The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-06
REVERIES AND POLO CHAPTER HI

NkAkAE HEN AAA
 The only report that came to Mrs e'orter West of her sons proposal to Cynthia Merriwether was in a chance remark that Fred delivered as he drank coffee with her after dinner one night.
 By the way" he said. "Cynnie told me to go climb tree. But. " and he smiled little wryly, "she said it could be 8 tree in her own back yard.'
 On the whole, this was not too disturbing to Mrs. Porter West. Ehe had learned, with men and with horses, the inestimable art of patience and persistence she did not have to learn because it was born with her.
 Keep your head" she replied quietly, land don't do anything young or foolish"
 Which seemed fertile advice ex- cept for one element which grew steadily into the situation. That clement was Henry Prentiss.
 Now it should be said at once that Colonel Wesley Hope Merri- wether and his daughter Cynthia were not old school. They were not even, in the strict sense, Long Island. Six or seven years ago they had appeared at Gull Point, and the colonel had bought, for certain holy quantities of cash money. the old and altogether magnificent Stone estate. And ff<av.eae a,,na v,oora bod 611oI &La barKs. And a preternaturally shy Cynthia had taken confidence unto herself and had grown slowly beautiful.
 Whence had they come? Well, no advices were offered from Stone House, and the times had changed to affect, permanently no doubt, the asking of direct Ques- tions upon such 8 matter. The essential fact was, alas, that Colonel Merriwether was a very rich man. At least he behaved like one. Not nouveau riche, not devoted to crude, extravagant dis play. Oh, no. But solid, assured, and in his particularly calm man. ner altogether opulent.
 Did the Hunt Ca trifle embar- rassed for funds) wish the hounds walked for a month? Colonel Merriwether would undertake the burden: daily food for the 26 dogs and keep for their ham, dlers. Not too readily. Not too eagerly.
 He would hear the secretary of the Hunt and the master of fox hounds explain the situation - listening most gravely - and then, after some moments of considera- ticn and in the quietest of tones, he would say, T think it would be a pleasure, gentlemen. I am always glad to be of such assist ance as may manage"
 Did the beagling crowd look about a little wistfully for some- body to serve breakfast after the Sunday morning coursing? Stone House was gracious in its hospi- tality, ample with it's food, and positively distinguished with it's Fish House punch, within whose aromatic bowls the bouquet of Clicquot '29 was never missing.
 
 When Cynthia grew of an age to undertake the duties of hostess (no Mrs. Merriwether had ever been seen or even mentioned) the enter tainments within those broad and eriviable rooms, upon the terrace, at the pool and the tennis courts. be- came more lavish. Everybody who was anybody felt at home there, despite the magnif1cence, and in confused and troubled world Stone House was haven of quiet merri- ment and all of its atmosphere was of ineffable security.
 There was only one curious note. The guests at Stone House were, without exception, the peo- pie of Gull Point (and their own weekend or summer guests). Mo- body ever appeared from the outside world, nobody from that existence which the Merriwethers must, perforce, have lived before their arrival in the community.
 1t would not be 8 precise state al1e1t to say that Mrs. Porter West enjoyed the hospitality of Stone House. Naturally. she was on the guest list prepared and kept care- fully Co date by Mitchell Grace. flle CcIonel's secretary. She even foxeWent her native antipathy to Invitations by-telephone, and in- VarlabIy accepted them. But the verb to enjoy" has connotations neeuliar to itself. Mrs. Porter west YVES tcO shrewd woman to psnd her opportunities in the ratn pleasures Of the deeting hour. when she went to Stone House, Iha vent on business.
 And zhe found out, early indeed. . ...-sI1. t.s -,sttufr4sa l1nr fnnk here.