Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-09-30
CHAPTER Nv
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quick glance about as he entered the
dining-room at Lookout House. She
felt an instant of self-consciousness
as she took the seat against the
variegated yellow background OF
tall mimosas and acacias which
filed a broad bay-window, which
her mother refused with quick
shake of her head and smile. She
Immediately forgot herself in pride
of her sporting family. Each one
was so gay, so determined to do his
or her share to make the party a
real festivity. Holidays were hard
days since her fathers death, but
always someone who was alone had
been invited to keep the feast with
them. Thinking of others helped
immeasurably to bridge the sense
of loss, Celia Reyburn argued.
The dinner was a success. Brooke
breathed little sigh of relief as she
rose from the table. This Thanks
giving dinner had been the first en-
PERTAINING in her own home. Of
course the guests had been her fam
lily and Mark Trent only, but she
had felt pride in having it a sue
cess.
AS she served coffee from the
massive silver tray in the living
room, she glanced at Mark Trent
standing before the fire. With his
elbow on the mantel, he was talk
ing to Celia Reyburn seated in a
corner of the couch. The orchids
he had brought her added the per-
feet touch to her amethyst frock.
Orchids for her mother, gardenias
for Lucette, and deep fragrant pur-
pie violets for his hostess. He had
said it with flowers. A lavish gen.
tleman. Had Henri turned chalky
as he had announced dinner, or had
she imagined it? He had stared at
Mark Trent as if seeing an unwel-
come apparition.
With a groan of repletion Sam
pulled himself out of a deep chair.
"Boy, let's get out and walk! I
feel like stuffed, trussed turkey.
Why do we eat so much more on
Thanksgiving? Because we haven't
any sense. Notice that I'm acquir-
ing the analytic method, question
and answer. Anybody here got the
energy to take the shore Walk"
''I'll 60 with you, Sammy" Celia
Reyburn smiled at her tall son.
elaine Jaffrey is a great hiker;
she will probably walk me all over
the British Isles. I must get in
practice. Just wait until 1 change
my shoes"
'Boy, I'm glad we have one sport
in the family. I'll bet Lucette has
heavy date, and is expecting
someone. Coming, Brooke? Com
ing, Mr.. Trent?"
"Mark to you, hope, Sam. Do
come, Miss Reyburn," Mark Trent
urged. cts grand day. After
hours of storm, there is enough
wind to make the surf worth look
ing at"
''Worth looking att were colorless
words to express the grandeur of
the shore, Brooke thought, as,
standing on jutting crag, holding
on her beret with one hand, skirts
blowing, she looked down at the
driving current, cold and stealthy
in places, in others foaming and
tossing white-edged green waves
against lodges transformed by the
magic of the slanting sun into rud-
dy copper, dark brown in the crew
ices. Spray, diaphanous as a mist
from giant atomizer, iridescent
as jeweled malines, shimmered in
the light. Beyond the surf dozen
lavender winged gulls foated on the
water. An amber green wave out
lashed its predecessors, Kissed,
roared, broke against a ledge, and
showered Brooke with crystal
spray.
"Oh!" Instinctively she clutched
Mark Trent's arm. "It-it took my
BREATH"
He drew her back to the path,
pulled out his handkerchief, and
wiped her wet face.
Il should have known better
than to let you stand there"
1T wasn't your fault. I adored
it. 1t made me feel as if every
inch of me had been electrified.
Why is it that when we are to-