The evening world. Newspaper, March 21, 1916, Page 15

wornrueinnre mnrrmnenncennemeNne | e heSpring Lady} = The Romance of a New York Girl j | Who Made a Strange Experiment. wid ip aa =— PARMAR R RRR RT (Coprright, 1014, by Robbe Merri! Oo.) STNOPSI6 OF PRECEDING CHAPTERS. pote Nar York woman, suddenly grows urel ot home, of society and of tie max who lores. her, ane takes ray fromm all her old life and " bie down cotta CHAPTER IW. The Evolution of a Meal. required—that is, if there was no gas range. But there appeared to be no was range. Obviously, a fire must be built, but how? How <4 people manage in the farther- Most outposts of civilzation, She racked @ brain that had known but Nttle racking and vaguely re- sallod stray hints, memories, frag- saents from her reading, pictures, ete, Where there was no other way peopl Went out and got the fuel themselves -from trees, of course. Ono must take what nature furnished. This thought was tho final link, and she suddenly hurried, triumphant, to the back garden. It took but a few moments to fill ber arms with young apple and lilac boughs. She tore them off with van- dal hand, getting @ shower of water- drops in the doing. It took but little longer to pack them compactly into the stove's maw, drop in several Hgbted matches, and sit down to wait, But after an in- 1 {t was apparent that notning ‘as going to happen. She took off a stove lid and peered tn. The boughs had not altered materially, and @ pucker of doubt creased her fore- bead. Ghe put in more matches—one or two ahe held close against the twigs, @tting them burn to the very end. “What's the matter?” she asked petu- jantly “It doesn't seem to burn. I wonder if they're too wet" —— Perbaps that was it—but whem vould she find anything dry with all ‘utdoors pearled with morning mist. Then she thought of the little shed, and she hastily extracted the green doughs and went for fresh fue: In the corner she dimly remembered seeing wood piled. It was gray with dust—impeccably dry. It was very stout, too—in fact it was the knotty remnant of an uncut cord. ‘Tho exertion of carrying tn the heavy lengths was 4 severe tax. However, it only required three to fill completely the fire box. With a couple of burning matches as the piece de resistance, success must surely crown this effort. Hut sho had ined nothing. There was no fire. Realizing it, her first course was to throw herself down on the dusty ehair and give way to teara, But when thaso had been went the thin, as before, and she got up a) attacked the stove anew. Bhe took out a length of wood—she a0k out two, But why go into ‘t all be had to reach back through lon apping layers of civilization tu that earlier primitive era when man coped imtaught and single-handed agains: natural forces and an immensity 4 She had to use her wits and sum- mon forth what instinct be pos- sessed. It was not easy, When a syoman has met elemental forces all vier life by merely pressing & Sutton ot fs not surprising she makes yendous, unfathomable blunder: Vortunately the matches held out. When she hed wrestled to the stage where common sense and experiment nad taught the need of small kindling, if which the sied offered plenty vf odd scraps, and some manage:nent of drafts, there were still a dozen left 4 box. bs nen she bad lighted her first real fwe, sho had still to keep it It wa oply after {t had died three time what she managed to hold a core « © tomether te ain were flushed now; her «yes brigat. A streak of soot grimed ner fair cheek; her nore Ww like @ himney-sweep's and she was ifs- perately tired, but a fighting epirit vad roused itsolf in her. I'm like Robinson Crusoe,” she thought, os she set a pail of water on to boil, the precious egg repoal within, “It's ike being a pioneer." She went to the door a «ool her cheeks, ‘The wrist had stopped, but ¢t aigh and she heard bells r « whist! Tt was noon probably It occurred to her th. ogg was a rather s ‘In stories people eat roots and her- ries,” she said, ‘and in a country gar- den there must be something.” she bs no thought to the season; her ality table held hothouse vegetables the year round But though she knew a sal or endive, 4s & course; from @ souffle to a cast, she had nothing to guide her vw to growth, She had to rely on her eye-or so she thought. And sbe paused first by those plump, pink, wlip fingers thrusting upward. Quite likely this was a kind of