The Coolidge examiner., 1936-11-06


Talk went on lazily between us
three. l am one of those who is
always thrilled by beauty in other
women. No more beautiful pair
ever sat on my piazza.
Caro- was a perfect contrast to
Molly. In color she is ell brown
and reds; reddish brown hair; tiny
brown freckles; warm red lips. Her
features are piquant but her pro-
file is as perfectly marked off as
though drawn with a ruler. 1 love
to follow the straight line of her
brow, the tip-tilted line of her nose,
eliminating in the sculpturesque
combination of short upper lip,
curved lower one and cleft deli
cate chin.
liked our lazy chat. Caro- was
doing most of the talking. Mollys
preoccupation permitted me to
study her closely. Molly had, l
was sure, poWer-power of many
sorts; above all tremendous will
power. 1 like to think of the iron
interior under the sheath of her
pellucid beauty. Caro's talkative-
ness permitted me to enjoy what
was her most fascinating quality
bounding, abounding vitality.
Caro- possessed that understand
ing and sympathy which makes
for tact. l felt that she sensed her
friends preoccupation; that she
was trying to cover it up. 1 helped
her.
You like America, Caro-" I
drew her out. 'You would like to
live here always?"
'Oh yes!" Caro- exclaimed. "Oh
yes! 1t has opened a whole new
world to me and a whole new life.
Caro's quick ears caught before
mine the sound of an automobile
turning into the drive. Here
comes Ace, Molly!" she exclaimed.
1t seemed to me 1 read into her
voice faint note of warning.
AS though Caro- herself caught
and regretted that involuntary cry,
she added in a casual tone, I'm
Mr.. Hexson's car. And my be-
loved granddad's with them"
II knew as well as you two girls
where to go for a drink" Ace
Blaikie threw out of the murmur of
greetings. He seated himself be-
tween Molly and Caro-. Doctor
Marden chose seat beside me.
That was the last time those
three men were to sit on my piazza
together. All wore the Legion
d 'Honneur. Doctor Marden, him.
self tall man, the shortest of the
three, appeared first. He wore his
abundant silvery hair straight back
from his forehead. On his chin lay
an imperial. still black. A thin
aquiline nose cut like the blade of
scimitar out of the planes of his
face. His black eyes, extremely
fine, lighted a long, pallid, pear
shaped face. Those eyes were def
initely sad and yet they watched
all the time. Watched what? I
didn't know then what they
watched.
Next came Ace-a noticeably tall
man. Though in the late forties,
Ace retained his magnificent figure.
Although his golden curlS were
shot with white and his face had
developed lines, he was still one of
those men you would turn to look
at in the street.
Tallest of all was Bruce Hexson.
Physically, he differed as widely
from Ace as he did in character
and personality. He was big with
enormous, muscular, stopped shoul-
ders. In some aSpects-standing
straight-his figure recalled statues
of Lincoln; in others-crouching
over-he looked like grizzly bear.
His huge head was made huger by
the tangled, dark shag of his hair.
His hazel eyes-once brilliant, now
luminous-lay like lonely lakes in
the depths of great hollows.
AS usual, when Ace entered a
company, he became it's center. In
sensibly our talk focused upon him.
Bruce Hexson sat very quiet, lit
tie absent, as one drifting in and
out of the conversation. Myron
Marden threw in an occasional
comment. Occasionally Aces
glance rested on Molly for an in
slant. l noted g new element in
his look and l did not like it-a
triumphant possessiveness.
In spite of Aces vivacity, a con-
straint had fallen upon us. Caro-
Prentiss had completely quieted;
veil of reserve seemed to deaden
her animation. Bruce HeXson's
eyes wandered from Aces face
to the distant marsh and there set
in preoccupied serenity.
l, conscious of conflicting psyche
logical currents in my little party,
was beginning to develop social
embarrassment when diversion
came. l caught the scamper of
Sylvia's little feet over the lawn
as she came up from the pool. She
came racing up the steps, carry
ing her favorite doll--Dorinda
Belle.