Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 November 1914 — The Hollow of Her Hand [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The Hollow of Her Hand

By GEORGE BARR McCUTCHEON

Author of “Grausterk" "'Trarton King," etc.

Illustrations by Ellsworth Young

Copyright, 1912, b> George Birr McCutcheon Copyright. 1912. by Dudx Weed 4 Company Continuation Chapter XXII. He hesitated a moment, opened his lips as If to speak, and then abruptly left the room. Sara smiled. Many minutes passed before the two Wrandalls put in an appearance. She understood the delay. They were telephoning to certain legal advisers. “What’s this I hear, Sara?” demanded Leslie, extending his hand after a second’s hesitation. She shock hands with him. not listlessly' but with the vigor born of nervousness. “I don’t know what you've heard.” she said pointedly. His slim fingers went searching for the end of his moustache. “Why—why, about selling out to us,’’ he stammered. “I am willing to retire from the firm of Wrandall & Co„” she said. “Father says the business is as good as it was a year ago, but I don’t agree with him.” said the son, trying to look lugubrious. “Then you don’t care to repeat your original proposition?” “Well, the way business has been falling off—” “Perhaps you would prefer to sell out to me,” she remarked quietly. “Not at all!” he said quickly, with a surprised glance at his father. “We couldn’t think of letting the business pass out of the Wrandall name.” “You forget that my name Is Wrandall,” she rejoined. “There would be no occasion to change ' tSf' firm’s name; merely its membership.” “Our original offer said the senior Wrandall stiffly. “We prefer to buy.” “And I to sell. Mr. Carroll will meet you tomorrow, gentlemen. He will represent me as usual. Our business as well as social relations are about to end. I suppose. My only regret Is that I cannot further accommodate you by changing- my name. 'Still you may live in hope that time may work even that wonder for you.” She arose. The two men regarded her in an aggrieved way for a moment.

“I have no real feeling of hostility toward you, Sara.” said Leslie nervously, “in spite of all that you said the other night.” “I am afraid you don’t mean that, deep down in your heart. Leslie,” she said, with a queer little smile. “But I do,” he protested. “Hang it all, we—w T e live in a glass house ourI dare say. in a way, I was quite as unpleasant as the rest of the family. You see, we just can’t help being snobs. It’s in us, that's all there is to it.” Mr. Wrandall looked up from the floor, his gaze having dropped at the first outburst from his son’s lips. "We —we prefer to be friendly, Sara, if you will allow us —-” She laughed and the old gentleman stopped in the middle of his sentence. “We can’t be friends. Mr. Wrandall.’’ she said, suddenly serious. “The pretence would be a mockery. We are all better off if we allow' our paths, our interests to diverge today.” “Perhaps you are right,” said he. compressing his lips. “I believe that Vivian and I could—but no! I won’t go so far as to say' that either. There is something genuine about her. Strange to say. I have never disliked her.” , “If you had made the slightest effort to like us, no doubt we could have —” “My dear Mr. Wrandall.” she interrupted quickly, "I credit you with the desire to be fair and just to me You have tried to like me. You have even deceived yourself at times. I—but why these gentie recriminations? We merely prolong an unfortunate contest between antagonistic natures, with no hope of genuine peace being established. I do not regret > that I am your daughter-in-law, nor do I believe that you would regret it if I had not been the daughter of Sebastian Gooch.”

“Your father was as little impressed with my son as I was with his daughter,” said Redmond Wrandall drily. “I am forced to confess that he was the better judge. We had the better of the bargain.” "I believe you mean it, Mr. Wrandall.’’ she said, a note of gratitude in her voice. “Godd.-bye. Mr. Ca'rroll will -see you tomorrow.” She glanced quickly about the,room. “I shall send for—for certain articles that are no longer required in conducting the .business of Wrandall &. Co.” " With a quaint little smile, she indicated the two photographs of herself. “By Jove, Sara,” burst out Leslie abruptly. "I wish you’d let me have that Gipsy Mab picture. I’ve always been dotty over it, don’t you know. Ripping study” Her Up curled slightly.