as- paragus——sho would taste It and seo To a small supply ot this she added hor titbit wing near by—pale, rellow-RYeen ; d lot tho atr ler hat someh ay apport ing. She pulled a half-dozen of these. They were newly fledged brakes that arew yearly like a trople juni the north side of the house Rambling far i ahe camo upor the vegetable garden proper, sown peeasionally bya fieighbor to an in aifferent crop was more fortun- ite here, A parsnip. which had weathered the winter caught her eye She did not dow it in its street dress, but she wdideu it to her supply While “the exe | Was bolle hese in turn. potted Aiisecas’cither in flavor OF colle but the parsnip, more or pe, she ate greedily. The fac fer meal was saltless touched her little, When she had finished she put on nore wood and heated water in the pallet ablutions, While tls wa she explored the t nouae, oT! was a @ light tiltering through the shvtre. aka or etopped entirely by an jude of faded paper bor- i quaint painted scene there a forgotten piece uf B tee aver The Evening World Daily Magazine, Tuesday. March 21) 1916 ry furniture stood, a rush-bottomod chair, a scrap of rag rug—in one room 4u old bureau cupboard with half the glass knobs gone. In one of the siant-celled upper rooms she found a bed—a corded painted thing with a tick thrown over ft. The tick was stuffed with drind balsam boughs and had probabiy| served some campers purpose uls>.| It_gave a faint apley odor. | She sat down on this a little. “If} { had a blanket I could sieep here,” ! she mused; “a blanket and some) matches and bread and candle: Why, one could stay here weeks and) no one ever know—I don't know why leame .. . [must bemad... . But oh, I can't go back-—I can't go back—not until I've thought about 1! ~and know what I must do... .”" : RS Gstest IN CrOWNS Her faco was suddenly tragic { the shadowed room, but gradually it grew peaceful. It was so etill in thi dusty, memory-filled house--so sui gestive of sweet, old-time, homely oc: cupation, "I could wait until later and go back to the little shop I passed in the town and get things. or I could stay here and he could not find me . . . and I could see things grow. . |.” She stood a long time looking out of a window. Already she it a brave self-reliance and a swift pos sessive tendern for this sweet- growing old p! And she felt very secure In her re- trent—like a person in some sweet sanctuary, No one should guess where she was, She could not know, of course, of the swift wireless telegraph of the countryman nor that her chimneys / had these many hours ike ancient signal fires told all the countryside that some one was “up to the old Ford place to sta: CHAPTER V. | An Erroneous Conclusion. | NoW | WiLL R. PORTER VESSEY, who! / SHow You represented the electorate THE LATEST In _ BATHING SUITS of Sweethills in the State legislature, was not of the| aristocracy, His wife, how- ever, had been a member of the Stan- ford family and this, together with | his local polittoms prestige, encour- aged a favorabée opinion of him. His wife no longer lived, and Mr, Vessey presided over a large, com-/ fortable and obviously crippled estab- Mshment. No one, least of all its owner, denied its crying need for a feminine hand at the domestic tiller, | and there were a large number of un- | acknowledged candidates scattered through the town. Mr, Vessey how- ever acknowledged only two—and this only in his heart of hearts. He was a large personable-looking man approaching middie life. He was_ seldom aaen ferent in a froek eo: ind for some unfounded reason, based on a wholly erroneous belief, She did not belong in these parts, fancied he resembled William Jen- her dress told that; M nings Bryan, whom he greatly ad- periences at the make it by means of sionis face picked out at leisure, the loose @ delightful sen general conc! There was nothing embarrassed cept in about Mr. Vessey himself; at no time coat. did he permit anything to scratch But though he had her classified the irreproachable surface of his and pigeon-holed in less than three bluff, hearty, confident, amicably minutes, to his complete satisfaction, condescending statesman's menner— her purchases #omewhat baffled the best he could obtain at Albany. him. There was something incon- It was no affair of state of general sistent in a peroxide beauty buying nd a pair of moment that slightly clouded his coffee and candle: brow