The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-06-19

IN the BuEie Office this woman whose step
vas SO young and whose eyes were so old
something more OF detail he must have
IL would not do to trust too far 10 irnari-
ration, however facile. Looking I'D Ar
Mrs Gilchrist. he said.
W course. YOU have been her friend
straight through. How sorry am have
not been lucky enough to meet her here :"
On, yes, she comes here. but not when
there are people. My dear boy, she has
not had decent frock In ten years. OF
COurse you don't want rights in your
uraWlng-room, not unless they happen 10
D heathen gods or Chinese images or
eeriuses,' Mrs. Gilcnrfst said. She prided
heFselI upon her frankness, albeit ii was
somewhat intermittent quality That Is
why 1 must be certain" she went on. "As
you see I'm sending out cards for
.uheheon Since you gave me your word
TOT TINS. 1 shall write upon them all, TO
meet John Desmond The other women
VIII De wild, but they ought to know by
'i,is tine that IL Is my privilege to have
all sorts Of celebrities before they do"
iou VIII let me come, tOO?" Charlier
said IN his most PLEADING accent Mrs
olchrlst shook her head Impossible.
she said. There should never be men in
any company unless there are enough TO
go round"
TT Is simply beyond belief" the major
SAID, folding and unfolding a hundred
dollar bill. "Our hard time over little
girl! To think you have a genius like
the geniI Of the lamp in that head of
yous'
You are Aladdin and shall summon II
az VIII. Remember. though. geniuses OF
all sorts must work" said Cornelfa. TAX
ing up her pen as there came a knock al
the door. light. well-bred rap that made
her spring 70 her feet and say:
There Is Alice Giichrist, pappy. Not a
word to her"
fou dear obligirS creature. to blossom
OUT as celebrity in Lent Just as we were
dying for something new to talk aboutr,
MRS Giichrist said breathlessly. holding
Corneiia at arms length and looking her
criucaiiy over. NO. / am not going TO
congratulate YOU" she ran on. "AII nv
Iehcltauons are for the major. Dear
Major Thcrnley, can you sleep OF nights
Tor pride in this girl this naughty girl
VINO must not be allowed longer to hide
her light under a bushel?'
Il am no more proud of her noU rhanT
was on the day she was born" Major
THORNLEY, said. you forget that she Is
her mothers daughter"
ana her fathers, too" Mrs. GIIchrist
SAID, suavely. Major. / know a drive
VIII nelp you. My carriage is at the door
DO let IL take you for a spin over the
boulevard"
ne major went. asking himself. What
oid Ailce want that she sends me out of
the way?"
Corneiia had known intuItIyelv AIioa
had a passion for celebrities, particularly
me new ones. In her own mind she had
o1ten debated the point whether or MOI
MIS-. Gilchrist would not pay literally to
make a collection of them, as she col
lected other curios The puzzling thing
was how Alice had thus early found OUT
the identity of John Desmond. Though
she herself did not care to remain I'M
known, she had rot meant TO reveal her
self ahead of McCulloms announcement.
There is no need for me 10 say am
pieased-yeu know it without" Mrs. Gr-
christ ran on. But do, dear Cornelia. tell
me all about it, how you wrote the book
and why and all that. Charter OF the
Bugle. is simply wild over it. / had told
him something of your life, and he said
that explained so much in the book-that
you were like champagne frappe-this
life of yours had driven I'm your
soul emotions and aspirations until they
were all concentrated in that book like
the soul of the wine"
Thank him for nothing. That Is the
tritest, most well worn smile" Cornelia
said with a laugh. Truly, Alice, you
have been dreadfully imposed on. I'm
not famous. All there is to il is that A
Rope of Sand has sold rather we'll and
because readers like it other publishers |
want my work"
And that is what being famous means, |
you precious humbugr Mrs. Gilchrist !
retorted, And you are coming TO lunch |
with me and meet the very cream of my /
set a week from Saturday. You must |
The cards went the very minute l knew. |
shall so enjoy introducing you. Every |
woman Of them has read your book"
Cornelia laughed softly. Then she shook /
her head.
u am awfuIly sorry, Alice" she said, |
but your invitation is not in time"
oh, if you have an engagement, break |
IT," Mrs. Gilchrist said imperiously. ~
simply can't do without you. Remember,
meet YOU"
You will have to do without me not
COrnelia said, good-hu-
uoredly Let US be honest, Alice; We
always have been that. | have no en-
of any sort, but your invitation
$ too late by just ten years Oh, | know
could not have accepted it then, but you
night have trusted to my discretion not
I I
'hall often see each other, it must be IN
he old, informal way"
You don't mean that you intend to cut
he whole world. do your Mrs. Gilchrist
asked, her cheeks very hot UNLESS you
10, give me leave to tell you other people
would have treated you the same a.
AVE done only worse"
VERY likely" COrnelia said. but you
ee, Alice. l dont know it, so can give
myself the benefit OF the doubt without
ntirely losing my self-respect
When. by help Of MeCullom and Charl!er
many times repeated, Cornelia had been
tx months a rising literary star, some
nkling of the fact trickled into the minds
Z her fathers sometime friends and
nancial associates. They were in large
art southern like himself, SO rustled with
aid qualification, saying one to another
hat blood would tell. They had from
he beginning known the major for q
really il was not so aston
'hing that girl Of his had done 80 we'll
90 bad that she had had so much OF an
phil fght' And one of them would have ! ,
cen glad 10 help If only she had let 1t be
nown help was needed. Pity, too, abou, |
ne old place, ThOrnhilli
Maj. Thornley, and his daughter were
hOrtly asked 20 dine az the Swelldorf as ,
uests Of admiring and representative !
OGthesners d0mieiled In New York. Thc
iajOr was for declining, but Cornelia IN
sted upon going. She was very busy |
cry happy, now. Something Of youth !
&C crept into her eyes. She had fresh,
.ylish frocks, too, though still the gray
elyet and the diamond star were at least
year beyond reach.
In good fortune or I'll she was alike
raciOusly brave. "A bank accoLnt oblises
ne not 10 put on frills. don't you think
D. governor she had said upon the
honorable day when the ma OF had gone
state 10 make his first deposit. The