The Clarion

ein "recherché" vies with "exclusive," and "chic" disputes precedence with "distingué," it is sufficient for the purposes of this narrative to chronicle the fact that the pick

ering by what path to attain to an unidentified hostess, when Miss Esmé Elliot, at the moment engage

ly lost in the impenetrable depths of you

d Mrs. Willard, thus abrup

ay, looking as if he

s, trying to peer around an interveni

stus has

, with a slight limp, had noticed the newcomer and was now intr

ed presently, "I wan

at his full face was shown. "It's H

t looks nice. Please, mayn

break it? It used to be a

he

When you were

he

He was my boy-knight, and chaperon, and

u?" demanded Miss Ellio

a boy of fifteen, and I a mat

cused the girl, noting a brig

the other demurely. "There always is, isn't ther

dn't know h

m. He doesn't even know that I am the Mrs

be over here in a minute. No! Don't get u

s it, N

o feel well, abo

y n

three times in the last week with Will Douglas

ought you

ot plaintively. "Too much Douglas! Yes; I shall be

end you

I shall suddenly recover, about two

rri

ou're to see that the young Greek godling

sm

'd rather have me," s

anley Maxwe

accustomed to abuse from you. But you

thing when you put on tha

but giving her friend a little hug. "Her

eld, moving to meet him with outstretched hands, a little

forgotte

old boyhood name springing to hi

p at her big husband. "I didn't know that the

t has happened to me in Worthing

leasantly. "Jinny has never ceased to wonder why she heard no

opped me so unaccountably. It's rather luck for me, you know," h

is to make acquaintances. Come and dance this dance out with me and then I'll

the strongest recommendation to the buds of the place. And, indeed, before they had gone twice about the floor, many curious and interested eyes were turned upon them. Not the leas

ispered his partner. "I feel it. And where did

han't have much time for gayeties.

're to dine with us; quite en fa

ink that wou

htest human being in the world," she said sober

mer. He did not then know the tradition of Worthington's best set, that hospitality to a stranger well vouched for should be the common concern of all. Very pleasant and warming he found this atmosphere, after his years abroad, with its happy, well-bred frankness, its open comrad

his nostrils the fairy-spice of the arbutus-scent. He turned quickly, and saw her

been looking for you to present you to Miss

springtide hue of the wild flower at her breast was matched in her cheek. Her head was held high, bringing out the

e was full of amusement. "Have you laid a

vered himself, th

he paraphrased, "'but

e into a little trill of mirth, too liquid for laughter; being rather th

you," suggested Hal, "I'm su

y, "that-No; here's one just bef

hastily. "It's awfully goo

d," said the girl, noddin

ort recall the next day. He was conscious, on the floor, only of an occasional glimp

he challenge of deep-hued, velvety eyes, regarding him with a somewhat petulant exp

d Miss Kathleen Pierce, pout

o him as Dr. Merritt a striking-looking, gray-haired young man, who had come up at the same t

ready, Hugh. I'm going to give this

I want it

ould have come around earlier. I'm not in the h

ugh the solid phalanx o

try that new step I saw you doing with Mr

nate you

nfortu

unattainable. Life mus

t you? Don't you think it's fun having everything you w

leading citizen?"

opular, but I suppose Pop is the most influential. Between the two of them they pretty much run this litt

dressing local royalty," sa

stood not far off, and noting the quiet force and competence of the face, Hal hazarded a guess to himself that the very frank young barbarian with whom he was talkin

es

're the newest toy. Still, you might find a spare hour be

, by the time the one-step ended. Nevertheless, he admitted to himself that he had b

ored young fellow with a pained expression that he must have made a mistake about

" she said as Hal approach

y," said

here we can sit. And then y

o herself that she had seldom seen a more p

ir way to a nook under the stairway, specially adapted to two people o

if you're good. Besides," she added with

ked, amused

setting sin. You'

rm. It may mean

m, "is a phenomenon, a social phenomenon. Of cour

charm that s

going to sett

ined the labo

ind of

've just start

! Which

'Clar

changed. "Oh," she s

like the

now. And you're going to begin at th

. That's braver. Anyway, it's more

I hadn't he

it yet. No outsider

ked into his face with shining eyes. "Tell

thing about

er yellow,

s. That's one of the t

I owned a

you?

ink in her cheeks deepened. "There's nothing in the world like the thrill of t

Couldn't you exert the power witho

ow

fluence upon the obliging pro

Do you think I'd make a good Goddess-Outs

or a spray of your arbutus, I'll sell

cried. "What wou

d proprietor on all poss

y priv

f a queen ov

. But it was a false gesture. Esmé Elliot was far too practiced in her chosen game to compromi

. She looked very lovely and childlike, with her

undertake a partnership on five minut

wholly," he s

ed," she said lightly. "Are you

ith an adorable assumption of protectiveness, whom he was to meet and dance w

she said, "about the-th

more politeness than enjoyment, then s

hen," she said: "and you s

nette," said he gratefully. "Without

him over with approval. "As for being a lost soul, you don't

orld to live in," said Hal

," she said anxiously. "Are you

vain about? I've never do

olidified. What have you been doin

e replied, smiling. "Not

Esmé Elliot?" sh

ive," said Hal

nantly. "In all your travelings, I don't believe you'

s you far, Lady Jea

her here to dine to-morrow;

out on my account," s

ore than half in lo

unless you've wholly forgotten the

le-aged lady who is most old-fashionedly in love with her husband,"

or that sort of t

talking to you about her," said Mrs.

ular. I just gathe

"Most men think her a desperate flirt. She does like attention a

dent

ing it. Esmé has never been really interested in any man. If she had ever been hurt, herself, she would b

e to her

omplex, and she is ambitious, without knowing it. Fine and clean as our Worthington boys are, there isn't one of them who could appeal to the im

re hasn't fo

him. "That's rather subtle of you," she said. "

t a shot in

him to-night,-but he has troubles of his own, elsewhere," she added, smiling. "I had hoped-but th

t might be Dr. Me

ou know?"

a glance, different and of a b

han herself. Heaven grant he's the right one! For when she gives, she will give royally, an

al. The talk had chan

l! The man I want for Esmé Elliot must have in him something of woman for understanding, and something of genius

y Jeannette. Well, I've ha

d, a little wistfully. "How poor Esmé's ears must be burnin

e glance from Esmé Elliot's lustrous eyes, as they met his across her partner

ter the last guest had gone; "I don't understa

might suppose he was

ms to be clean stuff all through. He looks it. He acts it. He carries himself like it. And he talks it. I had

ad a mother

What ab

idvale. He was an itinerant peddler of some cure-all then. She was a gently born and bred girl, but a mere

it in a girl of a

r loss and never wholly got over it. He transferred his devotion to the child, who was only three years old when the mother died. When Hal was a mere child my mother saw him once taking in dollars at a country fair booth,-just think of it, dearest,-and she said he

. I do like the boy. Blood does tell, Jinny. But if he's really as much of an Ellersley as he loo

e in buoyant spirits for the dawning enterprise. On the breakfast table he found, in front of his plate, a bunchy envelope addressed in a small, strong, unfamiliar hand. Within was n