The Hollow of Her Hand

r father, Sebastian Gooch, shrewdly foresaw the day when land in this particular section of the suburban world would return dollars for the pennies, and wi

cular part of his wilderness into a millionaire's paradise, where he could dawdle and putter to his heart's content, where he could spend his time

t had descended from well-worn and time-stained ancestors to Redmond Wrandall, and, with others of its kind, looked with no little scorn upon the modern, mushroom structures that sp

oved and defied all things supernal, for matches are made in heaven. Their marriage did not open the gates of Nineveh. Sebast

to his beloved daughter Sara, but he fastened a stout string to it, and with this string her hands were tied. It must have occurred to him that Challis was a profligate in more ways than one, for he deliberately

is son-in-law into the Great Beyond by a scant three years, it readily may be seen that he wrought too well by far. Seventeen

claim in the bosom of his father's family that the old gentleman was a father-in-law to be proud of. "A canny old boy," he

gether snugly and firmly, without

ra's father did a whit better by her than he would do. He left everything he possessed to his wife, but put no string to it, blandly implying that all danger wo

f them. Some one made bold to assert that Challis was not in his right mind at the time it was executed. For that

orth at some length and with considerable heat, expressing an opinion tha

the whole blooming legacy in our faces, and be glad to do it. She's got plenty of her own. She doesn't need the little that Challis left her. Then, what would we look like, tell me that

iguratively speaking," said one of t

you mean

hat she couldn't

teral as you,

use the wo

'd have it reduced to gold coin and stand off and

ost distressing way of-er-putting it. Your

n the first place," said Leslie,

he word 'throw,'" said Uncle

asion, George," said Mrs.

ng and short of it. Even if she HANDED it to us on a silver plate,-figu

e was, but remembering in time. He was afraid to utter a word f

right to marry again came up to mar the peace of mind of all the Wrandalls, and it grew to

nd reporters sought her out for interviews. The old interest was revived and columns were printed about the

ily upon all who passed; the hillsides were like spotless carpets, the meadows a riot of clover hues. The world was light with the life of the new-born year, for who shall say that the year does not begin with the birth of spring? May! May, when t

y after their arrival in the country. The house was huge and lonely

their depths of late. Her lips parted in the sudden impulse to cry out against the plan, but she checked the words. For a moment, her dark, questioning e

ing the Sound. The dusk of evening was beginning

ter dinner, Hetty?" went on Sara

s time a look of actual

e more certain to find him

mly. "Of course, dear, if you feel that

y, Sara," apologised He

s your brother.

dear," said Sara, a

ouse," went on Hetty rapidly.

iend, Hetty. H

him through yo

agreeable, you'll admi

is devoted to you. I sh

cause for d

, so considerate, Sara, I can't understand your failing to see how h

. "You draw a pretty fine li

other? That isn't quite fair. You know everything, he knows nothing. I wear

oment of indecision, she laid her hand on Hetty's shoulder.

f-of these things in

e. I was upset-dreadfully upset then, Sara. I d

to tighten suddenly on the girl's shoulder. "I think we

Hetty, clasping her friend's hand as if suddenly spu

ce: "this is my home. I do not love it, but I can see no rea

. "Forgive me," she cried impulsively. "I s

you were quite free to remain on

ra. I could not leave you. All that night I could feel you pulling at my heart-strings, pulling me closer and closer, and holding me. You were in your room, I in min

am," said Sara, w

love me?

seemed to be looking far beyond the misty lights that bobbled with nearby schooners, far beyond the yellow mass on the oppos

far away. The younger woman's pensive gaze rested on the peaceful waters below, taking in the slow approach of the fog that was soon to envelop the land.