this soft April evening as he cotton blankets. Even Sol Brownlee's came down the main street of Swest- fervid efforts to force conversation, hills, It was a matter of gentler tex- which Mr. Vessey did not at all hesi- ture. tate to attend, gave him little in- ‘Twenty minutes earlier he had been formation, chatting on tho street with Mrs. Floy You be the lady that’s a-stayin’ Harmon. Mrs, Floy was one of the up to the old Ford place, I take it,” two matrimonial candidates Mr. Ves- he remarked amiab.y. sey admitted. He had never given The golden-haired stranger's hand her any inkling, but the lady seemed fluttered up to her throat nervously. to feel something intuitively. It “The old Ford place?” ie repeated. would have been dificult to prevent “yeh. Guesw you didn't know it her, was called that. B’en in the Ford Mre. Floy was supersensitively in- family so many years it ain't got clined to admiration, She was @ no other name round here.” widow ambiguously “past thirty,” but “No didn’t know it was called handsome in a fine florid way, She had go; she had snap; whe had gin- "| seed yeh goin’ through town wer; sho had a fine figure, of the yest'day. Cal'late you found the compact matronly curves Mr. Vessey @ some dirty. Be you goln’ to admired; she hiad handsome gray eyes stay all summer? i and # clever, not-too-delicate wit. t She had also, like most village women 4, 4y40Rt know," she hesitated. | over thirty, very bad teeth and show- y.4", ‘ymey, 3 half-frightened look ed rather iil in a smile, But Mr. Ves- ye those. own personal care wae The® Was rich Promise of mystery ne “phobla,” did not at all ming Mere: ho ralffed it unctuously this, In fact he had left Mrs, Floy “I ¢'n send them things up in the with o feeling that she was after all mornin’. 1 don't deliver uxhelly— best adapted to grace the big but I'd do it fer an accomin mustard-colored Vessey residence-- “No. No, thank you,” she said he ran square into the other candi- @uickly. “I can easily take the date, “It's a clumsy bund Yesterday Cynthia Field had been a but sho had already started for the little inconspicuous schoolgirl but to- door. He made a final effort. “About day Mr. Vessey with « quickened your m I'll look after {t carefi heart-beat felt connoisseur’s thrill new mall's apt to git mixed. A before her. She was so fresh—s0 you give me the name right softly colored-—so | young. Before Again the startled 100k these qualities Mrs. Floy’s charm « as . rather dimmed until he recalled how pe any Hai” Sr eee gre wont much slimmer she was than Mre. quickly but Mr. Veeury Was betere Floy. She might never tatten up. her, Ie opened the door with charm- and pulchritude of woman was t6 ing grace unira eweeping hom, set Th te essey In proportion to embon~ the degree of bis smile there was just ; a , 4 Shade of knowing sympathy—ot He admired them both—he wanted familiar understanding, eit, were, both, to tell the truth. Tut this was Jt wag a delicately graded eaile Tuli not Utah, and after the profound Pee ae Aedevotont needing una of, to him, subtle significance. Cynthia, who, flushing, would have Unfortunately she did not eee tt. avoided him, he went on with a per- Without @ glance and with a mere plexed mind. murmured “Thank you," she hast- That was a charm of Cynthia's, °ned out 3 too—that shy reticence, The littie “She's a astuck-up piece,” com- thing was too bashful really to show ™mented Soi, but Mr. Vessey didn’t her feelings like Mra, Floy, who ®nswer came half-way and came early at | He stood at the door, paring a that finger nail, the remnant of his un- Still cogitating, he dropped into pleasant smile still on his face, “The Krownlee's store, since there was no hair's a complete give-away, Little immediate need for settling the prob- fool.” he commented sileatly lem, As he opened the door he brush- | When a proper iuterval had elapsed, ed into a customer who had entered he settled his hat on his head and before him, a woman who seemed to followed slowly after her. He did not hesitate slightly before advancing to wish to overtake her in the village. Sel Brownlee's overcrowded and {il- But he kept her figure well in sight. assorted counters He had quite forgot hia matrimonial No woman, unless she was minus a perplexity of a Uttle while ago. This head, escaped at least a fleeting New adventure promised gest ef «a glance trom Mr, Vessey. And this different calibre: Was as