The Trumpeter Swan

aks beneath which the horses now stopped. The big trees were dropping golden leaves in the dryness. From

ent back to bustles and bonnets. There were deeper memories, too, than of clothes-of old friends and young fa

n. Separate plans had been made by the boarders who had packed themselv

atience; "if we don't eat on time, we shall have to hurry. I

as a hostess. "Well, of course, we couldn't begin without them, could we?" sh

s wiry hound, loped along with flapping ears in the rear of the lo

carriage, "I can't tell you how honored I am to be included in your par

get it at the Country Club. We Bannisters have lunc

ty ye

, of course, when all the old places were owned by the old families. But they can't

, as they settled themselves under the trees

" Mrs. Beaufort told her, "your

hat. "I couldn't get it up

s critically. "Caroline," he said

sake," Mrs. Paine told him, "then he'

ir curled to make me love you," said her t

-consciousness, made a diplomatic contributio

. "I feel much better," she said; "th

She was of the same generation as Aunt Claudia, and a widow. But she wore her widowhood with a difference. She had on to-day a purple hat. Her

me back when I try to be

ack, Mother," he said, "when you get your mind on a

t, lighting up with the thought of it. "I hadn'

letters since he went over," the Judge

er. And I think Truxton has done very well

te to me e

Moth

, you

nd. Truxton isn't. And I'll bet when Aunt Claudia

vely letters. I have the last one

ch, Claudia," t

eeks. She adored her son. She could not understand her father's critical attitude. Had

ippins came by-Mr. Flippin and his wife, Mary, and little

erations of Flippins had been small farmers on rented lands. They had no coats-of-arms or family trees. They were never asked to dine with the Paines or Bannisters, but there had b

party that Mrs. Beaufort said graciously, "I am read

a sort of tense ea

rs. Beaufort read in her pleasa

f the days-little details of the towns through which he passed, of the houses where

y," said Mrs. Beauf

and he

f a little clearer, Ran

ages stuck up on the brown hillsides like rosettes-and the minnows flashing in the

he smiled he was aware of a change in Mary Flippin. The brooding look was go

y, over there, my bones ac

p. "Virginia, God bless her,"

esently-the slender mula

ck to Washington," Mrs. Paine remarked, "

w what we are coming to. Did you s

chiefs on their heads and went barefoot. But the world moves, and some day when we

xpertly. Randy smiled at Be

ngr

ven

on't l

n't

bread and butter

kind

pice and eve

to say such thi

I always

ay. You've grown up, Ran

like m

n her voice but no coquetry. "W

cks under the surrey from a pasteboard box cover. Having thus separated himself as it

ld asleep in her arms, and looked down on the Judge's party. Except for an accident of birth, she m