New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-04-16

And staining up IN pretuest
hands OF any woman IN my circle
Of acquaintance"
A flush OF pleasure dyed the
slightly withered cheeks. Mrs
Keene's unfaded brown eyes were
wondrously soft.
Don. you're getting to be a great
flatterer. fear" she said. las for
tn flowers, Julia waters them. but
they need little coddling-personal
care. you know-like a man."
She crumpled the dry leaves In
her palm and slipped them into the
pocket OF her bungalow apron. The
fingers OF her other hand she al
lower her son to hold. and stood for
moment thus looking up at him.
In her eyes glowed the light Of the
infinite tenderness OF mother-love.
Give my love to Diana an Ted
when you see them, dear. and now"
disengaging her fingers. "Ill have to
finish my work, I'm having a
bridge tea this afternoon"
She fingered few moments long
or and then Don was left alone. He
resumed his chair and hitched 1t
closer to the open window. 1t was
delciously cool in the conservatory
and boiling hot in the outer air.
overhead the MONDAY sun was
pouring down a heat that was dis
tinctly oppressive.
Tony, the hired man. who came
occasionally to do chores around
the pleasant little bungalow was
pushing his lawn mower listlessly.
Don watched him abstractedly, his
thoughts far away from this scene
Of droning life on a hot August aft
ernoon. Fond fancy had taken him
by the hand and he was rambling
in Elysian fields. Lola, Diana. Teddy.
the trinity Of his mind. Which was
the ideal OF his heart?
Did he really love Lola as ne had
told her he did that night In April.
rs they stood on the shore Of the
lake?
There were times when he was
sure he did. Did she care for him
in return? She had implied that
she might come TO love him in time.
But ever since that time when the
dawn of new day was just break
irg, that gray morning after the
Bradhurst Country club dance, he
had not thought quite SO exclusive
ly Of Lola. Another face had kept
obtruding, face out Of which great
gray eyes had looked up into his, Il
wonderful light In their mystic
depths. He had bent and kissed the
lips Of that facc-Diana's face. That
strange light in her eyes had haunt
ed his thoughts since. And then
the night on the island-when he
had gone mad--or near 1t. That re-
membrancc was not so pleasant In
Donald Keene's memory.
And then there was still another
face, the sweet, pretty face OF his
dear little protege, Teddy, the girl
who had saved his life-the one girl
at least whom he knew beyond all
doubt really loved him.
And what of himself? Was his
affection for Teddy altogether that
Of the big brother. the friend. the
palo Was not the memory OF those
wild. impassioned kisses she had
pressed on his lips that never-to-be-
forgotten night In the sub-cellar
when she had thought him uncon
scious-was not that memory sweet?
- 4 10 him Golf r.
passingly sweet. And yet.
He couldn't possibly be In love
with Teddy, nor with Diana rs he
had been-and still was-with the
lovely Lola. The feeling that raced
through him when he touched Lola
surely that wonderful feeling was
not just mere physical passion only.
Thus We're his thoughts fluctuat-
ing as he walked along on that aft
'crnoon in August all the way out
to the Brooks home.
Diana, Lola and Teddy waved TO
him from a group OF big shady trees
on the lawn as he came into view.
They had prepared a table near the
portico.
"A nice long drink, Don, OF
emona1e-made ice-cold right here
in tn shade"
Teddy was fuYsing with spoons
and sugar. She bounced on Don
with something akin TO proprietor
ship as soon as he reached them.
Lola made a note OF this and chalk
/ ed up another mark on her score
! against the little reporter. The OBJ
| ject Of their silent warfare took the
| tall glass Teddy held out to him
! and quaffcd its cooling contents
gratefully.
| None Of the girls seemed to re-
veal any discomfort from the heat
such as Don so obviously suffered.
Lola was n breath Of May breeze
| in an orchid dress. its pale tina
contrasting bccomingly with her
i olive beauty. Diana and Teddy in
/ gauzy white dresses, their arms bare
20 the shoulder. looked as fresh as
( daisies on June morning.
/ You girls certainly are mighty