wall at ie he observed not only lad @ head, tines that Mr. Vessey wae unmarried but @ handsome one at that. He When the last village outpost had watched her make her purchases, been passed he quickened his pace with @ careful and unembarrasred The stranger» graceful scrutiny that left out no detall ehepe was uot far distant Can You Beat It? sexs ths. By Maurice Ketten mm TWILL SHOW YOU OUR NEW Eton MODELS FOR SPRING AND SUMMER ) THE LATEST IN MORNING GOWNS —— enougi¥for her to catch the sound of his footsteps overtaking her, yet she did not. turn, pleased Mr. Veasey. ation in his hands, as he desired it Mr. Vessey's x- apital had taught mired. The resemblance went no fur- him some discrimination in these ther, however, than Mr. Vessey could matters. She was also too thin to refully imi- conform to his ideals, but her face tated hats and neckwear. was more than interesting—it was ‘Though handsome in a big {mpres- exciting, and when he had analyzed © manner, the details of his a8 far as her hair, he was afire with of adventure. Mr. and watery eye, the prominent, em- Veesey felt that he knew hair—al- barrassed-looking ears vitiated the most as well as he knew women— mm and if such hair grew anywhere ex- bottle, he'd eat his winter he whispered. The girl s\vod motionless a minute Then, “Why—you're and this rather It left the situ- looking at him. only @ common masher,” "t know they had them came abreast and ‘i faced her he did not utter the mock- ing over-polite greeting he had in- tended. For one thing, nettled, that although she could not havo failed to notice him in the store, her eyes were vold of any recognition now, or of any smallest interest. It was inconceivable that this was sincere, and though it retarded mat- ters somewhat, Vessey to be retarded, he submitted silently and began to feel his way, not the less secure of an ultimate in the country The contempt in her voice struck A quick red flashed "he erled hotly. teach you as to that"—— But #he did not look swift fingers she unfastened the gato and hurried to her door. Mr. Veasey was still speaking hotly when she closed and locked !t on the inside. She leaned against the door & little breathless, she said, and suddenly she him full force. into bis face. he realized, not @ pleasant laugh, Tt changed aud- eaw you just ahead of me and I able to assist you with your parcel,” he said graciously, making ag if to take the packuge Ble made no wign of relinquish- nor did it last Jong. denly to tei She sank on the lower stops of the tairway and sobbed wild what it means to be alone" chosen—and thought I might It ts not heavy,” she “Then perhaps you will at least allow me to share your an errand ou! CHAPTER VI. From Her Journal. HAVE deen tere two days Yet when I came I did not dream of staying. it's fate—forcing walk home? to this, and Mr, ‘Vessey, with a silght smile, fell into step with her, “You can not realize how to have the old place o When we heard of you look startled—you do not how rapidly country news travels-- there was general always delightful to have a summer resident arrive-—the or variety—new blood, 1 when I tell them more about you~ when I tell them that at Ford's ia not only a young but © very pretty woman" but swung round, to her, with his subtle smile looked at ‘him, ‘m, her eyes contem You look displeased,” “I beg of you in observing or And yours, Yesterday morning [ wags wakened Y by a loud knocking. When I went to the front door a woman stood on the step-if one may call her that never knew that a woman could look She was the most grotesque crea ture I've ever seen—tall, thin, abso- jutely curveless, with a face like an evaporated apple, creation of black “I've come to clean fur ye--if no one ain't bespoke it?” I couldn't understand her at first, but I presently realized she lean the house for 1 i like the man in the I! may I say, unusual type for Sweethills. seidom—in fact I do not recall ever before a lady of your profee- sion has visited us.” “My profession,” spite of herself. and it certainly needs « cleaning.” 