• > “As a matter of fact,” he explained conclusively. "Chai often said he’d leave it to me when he died In a joking way. of course, but I’m sure he meant It.” “You may have it, Leslie.” she said slowly. It Is doubtful if he correctly interpreted the movement of her head as she uttered the words. “Thanks.” said he. “11l hang it In my den. if you don’t object.” “We shall expect Mr. Carroll tomorrow. Sara.” said hts father, with an air of finality. “Good-bye. May I ask what plans you are making for the winter*” "They are very indeflntte." “I say. Sara, why don’t you get married?” asked Leslie, surveying the Gipsy Mab photograph with undisguised admiration as he held it at arm s length. “Ripping!” This to the picture. She paused near the dcor to stare at him for a moment, unutterable scorn in her eyes. “I've had a notion you were pretty keen about Brandy Booth.” he went on amiably.

She caught her breath iherv was an instant's hesitation on her part before she replied. “You have never been very smart at making love guesses. Leslie." she said. ”It's a trick you haven’t acquired.” He laughed uncomfortably. "Neat stroke, that” Following her into the corridor outside the offices, he pushed the elevator bell for her. “I meant what F said. Sara/' h*» remarked. somewhat doggedly. ‘‘You ought to get married. Chai didn’t leave much for you to cherish. There’s no reason why you should go on like this, living alone and all that sort of thing. Y’ou're young and beautiful dnd—” “Oh, thank you. Leslie." she cried out sharply. “You see, it's going to be this way: Hetty will probably marry Booth, That’s on dit. I take ft. You’re depending on her for companionship. Well, she’ll quit you cold after she’s married. She will—”

She interrupted him peremptorily. "If Challij; did nothing else for me. Leslie, he at least gave me you to cherish. Once more, good-bye.” The elevator stopped for her. He strolled back to his office wtih a puzzled frown on his face. She certainly was inexplicable! The angry red faded from her cheeks as she sped homeward in the automobile. Her thoughts were no longer of Leslie but of another She sighed and closed her eyes, and her cheeks were pale Workmen from a tn re dealer’s establishment were engaged in hanging a full length portrait in the long liv-ing-room of her apartment when she reached hoifte. She had sent to the country for Booth’s picture of Hetty, and was having it hung in a conspicuous place. Passing the open library door. Sara paused for an instant to peer within. Then she went on down the hall to her own sitting-room. The canary was singing glibly in his cage by the win-dow-side She threw aside her furs. and. without removing her hat. passed into the bed-chamber at the left of the cozy little boudoir. This was Hetty’s room. Her own was directly opposite. On the girl s dressing table. leaning against the broad, low mirror, stood the unframed photograph of a man. M if h a furtive glance over her shoul der. Sara crossed to the table* and took up the .picture in her gloved hand. For a long time she stood there gazing into the frank, good-looking face of Brandon Booth, -ghe breathed faster; <her band shook; her eyes w r ere strained as I f by an inw*ard suggestion of pain.

She shook her head klowly, as if in final renunclat-ion of a secret hope of the banishment of an unwelcome desire. and resolutely replaced the photograph. Her lips were almost whits as she turned away and re-entered the room beyond. "He belongs to her.” she said, unconsciously speaking aloud; “and he is like all men. She must not be unhappy ” Presently she-’entered the library. She had exchanged her tailor-suit for a dainty house-gown. Hetty was still seated in the big lounging chair, before the snapping fire, apparently not having moved since she looked in on passing a quarter of an hour before One of the girl’s legs was curled up under her. the other swung loose; an elbow rested on the arm of the chair, and her cheek was in her hand. Coming softly up from behind. Sara leaned over the back of the chair and put her hqnd.s under her friend's qhin.

tenderly, lovingly Hetty started and shivered. g “Oh. Sara, how cold your hands Ire!” She grasped them in her own and fondlj stroked them, as if to restore warmth to the long, slim fingers which gave the lie to Mrs. Coburn's declarations. “I've been thinking all morning of what you and Brandon proposed to me last night." said Sara. looking straight over the girl's head, the dark, languorous, mysterious glow tilting her eyes “It Is good of you both to want me. but —” “Now don't say but.’ Sara.” cried Hetty. “We mean it, and you must let us have our way." “It would be splendid to be near you all the time, dear; it would be wonderful to live with you as you so generously propose, but I cannot do it. I inugt decline.” “And may I ask why you decline to live with me?" demanded Hetty resentfully. "Because I love you so dearly,” said Sara THE END.

“Because I Love You So Dearly.” Said Sara.