Richmond Palladium (Daily), Volume 35, Number 249, 16 July 1910 — Page 3

. I OUR SHORT 6TOK3f ;;'PAB I

ID yon Dl Diana?" 1 M1m Sinclair moved ber eyebrows I in polite recognition of the fact tbat do naa been aaaressea, ana conunueu to read. "Tbe one at the next table who talked all through breakfast; wbat do you think la the matter with her, Dl?" Diana took time for a glance at her inquiring young cousin: "She la la the New Thought, Oracle," the said. "Yes!" broke In Peter, wbo was Just behind bis alster. "She's got the New Thought with a string around Ha neck." "What Is tbe New Thought. DlanaT" "Give It up. Honey." "Well, I thought," said Grace, "that the talked as ( you were what you thought you were." Peter bent a glance of deep admiration on his sister. "By Jove, Grade, you're a wonder!" be murmured. "And you got all that by Just listening to a conversation that wasn't meant for you. Now I think I am" "Keep still. Peter- di "Miss Sinclair glut . . ii again, tand that you were t iu-n supplied "Did I underwith an apart meat la this hotel?" she queried. "But 1 want to And out about tbe New Thought," aid Grace, "and, besides, my room Is warm, and youraCfe nice and cool." "How about tbe parlor?" suggested Miss Sinclalr, "or tbe piazza, or tbe summer-house, or tbe tennis court, or tbe woods, or" "I never thought to see such Inhospltality," said Peter; "but I only dropped In to say farewell." "Well, Diana," said Grace, In a voice of determlnatlon, "you know tbat Mr. Gresham I Introduced you to last nlgbt?" "Certainly she knows him after you Introduced blm," said Peter helpfully. "You know, Dl, be la staying at the Hunting Club." "Yes," said Diana, with polite Interest. "Well, I met him on the links before breakfast, sod he thinks you are Mrs. Sinclair." "That Is no matter. You can tell htm tbat 1 am DOC". "But I didn't. You see, Dl, be ta awfully nice. I used to see blm last winter at Uncle Will's; and be doesn't like old maids." Grace at last had not only an attentive but a , ronvulsed audience. She was standing on one foot and kicking tbe skirt of her dress with tbe other. In a manner retained from childhood for moments of embarrassment, but she eyed her cousin and ber brother argumentative!, as they wiped away tbe tears of mirth. "Did you call her Mrs. 8lnc!atr?" demanded Peter. 8he nodded. "But anyone can see It In tbe register, you silly." "Silly yourself! 1 put a big blot right in front Df ber name so that It looks like Mrs." Peter gasped. "Do you know where yru will bring up, young lady?" 1 "And I called you Mrs. Sinclair to the clerk, too," said Grace, who had regained her assurance Dow that the news wus broken, "and If you go around correcting me, Dl, we'll get ourselves talked about." "Wouldn't tbat Jiggle you!" said Peter solemnly. "Our little Grace la a forger." "I think, Grace," began Miss Sinclair, with stern. Beat, and then the absurdity of It came over her and lb broke Into laughter. "There Is only one thing." he said, when she had got her breath, "you can keep your Mr. Gresham at a distance. I don't like widowers. I prefer the young and fair the Jackton boy for choice." "He Isn't a widower." "No. the Jackson boy Isn't a widower," said Peter. "Mr. Gresham isn't a widower. He Is a bachDior." "Good heavens!" said Peter. "And you are trying to put Diana oft with an old bachelor. Have you no family feeling?" "I do wish you'd keep still. Peter. He's awfully popular. Diana; he Is so clever, and so handsome, and" Diana waved an Impatient hand. "Whatever he Is," she said, "don't expect me to entertain htm. Why. be must be nearly forty." "He Is nothing of the kind." "Say," broke In Peter, who had been doing some thinking, "where Is Mr. 81nclalr supposed to be?" "There Isn't any. She's a widow." Indignation sat upon Peter's countenance, "1 refuse right now to be a party to anything of the kind." he protested firmly. "It is taking a mean advantage just because the man Isn't here. Sit and laugh heartlessly If you will. Diana; I am not going to have Sinclair killed oft In hla absence." "You are a ridiculous pair," said Diana. "But you understand. Grace, that It Is only because I do Dot Intend to see your elderly friend" Grace sniffed Indignantly "that I do not Insist upon your Immediately correcting your misstatements. I should advise your going away by yourself and meditating oa the difference between George Washington and Sappblra." "But, DU If you'd only think that you are Mrs. Sinclair you see you would be." "And to this has the New Thought led us." ejaculated Peter, "it us shun It, my children!" Oa a green bench nnder a spreading tree sat Diana, and before her stood Mr. Gresham. He was surveying ber with Interest. "It Is strange that you dont like me. Mrs. 61aclalr." he said. She looked up at him. "Oh. by your manner." be answered, as It she had asked the Question. "You refuse to have any tbtag to do with ta: How often have I observed you and Grace and Peter having an hilarious time, but no matter how stealthy my approach, how nnobtrusive ray attempt to share the gayety. you la variably seek the seclusloa of sphinxlike silence. Modestly. I wonder at It,"

notice that woman in gray, V V! Uz&S&t&l If&l W VX- X A '

