The Gray Dawn

could play the game of light conversation to perfection. By way of bridging the pause in events, he set himself to describing the society in which the Keiths would shortly find themselves lau

atmosphere Sanso

soon attend a reasonably pleasant funeral! Some of them try to entertain by playing intellectual games--you know, rhyming or spelling games--seriously!" He went on to describe some of the women, mentioning no names, however. "You'll recognize them when you meet them," he assured her. "There's one we'll call the Social Agitator--she isn't happy unless she is running things. I believe she spent two weeks once in London--or else she bu

nsome," laughed

cisco society--such as existed at all--as stodgy, stupid, pretentious, unattrac

him, "and she's the only one I've seen yet. I

till most cordial and enthusiastic over his little party, Sansome noted with quiet amusement

ing missing for a wonder. I've spoken to the manager about dinner for five." He turned to Nan with bright

groaned

matter?" inq

ore? Tough, stringy, unf

scinated by the

urged defensively, "and I

meet again after an hour. Sansome

that of the Sherwoods'. Indeed it was little more than a pine box, containing only the bare

best I could do. And the price is horrible. We'll have

was responding to the stimulation of having made a good impression. Her subconscious self was perfectly aware that in the silken negligee, under the pink-shaded lamp, her clear soft skin, the pure lines of her radiant childlike beauty, the shadows of her tumbled hair, had been very app

m like this," grumbled Keith, busy at the trunk. "The Sherwood

this subject, she arrested

k to take the stranger i

e remark. It had expressed the vague instinctive recoil of the woman brought up in rather conventional circumsta

tantly demanded, with the masculine in

opening her eyes in surprise. "

ed Keith. "They certainly h

eet, and was convulsed at the figure made of

, Milt," s

ughter, pointing one shaking finge

k what you

idea what giant strides he had made. He told her of the city, and he enumerated some of the acquaintances he had made--Calhoun Bennett, Bert Taylor,

to welcome! Oh, this is going to be the place for me; opportunity waits at every corn

been told-- the contemplated public improvements, the levell

ures in town, that the population was only about five hundred--there are thirty-five thousand now, that--" he rattled on, detailing his recently acqui

ry accustomed circumstances she would never have thought of donning so elaborate a toilette for a hotel dining-room, but she was yielding to reaction. In her way she was "celebrating," just as was Keith. He

recovered from the sea!" cried K

me all up!" chided Nan

slippery; the tables shone with white and silver. An obese and tremendous darkey in swallowtail waved a white-gloved hand at them, turned ponderously, and preceded them down the aisle with the pomp of a drum major. His dignity was colossal, awe inspiring, remote. Their progress became a procession, a triumphal procession, such as few of Caesar's generals had ever

night's rest and knew it. Keith himself was a trifle sleepy as an after affect to the earlier drinking. Sherwood was naturally reserved and coolly observing; Mrs. Sherwood was apparently somehow on guard; and Sansome, as always, took his tone from those about him. The wild spirits of the hour before had taken the

nk me rude, I

to see more of this fascinating city, rose with so evident an alacrity under restraint that Mrs. Sherwood scarcely, concealed a smile. She s