Argosy, Vol. 119, No. 2 — page 26: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

176 round the little group in Araminta’s. draw- ing-room. Even the most informal of dinner parties is not improved by unpunc- tuality on the part of one of the guests, and for fifteen minutes now every one had been waiting for Robinetta Cortland to appear. Even the arrival of the cocktails had not saved the situation, for Tony had still re- mained gloomy, and David had been dis- tressed at his sister’s absence, begging his _ hostess not to wait dinner. “I can’t think what has come to Robin,” he had said. ‘“ She promised to meet me here; she is the most punctual person, too; uncomfortably so, almost.’ * Aren’t you afraid something has hap- pened to her?” Tony had roused himself from gloom to ask. He had fallen a ready prey to Robin’s charm during his call upon her that afternoon, and had come into Araminta’s house absurdly early, with an eager expression in his eyes that Miss Letherby had at.once noticed. She laughed at him openly now. “Tony, as if a modern girl couldn’t take care of herself.” “ Robinetta can,” said David with a laugh. “ Out West she had to, you know; she was all alone.” “ Of course you were in—” The slight pause was evidently an invitation for infor- mation. David took advantage of the op- portunity it gave him to address his hostess directly by answering as he crossed the room to a seat at her side. : | ‘In Europe.” ‘And your sister was alone out West?” The accent was almost anxiously concerned. David thought it another mark of tender- ness in this adorable woman that she should be concerned about the lonesome life of a scarcely remembered girl. ‘“ Of course she was at school most of the time,” he smiled. “ Still,” said Tony, interrupting pessimis- tically on the main issue, ‘““ New Vork is New York, you know; it’s a bit different from the West. I wouldn’t let a sister of mine go around alone in this city.” ‘Don’t say that to Robinetta.” “Ts your sister so militant?” asked Ara- minta. Her eyes were soft as velvet to- night, David thought, as he answered. Her evening gown was simple; in his masculine ot = Sn <p Cae C= ee en = “ ate Cex. een ee cr = Se pe Re Sch pe nary ot Ae eae ree nee RS Poke Pe eae em On Cay Some, Ee aan THE ARGOSY. innocence he thought that an ingenue might have worn it, not recognizing the art of the switling golden draperies and the big sash of dull gray velvet caught with an opal pin. The opal earnings she wore gleamed rosy and blue and gray as they caught the color of cheeks and eyes and girdle, David _ thought. But not even the gleam of deepest. blue in any jewel could match the depth of Araminta’s eyes. « His voice breathed his admiration, and — Araminta half smiled. She had seen that expression too often in men’s eyes not to know its meaning. in a corner Anita watched the little scene without criticism. She had sometimes won- dered why it was that men preferred beauty to brains; but it seemed to be an irrefutable fact. | The announcement of the phone-call came as a relief. Tony grinned, catching Araminta’s eye. looked at him eagerly. Tony, because he could scarcely wait to hear news of his new divinity; Anita because, having missed her luncheon, she was desperately hungry; Ara- minta, out of real curiosity to see this young girl whom her brother adored, and Tony— an artist, after all—considered lovely enough to admire. She might be stupid, but Araminta had a very certain belief in Tony’s artistic sense. “It was Robin; she telephoned to say that she had a breakdown with the car and could not possibly get here for twenty minutes if she stayed to dress. I took the liberty of telling her to come as she is. JI hope you don’t mind, Miss Letherby?” “Tm delighted,” said Araminta, with a sincerity that brought a little cynical smile to her secretary’s lips. , | Almost as she spoke the butler opened the deor and announced: ‘“ Miss Cortland.” A slender girl entered swiftly, her eyes searching for her hostess. She seemed to be dazzled a little by the brilliant lights of the room—Araminta insisted upon bright- ness always; she had no need of a subdued light—and paused on the threshold. David took her hand, presenting her to Miss Letherby. ‘‘ Why Robin,” said he, “you came on the wings of the wind; I had only just come back from the phone.” comicboo As David returned all ss) com | TS <a ee a a ee a ee Nl” ee, ee SS hy he tee ey