"You Imagine" she began. "You are too honest to finish that," he said, as she paused. "Besides, why should I imagine It? My opinion would naturally be that you would be glad to have me to talk to considering the scarcity of people. On the contrary, you never bestow a word upon me unless I hold you up for it." "I think this time 1 shall refuse to be held up." with a smile to temper the decision in ber voice. The more the acquaintance grew the greater the complications. She picked up ber book again, deliberately. "I will keep very still," be said. There was anotber green bench under the tree. He sat down on It and laid his hat beside him. He did not even look at her. When she unwillingly glanced at him, over the top of her book, he had his head thrown back and was gazing up Into the green branches. He was very handsome. Miss Sinclair found this fact getting mixed up with Sidney Lanier's symphony when she returned to her book. She frowned and endeavored to concentrate her mind on the poem. Her neighbor was abnormally quiet. She closed ber book and rose. Instantly he was on his feet. "It you have finished reading I'll walk up with you," he said. There was solemnity in his tone. She. smiled In spite of herself. "I have not finished reading," she said. "I am going down by tbe brook." "Then I'll walk down tbere with you," obligingly. There are cows." Frances Diana Sinclair sat down again on the seat she had just left. She did not know whether to be angry or not, and while she was making up her mind Peter's voice came plaintively across the lawn, and tbe panting Peter followed. "Wbat Is It?" she inquired with some asperity, the situation getting on her nerves. "It Is that woman with tbe bird book," explained Peter In a tone of great exbaustion. "She made me walk across three fields to listen to a Wheeler and Wilson thrush, and I caught a little sunstroke. And here was you, my appointed protector, having a nice, comfortable, cool, and happy time under a tree." He dropped upon the bench beside ber. "Did she ever attack you, Mr. Gresham?" he Inquired. "She never walked me across three fields." said Mr. Gresham. "She only asks me whether I've noticed the cloud effects." "That's her," assented Peter. "I never look at the clouds any more. I inquire In the morning It tbere are to be any effects, and It there are I stay In. I used to be a perfect child of nature, too." "I think you underrate that sunstroke, Peter." ' said Diana. "Perhaps 1 do, Mrs. Sinclair." be murmured, and Mr. Gresham noticed how she colored and then laughed. Her face was charming when she laughed, and the fact that all her laughter seemed to be sgalnst her will made It all the more alluring. She straightened out the curves In her red lips and looked at Peter severely. "Where Is Grace?" she asked. "Off somewhere with the Jackson kid. He's been leaving ever since we came; told me he only ran np for a. day's fishing." "How many guests are there?" Mr. Gresham appreciated Peter's presence as an aid to conversation. "Well, there's Mrs. Ivorson. She reads Emerson between meals, and she says you are what you think you are." "It Isn't true," said Mr. Gresham. "1 thought I was an interesting and agreeable companion, and I am not." Diana ruthlessly Interrupted Peter's demand for light on this statement. "Why. here Is Grace." she said, as If she had supposed that young person to be In China. Grace and the Jackson, boy came up, smiling. Grace sat down beside Mr. Gresham and the Jackson boy dropped onto the grass. "Caught those fish yet, Jackson?" Inquired Peter. "No," said the Jackson boy, solemnly, eyeing the sky. "I believe I'll go to-morrow. It's been miserable weather for fishing." "We have been telling Mr. Gresham about the guests." Peter observed, after he had waited successfully for the Jackson boy to turn crimson. "We began, with the New Thought woman, the one that helps you with suggestions, Oracle. "I wish some one would help you with a few In the way of manners," said Grace sharply. "You simply monopolise conversation." "It Is my one little gift. I do what I can with It. If I had your talents " "There are only half a dosen guests," put In Diana, with some effect of haste. She laid her hand on Peter's arm. and he subsided with a gentle grin at her. Mr. Gresham fell Into a half-teasing conversation with Grace. His manner with her was charming, and such as tbe Jackson boy could see without a pang. Diana caught herself smiling once or twice at the badinage. He caught her. too. and smiled quizzically into her eyes. An air of peace nun over the group. "Jove!" said Peter. "I come on for the fishing." wish William could William who?" demanded Grace. "Why. Mr. Sinclair, of course." Mr. Gresham paused a little in something he wss going to say. Grace gave a start and glared at Peter. Diana, who had kept her youthful proneneas to laugh at the wrong time, smiled helplessly. r "It he could come oa tor a week and bring Willie." pursued Peter. Diana gasped. Grace tried to conceal her unwilling mirth In the lace of her handkerchief. Peter sat la pleased and contemplative silence. "I am afraid. said the Jackson boy. "that they would find It pretty poor fishing." "Not they," said Peter promptly. -Why, ft

