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Updated: June 9, 2025
Father, mother and daughter were at the table, when there came a quick step upon the veranda, and the joy which the gay springtime had put into Wanda's heart brimmed up and spilled over. "It's Garth," said Martin Leland lightly. "I expected he'd ride over to-night." "It's Wayne!" cried Wanda, already upon her feet. "Wayne!" snapped her father, his face suddenly stern. "What are you talking about?"
"Say," was his next word of greeting, "ain't this the doggondest, peskiest wild man's land you ever shot a glimmer of your eye at? Gee, ain't it fierce, lady?" Wanda's smile brightened in spite of her. He shook his head and pursed his underlip and mopped his reeking face. "I'm just in a cold sweat all over," he confided ruefully.
The fact of their loving the same object gives them a closer kinship than that between twin sisters. Wanda's sufferings are too much like my own to permit me even to dislike her. She has rich beauty, a rarely luxuriant vitality, and the immense advantage of being free to show her love in a natural way. I have nothing but my love for her lover!
He made no comment upon Wanda's absence; perhaps he did not notice it. Mrs. Leland, understanding readily that Wayne Shandon's return had its bearing upon her husband's heavy mood, found little to say.
"She's some game little kid," he moaned, shaking his head and making a slow retreat back to the house. "But with them cutthroats an hour ahead of her, she ain't got a show. Poor old Red." But Wanda's heart was beating steadily now, her muscles were obeying the calm command of her will, and she was telling herself resolutely that she did have a chance.
Was he, from the sharp words of an old man who was jealous in his love for his daughter, to draw an excuse to strike at his own cousin and Wanda's father? "Ettinger," he said quietly. "I can't do it. You had better keep your promise to Leland." Ettinger's jaw dropped, his brows puckered in astonishment. "What's the matter with you?" he demanded sharply. "Can't you see the play?
"First thing," he said abruptly, "Hazel's name begins with an H, but she spells it Helga!" "You little weasel! Well, what about it? And what about Miss Leland?" "Wanda's part will keep. Gee, Red, she's some swell dame, that Egyptian skirt, take it from me! She's got Macbeth's frau of the fairy tale faded to a finish, ain't she?" "Look here, Dart . . ." "It's cold weather," interrupted Dart.
"You know YOU like to hear about nice clothes, Eva, and Wanda's were simply gorgeous; white velvet and a rope of pearls is one costume; gray velvet and a silver girdle another; and Idalia was all a 'shower of perfumed laces, and scarlet and gold satin mask dresses, or primrose silk with violets, so lovely! I do revel in 'em!"
Wanda's eyes grew misty. Not once since that day in the spring had she been disloyal to Red Reckless, whom she had known in his boyhood, who had fought her early battles for her, who had been the plumed knight of her early girlhood.
Shortly before Wanda's abrupt flight, she had pointed with childish curiosity to the slender bright chain clearly visible beneath the transparent folds of the black gown, and the young lady had obligingly drawn the locket from its secret place upon her heart, for the gratification of its admirer.
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