White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1930-10-10
CHAPTER vi
Tangled Dreams

Linda could not tear her eyes from
the fascinating hat. 1t was the lovli
est hat on the avenue, and she knew
how it would look on her. She heard
what Brian said vaguely.
II must have it," she cried gaily,
and went into the shop. He followed
at once, but she was already in one of
the little gray booths before mirror.
and slim, undulating creature was
bringing the hat, smaller even at close
blew than it had been behind plate
glass.
1t was on Linda's dark head. She
wore short fur coat, and her face
tipped the edge of the high fiat mole
collar like dark rose. Her color had
come back, and the look of WEAKNESS
that had been on her face when Brian
met her was gone. The hat made her
bloom.
Il love It," she said, looking up at
Brian, and then to the saleswomen,
II think | will wear it today and you
may send the other.'
There was an embarrassing moment
"a pause. The delay was imper-
ceptible, but 1t was there The sales
woman sent secret, inquisitive glance
toward the tall good-looking young
man who had come in with Mrs. Roth.
and Brian, conscious of this, wondered
why she stood there holding Linda's
discarded hat rather contemptuously
away from her.
Linda arose. She looked the won.
an straight in the eyes, and her own
were proud and guileless. "You may
send the other hat to my address,
the st. SEWER" she said gently, and
began to walk away.
The saleswoman followed her, fright
ened but determined. "But, Mrs. Roth
perhaps you had better see madame"
"There is nothing else," said Linda
TRANQUILITY. and left the shop.
She was exquisite under her new
crown of pale jade, but Brian was
looking at her face, pale again, with
lips little breathless. Something had
been wrong in the shop, but he could
not grasp the exact meaning of the
little scene. It was ridiculous, but 1t
was almost as if the woman had not
wanted to sell the hat to Linda.
Linda was glad to get away from
the shop. She had been afraid for
moment, but luckily the saleswoman
had been stupid person. Her ac-
count was large, but she would send
them a check for something as soon as
her own money came from Stevens.
By this time she was almost aggrieved
at the broker, as If he had been keep
Ing her income from her purposely.
"You look so solemn" she cried
meeting Brian's troubled eyes, II don't
believe you like my new hat after all
Why didn't you tell me it was unbe-
coming?"
This was so artificial that they both
laughed, and the unpleasant moment
was forgotten
II wonder why l feel so irrespon.
sible when | am with your? Linda
asked. Though she was so tall and
slight, their eyes were not nearly on
q level and she had to look up at him
This gave her peculiarly appealing
expression.
eff that is so, will keep you away
from the shops that sell diamonds" he
answered. He was happy in spite of
his gravity. A queer rushing happi.
ness that made everything seem
chaotic. The people on the avenue
the shops, the countless automobiles
r,nthiro lint ho1 fo M IL,
vision was filled with Linda, strange
woman he seemed to have known al
ways and far better than any one else
in the world. Yet he realized he knew
nothing about her.
'Who was the charming girl you
toned. There was tiny note of
jealousy in her voice. They had been
dancing together when she left the
restaurant with the senator.
Brian hesitated. IAN old friend of
mine, Daisy Fentress."
Linda had heard of the Fentresses.
So had everybody else. They were
rich enough to have their names In
the paper every day and that Is some
thing-to be rich without being notori-
GUS is an achievement, and the Fen.
tresses were impeccable She knew
that Simon Fentress, who had most OF
the money, was secret power In
!, Washington; Converse had often
spoken of him with envy, for his own
wealth was a little thing in compari
son. The memory of the young girls
face, blond, inexperienced, with every.
thing to give, sent little shiver of