Evening star., 1926-03-28

only daughter in the proud
10Y Of her entrance into such an ex.
allied alliance.
Marcy herself was pinky and pret-
tily thrilled over marrying Hilton, but
any other member of the family would
have satisfied Mrs. Gray just as well.
There were five Trayquair men. four
brothers and a cousin, and Hilton was
the last Of them TO marry. They were
all handsome and stalwart and high.
colored and high spirited and high
principled, all generous and gallant,
with voices and eyes to charm the
birds off the bush, and all with the
devils own temper.
When they were small mother and
nursemaids kept vigilant guard and
saw that their playmates did not tease
or oppose them, and when they went
to school and college their teammates
and fraternity brothers carried on, and
now that they were in business their
partners and associates kept tanks Of
conversational oil accessible for pour
ing upon troubled water. just as they
kept fire extinguishers. "Sh -"
they said out of the corners of their
mouths. go easy on that line. old mani
Rubs Hilton Tor Bruce or Lionel or
Derwent or Laurence. as the case
might be} the wrong way. Best scout
in the woodworking he won't do if
you handle him right. but--you know
the Trayquair temper"
The Grays were a pleasant, mild,
amiable family, as inconspicuous as
their name, and It was rather surpris.
ing that Hilton Trayquair should seek
out Marcy when, as her mother
pointed out. "he had the wide world
to choose from" It was a fact, how.
ever. that none of the Trayquairs had
married brilliantly; they were not
greedy for wealth or name. 1t was,
perhaps, that they felt they could sup.
ply enough of each themselves, that II
was only fair to equalize things q bit
There was Gray father, a COM
1ortably successful business man who
puttered in his garden instead Of play
ing golf; and Gray mother, small,
frail, fiuttering little person who
adored her husband and children but
had no Illusions as to their importance
in the social world; and three Gray
brothers. steady. quiet, kind young
men; and Marcy. Marcy, In contrast
to her family, was like one vivid flower
on dull brown shrub. She stood out.
People noticed her. Hilton Trayquair
noticed her, and when he had noticed
her for the third or fourth time he let
her know that she was going to be
married to him in month. That was
the way the Trayquairs managed such
matters.
THE eldest of the Gray brothers had
a wife who was a tennis champion,
with red hair and freckles and large,
efficient looking hands and a most en-
gaging grin. 1t was the grin which
made It possible for her to say impos.
sible things.
well, old dear" she considered
Marcy quizically. cooking her bright
head on one side, II see you've got it
already
Marcy lifted a narrow, satin-smooth
hand and regarded a regal emerald
with dreaming eyes. Yes. Isn't 1t glo.
rious?" zone Of the Trayquair tradi-
tions was that they didn't like dia.
monds, so the Trayquair f1ancees
never wore diamonds).
Il don't mean your ring" said the
champion, speaking OF which, you
know perfectly we'll you've prayed for
years old. No: I mean the regular,
moony, maudlin. cowe.eyed T'm-en-
gagged to a TrayQuair' expression.
Every last one of the wives had 1t in
turn, and now you've got tin the
most virulent form, should say"
Then, as she watched the warm color
climbing from her sister-in-law's face
to her forehead. TO her hair, and flood
ing down to her slim throat, Some
little Romeos, those Trayquairs one
infers; sheik stuff Well. that's the
way the engaged girls look, but the
WiveS-1 never saw a woman In
charge of a dynamite station, but IL
there are any such I'll bet that's just
hc XKraN !.
we'll paid and we'll fed and not over
worked and they wouldn't quit the
Job for mint. but--you know-that
'Fod Heavens sake, don't drop a
match" expression
Marcy laughed and kept on blush
ing, but Mrs. Gray was shocked and
pained. There were some things too
sacred to joke about, and the Tray
QUAR- family was one Of them.
There was something imposingly
tribal about the way the Trayquairs
lived; the ancient mansion where Nine
Trayquair held sway, and where the
clan assembled unfailingly for Wed.
nesday night dinner and Sunday eve.
ming supper, and-in the same great
tract OF wooded and rolling acres just
on the edge of the city--the four i'm.
portant domiciles of Bruce, Lionel,
Derwent and Laurence. and now the
rapidly rising house which was to be
the home Of Hilton and Marcy, who
would visit Nine. Trayquair until II
was finished. There was a wall, old
and weathered and picturesque, about
II and great gates at the entrance with
Just ole word-"Trayquair" No
fancy name was needed; that conveyed
everything.
TITS almost too wonderful to be
true, darling" said Margy's mother.
For 20 years, ever since we moved
here, I've driven past those gates and
looked into that glorious old estate
and lust worshiped It! And now nv
precious daughter is actually going
to live here! 1 wonder, darling, Ii
you quite realize, IL you quite appre-
clate, what a lucky, lucky girl you
are"'
Marcy thought she did, but she was
rather quiet about it. She was rather
quiet, always, about exhibiting her
emotions. I'm happy. Mumsie," she
said And l know I'm going to be
happier STILL
4 FEW days after the engagement
Hilton came to dinner with the
Gray family. They were all there,
including the married brother and the
tennis champion: and Mrs. Gray, with
little crimson spots on her cheekbones,
seemed smaller and Trailer and more
fluttery than ever.
Every one else was at ease, especial
ly the tennis champion. Mrs. Gray
WINGED every time she began to speak,
because while she was a dear girl and
devoted 70 Howard and making him
a wonderful wife, she did say things
which 1t wasn't necessary or wise to
say.
We'll, Hilton" she began breezily,
over the salad, ARE you as good a
scrapper as the rest of your clam"