wouldn't make any difference to Willie and bis father " "Oh!" Diana appealed to the Jackson boy with sudden animation. "Will you come and show me where that fir balsam Is?" she said. "I want to get some for a pillow." She went across the lawn with the Jackson boy. Mr. Gresham did not look up. "Say, Diana," whispered Peter at her door that nlgbt, "he thought you were a widow. He did not say it In words, but I, Peter, could see it. He told me to say that he would not be over to-morrow; be Is going to Boston." Mr. Gresham had been gone three days. Diana bad taken advantage of tbe uninterrupted solitude a deux to extract from Grace and Peter a solemn promise to refrain from all allusions to any husband, departed or otherwise. Now, with a mind at ease she sat on the piazza on the afternoon of Mr. Gresbam's return, and denied to herself tbat she found It a natural and desirable circumstance when his tall gray-clad figure appeared at the turn In tbe drive. He came up the steps with his aomIfyo kamtJbtUhsd rtadinff, customed athletic stride and shook hands. Diana greeted him smilingly. Grace and Peter, rackets tn hand, came out from the house. "Come and have a set after you are through talking to Diana," they both urged. They were very fond of Mr. Gresham. But IX seemed that Mr. Gresham was sot evea sitting down. "I am on my way to the Tillage, he said. "1 dldnt really mean to stop at alL Please don't count this one up against me. X am coming over later to call." Then he turned to Diana, who was looking 'unusually lovely la her -best white gown with her head thrown sgalnst the high back of her chair.

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vJEANNETTE 0OPERJ

JJ - - "The world Isnt very large after all." he said. "It Is tbe proper preface, Isn't it, for saying you've met some one that some one else knows." Diana, forgetting her dual role, looked a pleased Interrogation. "Did you meet some one that we know?" she asked. "Yes, I met Mr. Sinclair." Diana gave a Btart and stared, her face growing crimson. Peter murmured an exclamation. Grace spoke up excitedly: "Why. you couldn't." she said and stepped. "I happened to sit beside blm on tbe train." be explained in answer to her contradiction, "and we got to talking about this place. He was good enough to tell me his name and say that Mrs. Sinclair was staying here. It was rather odd, wasn't it? I bad supposed that Mrs. Sinclair, like you and Peter, was from the West." He had kept his eyes from Diana during this speech. Now he turned to her again. "Mr. Sinclair told me that he expected to run up over Sunday." The open-eyed horror with which this was received was too patent to be Ignored. Mr. Gresham turned to Peter, who was purple with repressed I'll walk up with yon,- Am amid. enjoyment. . "111 make my tormal call later, then. be said easily. "It Is nice to be In the hills again." He lifted bis hat and went down the steps, avoiding a look at Diana. Tbe three left behind sat in silence. It was Peter who broke it. "It's up to us, now, to do something." he-said briskly. ' - "In my opinion." said Diana, "you have done quite enough." -v.. r - "Now. see here, Diana" Peter addressed ber with , grieved firmness "I'm not going to be blamed for more than Ire done, I didn't pat Sinclair on that train." - - - . "WelL yon . Insisted m his being aHTe," Grace, "and now yon seel It gives me the ahivc