rrowing with the intensity of though

"It will never be different from wh

ou have known what I was th

, my dear. You are always asking yo

ar

against you." She abruptly removed her hand from Hetty's shoulder and walked to the edge of the verandah. For the first time,

appeared in

ase, Miss Castleton. Mr. L

ared. "For

fternoon while you were out," very apologetically, w

is a fatal affliction,"

all. I don't see

likely to h

mad

isen, visib

say to him, Sa

the other, still smiling. "Wait and see what it is. Please d

come up from the station

the house. Mrs. Wrandall resumed her c

wrap, ma'am?" asked

n. Open the box of flo

fire in t

rs. Wra

out on Saturday. T

ing train

irty. He will be h

uncertain distress of mind. Mrs. Wrandall was standing before the fireplace, an exquisite figure in the slinky black evening gown which she affected in these days. Her perfectly modelled neck and shoulders gleamed like pi

end the motor in for him. The body of his car is being changed and it's in the shop. He mu

im better, my dear," she said.

g a friend," went on

e portrai

e is charming. You wil

s did not e

he village, this Mr. Booth, painting spring la

ry gates," said Sara,

n I saw yesterday at the brid

's rather vague. It was

the eleven-thirty," explained Hetty. "I thought y

Mr. B

Wrandall arrives. He is stopping

ace. "I am sure he will like us immense

logs for a full minute before giving exp

n her own, "why did Mr. Wrandall ask for me instead of you? It is

sister-in-law. It wouldn't be necessary to ask

uld he feel c

ephone, I suppose," s

understand how I feel about

for ins

sends me flowers,-this is the second box this week,-and he is so

ll send him about his business," she said, "unl

horrible, so beastly

I. We must lie in it-together. If Leslie Wrandall chooses to fall in love with you, that is

alling than to have him

d would be more dram

girl in horror. "How can you

f her suggestion, with the result that it had its full effect witho

elf completely to you," she pleaded, seizing

ate you if I knew everything. As it is, I love you because you are a woman who suffered at the hand of one who made me suffer. There is nothing more to say. Don't bring up the subject aga

t to justi

a Wrandall threw her arm about her and drew her down beside her on the chaise-longue. "I didn't mean to be harsh," she

d the girl, staring

said the other, "you have but to

n a low voice. "And yet

dear, instead of the law," she said ge

you. I give it cheer

t at least permit me to develop it as I would any other posse

u are j

said Sara l

that did not in the least discourage the Englishwoman. The mistress of the house and of the girl's destiny stood in the broad French window watching her as she strode springily

as she paused beside the old English table to bury her nose in one of the gorgeous roses that Leslie had sent out to Hetty the day before. They were all abo

jacket and a broad felt hat made up her costume. She was graceful, adorable; a young, healthy, beautiful creature in whom the blood surged quickly, strongly: the type of woman men are wont to classify as "ineffably feminine," though why we should differentiate is no small mystery unless there really is such a thing as one woman possessing an adorably feminine quality denied to her sisters. Be that as it may, there IS a distinction and men pride themselves on knowing it. Hetty was alluringly feminine. Leaving out the matter of morals, whatever t

falls in love with and reme

ks warm, her eyes clear and as blue as sapphires, and we experience the most intense, unreasoning desire to be nea

ts to draw close to him b

the blood of one of us-and yet we men will overlook

is ready: Hetty was a slave bound to an extraordinary condition. There had been no coercion on the part of Challis Wrandall's wife; no actual restraint had been set upon the girl. The situation was a plain one from every point of view: Hetty owed her life to Sara, she would have paid with her life's blood the debt she owed. It had become perfectly natural for her to consider

ngs in Hetty. She was honest with herself. She did not look beyond her present horizon for brighter skies. They were as bright as they could ever be, of that she was sure; her hopes lay within the

n Wrandall's wife was infinite. In her simple, devoted heart she could feel no prick of dread so far as the present was concerned. The past was dreadful,

smile for Sara, and with love in her heart. She could pay in full if the demand was made by the wife of the m

icable mystery to her

he could no

lain it satisfactorily to herself, and she could have explained it to the world. Self-prese

t the world, with the shadows all about her, and hummed a sprightl

ckerbockers stood leaning against the rail, idly gazing down at the trickling stream below. The brier p

nce at his handsome, undisturbed profile, and in that gla

autiousness in that look of his, as if he were afraid that she might turn her head suddenly and catch him at it. Something began stirring in his heart,

eeing it. Then he straightened up, knocked the ashes from his pipe, and set off slowly in her wake, although he had

ce that he would m