1 have ten cents an hour,” she an- meant this was vend for an hour of groaned wher sho th was that way. I've surprised you You, I know a thing or two—and can two and two together be an incognito, isnt it--and you're quite safe-—from everybody ¢)se I've been around somewhat—I know 7, the stage—a little’ —- The contempt in her eyes changed suddeniy to amusement. me to be an actress?” she exclaimed and for the first time her lipe curved sh'd think ye'd fore ye cami Hain't bien read afraid I did ‘a’ had ‘t cleaned she eald suspiciously. in years.” n't expect to find it ‘ais condition,” TI evaded, seemed to burn to wade into the duet. Hut ye haint’ got not! nt to have a broom an’ @ mop, an’ an’ soap an’ @ kittle for hot Perhaps you wil them in the Vensey shook @ finger at her 1 coquetiahly, "Yes—and if 1 told tt would make of a scandal. We're a atraight-laced set here, But safe trom mo “That'd be a , when your own brooms an’ kitt! T be comin’ soon, How soon do ye expect your farnish- ings?” This was @ new thought. explained that T had none coming. ~for a short stay T had dismissed her. I could, sie told ma she has @ counin i deals in second Uttle I could ge Only,” his face wore the look of 4 cat at @ eream pitcher, “only you mustn't play proud lady I'm on to you and if you want me to sit tight and ler you play + YOu mustn't be too here evenings rhape I could wan wishing times to cheer talk things over Tt be good to tall ittle girl like you.” ar gate now and Mr eyea buruing down into bers Ae “Seraphy Bas jwith you?" Shi old watch dog.’ “I sbould cai'lato she will,” sald a dry voice from tie front door. can wateh out you, Paul Richte with your gailivantin’ round, She not a-takin’ any «lack or names neither from a@ person ain carried Jround when ho had the colic and be- fore his teeth was cut.” For an hour Richter and his new neighbor chatted, Then he rose to tt-have you got her i! make you a good go. He took her hand in dismissal—tho softest, smallest morse! of a cd, It took all his self-control to refrain from crushing It. “You're going to let me come again? like to read you the draft of he added quickly under Mr. Vessey. He asked that, tow, “itut I'm not Vesey,” he sald ia w hurt volce, \ smiled onigmatically ut you are you," she said Ho thrilled “T have never wanted anything #0 much,” he satd In a low voles, “Hut T know so little about plays,” |nhe laughed; “you mustn't overvalue | my opinion. | "oh" he bit off an expletive, |know what I mean,” be sald bo “You mustn't mean thing valid. “You're my nelghbor, remem- on it I'll go the limit on threatened, CHAPTER VIII. \ Mr. Richter Is Stirred. HE birds were flocking north } now. Paul Richter, deep in a big chair in his bay win- dow, watched idly the first burgeoning leaf bloom and the chattering advance of the bird arm Sime Hathaway, his man-ot- \y eH ail-work, stamped in with a telegram Yj tor him. It bore a simple mensage: “Watch out, Chasing this, Heiney. “Heiney,” said the poet, pulling out his wateh, “what's eating him? You'd better tidy up the blue chamber, Hime, I've @ friend coming to stay “ny ! ; = right away? ms In thirty minutes he heard the rum- of Wheels at his gate, Came feet on lis veranda, a strenuous pound- eye houldn't 1 stay here—for a ing on his door and a vision of Sime while at any rate, [ cannot go back ¥ : truggling with —that much ts certain: yet Ido not Ushering In-—or wae it Alrunglilig Wi know what to do with myself, [ —« young, rather ugly, very must think—I must watt until I know, Leaded man in a large ulster and gray Why not here in this sweet, for- he 3 Gotten, old house, with the filly and e slough | Sime off, river showing froin tts winduws-—~imd wriig Paul's hand, remove cap and such & garden! It's full of things. J ulster and disposy of a couple of don't know the names, but [oan bags simultaneously. wcarcely walt, “Welcome home,’ ” id, beam- I am writing this now at my own tng into Paul's face, “Spring haw ble. come at last. Tho frat red tulip has I bought it yesterday from Stlas arrived. What a bully little ° Hand for “six shiitin’.” It's black you've got.” fa walnut, old-fashioned and very solid, “I_expected you five minutes ago. Seraphy Bassett has cleaned the ‘We made good time, I came inthe sitting room and there's a cheerful or the worm, whichever you like wood fire in the grate, I found a blue ~-half a mile in’ twenty-eight min- chink cup and put eome suowdropsa utes—and you are critic {n it on the mantel. sir!” Everything smelis soapy and moist ‘And how do you like the country?