It's Ilka Frankenstein, or sontethtng. Ton starts) him out, and now he'a going on himself." "Your little brain to liable to torn wtth this, Grade." said her brother, looking at her anxiously. "You run along and play with Jackson. Leave It to mature minds to cope with this problem. "I think." said Diana, ."that I will excuse ywm both from farther assistance." Grace swung her racket excitedly. -Well, an I can say ts." she remarked, "that If yen had let him stay dead yon would hare eared yourself a lot of trouble." She started down the steps with righteous switch of her skirts. Diana got ber hat , "May I ask where yon are going t" said Peter . "i dont know." "I would offer to go with you." said Peter, "hut" "It wouldn't do you any good.- said Mies Sinclair. She pinned on the big white hat and gave an absent-minded touch to the lace of ber blgb collar. Then she gathered up ber skirts and 4e ' parted. Left alone, Peter devoted himself to meditation. As the man of the family it was his duty to straight, en things out. He would go down by the big elm. Intercept Mr. Gresham on his return, and explain matters. He gave Mr. Gresham halt an hoar longer to get through his errands la the Tillage; then he put "Stalky and Co." In his pocket and strolled leisurely down through the fields to the big elm. and as he went he revolved in his mind how he and Mr. Gresham would laugh over the mistake, and how he wonld go back to the hotel . and make Diana happy with the news that she was again at liberty to wear her thirty years in honorable splnsterhood. There was a bench nnder tbe tree. Peter laid himself down upon it and read. ' ' A half hour later he closed the book with a reminiscent grin and raised himself upon his elbow to look around. One astonished sure he gave and fell back upon the bench. "Oh, my sacred Sam!" said Peter, out of Stalky and Co. Three people were approaching! Up the road from the Tillage came Mr. Gresham. Down the road from the hotel -came Diana. Across the fields came Grace! Diana had reached the bench. She looked down npon the prostrate Peter, and her expression was such as to make that young man roll over and hide his face In his arms. "I wish," said Diana, sharply, to hla shaking back, "that It were possible to lose yoe for a moment." - "Have yon noticed,- gargled Peter, "fhat Grace - .: :'-if . ? Diana followed his pointing finger; then she sat , down heavily on Peter's feet. Grace climbed the stile In a rash, and descended upon them In a state of red-faced reproach. "Why In the world couldn't yon stay away?" she demand ed. "I came down here to tell Mr. Gresham" "Three souls with bat a single thought,- said Peter. "If yon will remove a hundred and forty pounds of wrath and consternation from my feet, Diana, I will meet the approaching cause of all our woe " Mr. Gresham exhibited no surprise at the sight of the three cousins on the bench. He was looking rather serious. He spoke directly to Diana. "I, carelessly." he said, "neglected to give yon something that Mr. Sinclair asked me to dellver." He proceeded with carefnl deliberation to look through his pockets, while varying emotions chased one another across the faces of the waiting trio. "Ah, here It Is." He produced and handed to ber a flat package. "Diana took It as if It were a bomb, and eyed ft unhappily. "It can't be for me," she said. "1 " "It is for yon." said Mr. Gresham, and Diana, after a helpless look at the others, opened It, No one of the other three attempted to keep op any conversation while she slowly unwrapped the photograph that the package contained, and held it up before her. Even Mr. Gresham seemed to have forgotten that convention demanded a lack of Interest In other people's packages, They were all openly watching Diana, and Diana was growing redder and redder. It was a long time that sho looked at ft. Then she dropped It into her lap and two pairs of eager eyes fell upon it. The ether pair smiled Into Miss Sinclair's. "Why," cried Grace, -It's yon, Diana! Wbo ta It with you?" Mr. Gresham answered: "The other Is ISrsv John Gresham, a cousin-in-law of mine."And you knew all the time." Reproach, reflet, Indignation, and much embarrassment mingled In Diana's tone; then a little hauteur crept la. "I don't understand how yon got this," she said. - "There is a note with ft." he answered. Diana was a good deal longer reading the note than she bad been looking at the picture. Nor did sbe lay it down when sbe had finished, ft ran this way: "Dear Bob: I am sending yon this photograph yon have wanted so long. I am sore Diana will not care, though I always meant to write her about your infatuation with her pictured self. By tbe way, I hear from tbe Osborns that sbe Is going to Kearsarge for the summer. Too bad your business Is taking you to Europe Instead of to tbe mountains. Affectionately, &.- v.. -.V; -HELErt. "But how did yon see Mr. Sinclair?- said Grace. , Mr. Gresham laughed. "Mr. Sinclair Is for yon to explain." he said. Grace's round eyes were Btm glued to the photograph In Diana's lap. - "I don't understand,- she said, -how "A natural desire to get even,- explained Petes, -combined with the pernicious Influence of the tCew Thought " "But I dont understand how be came to hare

Diana's picture.- , Tbe solemn expression on Peter's face deepened. "I believe 1 am beginning to" he said; then he got slowly to his feet. "You go back and finish your game. Grace. Jackson is waiting, I am going up to the house and find the bird woman. I want to find out whether the yellow-tailed warbler eats seeds or worms." He pulled his still dazed sister after him and they departed across the fields. Diana folded up the note and sat silent, her res on the oieture in her lap. Robert Gresham sat down on ber. -Do you smderatand. Diana?"

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