The Flirt

, a loosened wavy strand of her dark hair almost touched the page. Hedrick had never before seen her wearing an expression so "becoming" as the eager and tremulous warmth

that his eyes watered painfully with the protracted struggle to r

d forward blinking, with the air

" he asked in sim

book in a flash; then, with a startled, protecti

drick?" she ask

the padl

panted. "What i

itin' p

ilated; she lo

, with an amused nonchalance Talleyrand might have a

sent

lied blightingly. "You may have seen him-I think hi

to arrange her hair, but the other rema

ley and that

her brother and the table. "T

as not deceived, and boys are not only superb strategic actors sometimes, but calamitously quick. Appearing to be u

coo at him; so you and mother'll have to raise a ballyhoo for Dick Lindley and that Wade Trumble. It'd been funny if

she is engaged to M

old Lindley think he's High Man with her these last few months; but he'll have to hit the pike now, I rec

lease run along? I wa

ompany for dinner and

nfusion she answered too quickly. "I only have one e

triumphantly, "what do you

long, Hedrick

dley couldn't see anybody but Cora to save his life, and I don't suppos

e heard upon a few previous occasions when she had easily proved hersel

e swift closing of the door behind him, abandoned that pat

bbiness was but the outward and deceptive seeming of the longest head and the best sword in France-emerged cautiously from the passageway and stood listening until her footsteps wer

wearily to

her treasure, to find the grouping upon the porch as he had foretold: Cora and Mr. Corliss sitting a little aloof from the others, far enough to permit their holding an indistinct and murmurous conversation of their own.

lack stock would have been more suitable to him than his businesslike, modern neck-gear. He had fine eyes, which seemed habitually concerned with faraway things, though when he looked at Cora they sparkle

m hearing that of the smaller. It was carried on for the greater part by his mother and Mr. Trumble; Laura sat silent between these two; and Lind

iving it. Worn by another man, their extravagance of shape and shade might have advertised a self-sacrificing effort for the picturesque; but upon Mr. Trumble they paradoxically confirmed an impression that he was well off and close. Certainly this was the impression confirmed in the mind of the shrewdest and most experienced observer on that veranda

onscience and for argument; for he was a doughty champion, it appeared, when nothings were in question, one of those ste

't say I agree with you. In fact, I do not agree with you: it was hotter in the early part of July,

he poor lady again, a moment later. "I beg to differ decide

would have thought Mr. Trumble at the telephone. Hedrick was thankful when his mother finally gave up altogether the display of her ignorance, inaccuracy, and general misinformation, and Trumble talked alone. That must have been the young man's object; certainly he had struggled for it; and so it must have pleased him. He talked on and on and on; he passed from one

he same to him so

Mrs. Madison, her hand shading her eyes, went over her market-list for the morrow and otherwise set her house in order; Laura alone sat straight in her chair; and her face was tow

ain on the monologue. The end of the long sheltered seclusion of

morr

morr

to go. She remained where she was, motionless and silent in the dark, while he crossed to Mrs. Madison, and prefaced a lea

ve where you did

es

iss, "it recalled a stupendous conflict we had, on

but, stopping rather short, omitted to s

other quietly. "

ughed gayly. "We mustn

us adieus with unmistakable elation. Mr. Trumble's drea

ted to Corliss a searching gaze like an actor's hopeful scrutiny of a new acquaintance; and before they reached th

Lindley her hand.

Richard. Com

fully as he faced the hall light. "What'd you an

," said

d you re

er a lot of u

I want to know wha

is mother, setting a gently

owing suddenly very wideawake and determined. "I won't move

We were only boys, you know

cir

y brother got up in ou

did you fi

wasn't quite fair to

't! How was

her boys; and I thought my b

liss kept

ike that," said

I was in t

e lick

er the

ot unsympathetically, but as a sports

on had emerged momentarily from deep shadows under the trees into the illumination of a swinging arc-lamp at

h was somewhat troub

ame into the light, fo

eyes luminous, she w

as she wrote in

" said Lindl

e reached the foot of the stairs, she heard him movi

the six words were run so rapidly together they seemed to form but one. After a moment

d, it's so-it's