* end clean, asked Paul in his best reportorial [ must get some new clothes, I've tone, as his kucst made for the fire, written to the agent for a month's s hands before Sime's new- lease here, Ho lives in Boston and hasn't been here for years, ‘The rent has asked in the past 4s ridtou- the guest amiably. jously low; I can easily manage it. “How many years aince you've been My exchequer ts not very heavy, but outside Broadway, anyhow, Heiney it wil stretch some distance if prices 1!'ll seem darker there without you thus far are an indication, He looked significantly at his guest's I'm not using my full name—only vivid head. “I've wanted to pull you the fret two names, J am to Lo up tere for so long. Of courne it's known ae Rita Ashe. none of my business-—but 1 would A girl came here to-day with some like to know why I'm honored now— custard asa gift to the stranger, and so suddenly.” Sh the loveliest creature I've ‘There's an old geezer up in Madt- ever soen—-all rose and cream and son Avenue--an M, D. in fact--who bronze, 1 asked her to sit down-- might drop you a hint," sald Heiney and we talked a little. Her name is tinpersonally. Cynthia, Paul took a swift step toward him. Tam going to stay here a month mean? Heiney--nothing at least: I've engaged Seraphy to stay with me, | | | | ( mia " retorted hese your cigarettes?” Heiney d with @ pretense of unconcern " at tt tobacco kit on Paul'a table. CHAPTER Vu. “Oh--about the geezer. Why—you A Young Gentleman. see"—he looked out through the NT the end of the road Pay) Prench windows the open coun- sei try—"you see—l—my dear Paul—I'm Richter saw what he had guing to get it in the neck, or per- } come seeking haps, ‘have got’ would be more cor- He was successful to. rect- my throat.” He looked over at day; although for three PAUl for one fleeting recond, his face sobered-—"Where the chicken got the consecutive days hia zeal in strolling axe," he added with @ vVilleinnus ef past the old Ford place had been un- fort at light humor rewarded, “Heiney. You! You poor old scout! But to-day she was there! No Sowers yet.’ eald Halney, ip command of himself again; “It's not The object of his eearch, raking altogether hopeless, old Only a clumsily behind the rusty hedge at ma I wot my walking papers yes the thick carpet of dead leaves acrosy terday—could have knocked me down ay with a feather, to coin a new phrase, her flower beds, aaw him coming, BUY trad uy beastly cold all winter, didn't pretended she didn't. “Another man,” think it anything else—old geezer she whispered to herself, “a pretty poked me in the ribs—sounded my man this time.” windharp, told me to make my geta- “If you're not careful you'll destroy Way--auick. I'd have killed him for those daffodils.” a nickel, Perhaps I ougbtn't have She wheeled swiftiy, the sun on Come here. But you're a tough old her radiant locks, a faint color glow- nut and you can fumigate when I'm ing in her face gone-—can't you? I didn't know of “Oh, that's why you haven't gone «nother earthly place to craw) to. on? You've been watching the daffo- And if you'll put me up @ night ails?’ There was a faint tinge of two, kind lotdy, until I get my bear irony. Paul smiled Inge “Yes,” he sald, “I've been watchi Put you up, you old fool!” the daffodils, I'm a bit of @ hort!- Paul, roughly, his throat full of ¢ culturiat. I'm alo your nelghbor, If tion. “You'll live here if you've got 1 had the spunk of # mouse I'd open to live in the country, Haven't I your gate and come to call on you.” been at you these last five years to “Why don't you?" she aske4, hole up here in the summer, with me. amused I'll make @ new man of you. Hill “The yokel obaya,” ho @aid, as he sunshine and winds and milk and fastened the gate behind him; “the 8 Village hind, freed from the labors of the field, haytens to enter the 1 lady's bower “Vory pretty,” she smiled. “But you must forget you're a man now you're someth ng so much nicer when 4 Karettes—-this is my his head ruefully: no Itttle old New Y Paul, I daren’t think 8 row~-l am New York gO by the door' th you come into my garden—you're my er's riht-—and he's neignbor. I'va never known what the expensive--the chances worm meant untli now, Shall we alt my ever going back —T can on the porch in the sun? I'll get you'll call tt that—tn some Seraphy Basset? to bring out tivo awny fold In the hills. Ry the Lord! hairs’ he ox bitterly, his face distorted » Heiney . My dear »' 3 Did You Ever Hear of Any One Telegraphing With a Fan? A Woman of Mystery Causes Queer Complications That Way in Dead Man's Roc By Quiller-Couch, Next Week’s Complete Novel in The Evening World “DEAD MAN'S ROCK” is as famous in its own way as “Treasure Islard,” and (for the same reason) it lins a charm and a gripping power that can never die. It is mighty well worth your reading —or re-reading wuddeniy, "I'd ra know why T cam “You'll Nke |t after a while,” eaid Paul; “it gets you, Wait till you eee my birds—and my garden.” “I saw @ girl on the way from the station.” “What sort of a girl?” ‘A bea! said Heiney graveiy “No pinchbeck—the real thing. Wac is she, Paul—there's only one of course,” her dio—I don't one ef your business,’ Rich arply “you your medicine, man. You're an in- valid up here—you won't have time for your usual game.” Heiney Van Verden was attractive. There Was @ subtle though careless manner in the wearing of those un- distinguished clothes, which Paul had not yet been able to achieve; and ‘re Wags infinite charm in hia crooked, whimsical mile and ant nated eyes, Paul knew he had won hig full quota of feminine scalps, Now while he led Heiney's thought far afield from the subject of attrac tive women, he could not conceal « faint, latent, half-Jealous wish that be had hot come, {t was impossible, of course, to fear any one of Hetney’s physteal Umitations, and yet—there was to be constraint between them, Pent felt. And he rather hoped’ that riney wouldn't stay—even while ho now played the host charmingly to his old schoolfell | CHAPTER IX. From Her Journal. T has begun, Something told ime tt would. Long before Seraphy had finished removing the first layer of dust from my threshold, 1 knew @ man was going to loom up. And he has loomed, He came yesterday—I don't count the creature who was nasty. This ts the man—it ts very evident he in- tends to be. He's big and young and andsome and blue-eyed, and a little coneeited and certain of himself. Larry would call jim “a bit soft.” One feels that—though he's superbly built and can use his muscles like a man, no doubt, His name ts Peul Richter, 1 like him—but what am I going to do with him? I can't let bim come here. And I won't play with him— it might be entertaining, but no one knows how a thing like that would come out—-here, I've made another wonderful find A squirrel lives under the edge of our roof—in the little attic place you have to use a ludder to get Into, Seraphy says she has seen him here other summers, She says sometimes there's a Mrs. Squirrel, too. It would be lovely if I should have & whole squirrel family right under my rooftree, When | watch the bright-eyed, Uttie thing, I don’t like to muff, They must have taken a great many squirrel families! Yesterday 1 gathered my first er- utus, ‘The pretty Cynthia took me ¢o find it, Sho ia the sweetest person I have ever known, Bhe almost takes my breath away with her views of life. Bhe knows positively nothing about finger mark on ber, I careful not to smudge he myself rigidly. Bvery one | know bas Kot something Of soul, or taint, or tar- nish from life-—if it's ever so litde— but Cynthia is as free and fresh as the sweet April breeze that blew to-day, or the cold, sweet mountain eprin, drank from, I'm not fit to know her, And yet I crave her, Lf she'll be my friend—let me learn from Ser, Whea I'm with her womething drops away from me—a feeling of burden, of uncleanness that I've brought with me from my other life, “Arbutus ts your very own flower.” T sald; “it ts you,” “Some one else told me that onoe.” She blushed, “Then he told the truth” I afd, “I think Tecan almost guess who it was. It sounds ike Mr. Richter.” She gave me a funny, little half frightened look. “But he didn't mean it” she said was only way of disagres it, but it She spoke almost defensively (ir. Richter is a p “Let's hope 30," 1 said quite rude ou don't like him? she askeil There was something odd ieng tng. yet hopeful in her face. “Why shouldn't 1?" T laughed. “Ho « —chi a perfectly good young man—and x stunningly handsome one, too It was a filppant thi to say—in deed I was hardly att « to what T was saying, but her face surprise: me. I wonder—can pretty Cynthi be In love? And with this prett poet? oe] And why isn't he tn ‘e with bh If I were a man T should be ma about her- T went to see Martha Bruce, t baby boy open Ho was the unningest thing—love than any of the park babies f rem ber- and so enifie and aweet, He couldn't have been more than but he pu ut his hand Ike a sah. when t {ttle not tf rthe Fitt I've known (Vp Be Continued } wees