage has just telephoned too. That
makes it even. Tell Harris, won't you,
honey?"
Out in the dining room Margaret
retained that fixed, mysterious smile;
she was even jolly with Harris, whom
she regarded more as an old friend than
an old servant. But it wouldn't do 10
give the negroes even hint of what was
brewing. She loved them and she
knew their very human faults.
"Close ranks, Harris-two of us have
dropped out, she commanded menily.
"And do let's hurry or the cocktails Il
play out"
''Yas'm, Miss Mahgaret. And which
cards, please, mussa mover
"Oh, just shuttle mine over to Miss
Hebe Savage's place. She isn't COM
ing. And take off these two plates"
Not a word about jeff Carriers
eleventh hour detection. Miss Mar
garet chose to sit beside Mr.. Jimmy
Wilder-if the move signifed anythiHg
more than that old Harris was not the
one to betray it. For he was a gentle
man too; he had Livingstone blood in
his veins. So it was nicely arranged,
the matter of plates. On the way back
to the drawing room Margaret en-
countered a servant with a few un-
touched cocktails on his tray. She
took one and drank it hastily, then went
back into the drawing room.
She wove her way through the Grove
and, almost instinctively sought OF
Jimmy Wilder. She found the Erenlh.
Democrat famous city editor, an empt.
glass in one hand, a full one in the Other,
holding off two old gentlemen while hc
committed sacrilege upon Southern
Ancestry.
CTo BE CONTINUEDl