Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1926-08-07

as If."u5.i i.-.I... .. $3.50.
calculation. Her poise tad rclu-n,i
to her: even at the first she ,.ai no.
been frightened. although unJeniao;y
startled
Constance was not SO pretty ; ,rr
fftecn.year.old sister: tha; Won't
have been difficult. for ate, ". !
pretty beyond all reason. None .hc
less. the young chatelainc of tto
Brooke mansion presented to I'll,
world a countenancc of which on,
the most exactinS could make corn
plant. II was the kind that ,::cto.
graphs with mysterious effect. b.
cause 1t held something more than
nero loneliness. something elusive
yet discernible. something that. fer
want Of more successful descrip-
ton. Is usually called character.
John w Brooke ALWAYS insis,e.:
that Constance was her mother. over
again. Yet sometimes he saw him.
self In the straightforward glance c.
her gray eyes. and others saw 1t. too
Mr.. Hedge did not see 1t. because he
had never beheld John w. Brooke.
Nevertheless. he saw enough TO con-
vince him that he had made no mis-
take in addressing himself chiefly 70
the young woman who stood before
him.
Certainly: we will dine" said Con.
stance abruptly.
She led the way from the library.
down the broad hall and into q spa
cious room that lay on the opposite
side OF the house. Alice followed her
closely. then Billy. Mr.. Hedge
brought up In the rear, making swift
note Of his surroundings and occ.-
sionaily frownfng slightly. -
Tho dining-room In tho Brooke
mansion was all that Fifth Avenue
dining-room should be. It was almost
banquet hall Mr.. Brooke had
paneied II In q walnut. because no
could easily afford to: he had placed
no check upon his architect, either
In this or any other apartment under
his roof
Tho family table. always employed
when there were no guests. seemed
absurdiy small I'm the great room. 1t
was not placed In the center. but
drawn close to an open fireplace.
Wherein q few logs Of high priced
drtftwood were burning with strange
flames OF green and blue and yellow.
1t was quite long walk to the
table. and the procession moved TN
single file. Mr.. Hedges active gIanc.
fitting from side to side. Even
Horace. the butler. from his place
behind Constances chair. could dis
Germ that the stranger was complete
iy at eas.. He neither hurried nor
ioitered: he did not carry his hands
In his pockets. nor rub his nose fur
| lively. nor straighten his tie. He
moved as nonchaiantiy toward the
table as John w Brooke himself.
My fathers chair said Con-
stance with q brief gesture.
Mr.. H.'dge seated himself In It
You may serve dinner. Horace
murmured Constance.
Yes. Miss Brooke" and Horace,
vrenching hts glance from the face
| or the stranger. disappeared on his
| errand.
There was half minute of silence.
broken only by an embarrassed
4 cough from Bully. Then Mr.. Hedge
| spoke.
Now that we've all plunged in
the water isn't 90 cold. after all, IS
lit"
The three Brookes looked at him
sharply and with obviously surprised
faces. Constance and her brother
exchanged feeting giances Alice
pursed her lips. The observation had
sounded rather human. quite differ.
ent from the Hedge Of the library.
He was smiling too.
| You see." he continued easily,
the first shock was not In the fact
that I arrived on the scene. but In
the fact THAI your father didn't"
Constance was not wholly sure OF
this.
| Il can readily understand your sur.
PRISE" said Mr. Hedge 1T Is en-
ureiy natural. We are ali more or
less creatures OF surprise. But sur.
prtses are not necessarily unpleasant
or attended by any unfortunate con.
sequences n
Constance made a note Of the fact
thai tho stranger thought well OF
himself .,sssssssass =
I'm simply your fathers agent for
a short time. I've no doubt In the
world thar you will all Jake q keen
tnte~ess 10 tho experiment.. ga coon
M the naiur~ ~ IL - clear 20 you....>I
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