Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1900-07-14

considerable kindness Miss Taylor sent
a closed carriage to the station to meet
the travellers.
"Why didn't you bring the dog car"
Godfrey asked his servant, when he
found his equipage waiting for them; but.
the man answered that he had only done
as he was told.
ooh, yes, Of course; they know your
tastes. Didn't say that you lived in
the lap of luxury?" exclaimed Jack.
There was an open door to receive them
at their journeys end, and warm glow
of lamp and freight in the hall, and In
the midst of the glow 1.ita's girlsh fig
ure.
"That looks pretty" said Jack, gazing
at the picture as the carriage drove up.
In another moment or two he had
Jumped out and was upon the doorstep,
looking on while Rita kissed her father.
"Ah, you don't remember me?" he said
when that ceremony was concluded, and
then he put out his hand. and. looking
demure and pretty, Rita took 1t.
mo, I don't remember you." she an.
swered.
"1'his h my friend. Mr.. Dallas, Miss
Taylor" Godfrey announced; and Miss
Taylor .cund herself gazing In surprise at
the youthful looking man who turned
and greeted her.
"Why, I quite misunderstood. Rita
said he was DID," she exclaimed to God.
frey afterward. ~ got the warmest
room In the house ready for him, and
sent the close carriage to meet you"
Godfrey burst out laughing. THAT Is
too good a joke not to be told to Jack"
he said; and 20 presently he turned the
tables OH his friend with some enjoyment.
Rita expected you to arrive upon
crutches," he said. "No wonder Miss
Taylor sent an easy carriage for you.
She has been making all kinds Of prepa.
rations for your comfort. You will find
the softest easy chairs in your room, and
there will be hot water bottles In your
bed presently"
HIN! and so that Is how youth would
treat decent middle-age" exclaimed
Jack. not condescending after this speech
to more than a smile.
"NOw I drew much trucr picture ee
you" he said to Rita In the course Of the
evening. II knew exactly what you
would he like. When last had the
pleasure Of seeing you, You were small
person In pinafores. You had your hair
cropped all round your head. You had q
habit of screwing your knuckles into your
eyes, and Of occasionally bowling, and
you used to sit on my knee and play with
my watch chain. was prepared to find
you very much changed. but knew you
would appear with your hair turned up,
and your pinaforcs gone, and your frocks
down to your heels; but never expected
to find you transformed into a matronly
woman. with wrinkles on your brow. See
how much common sense I have, and
how wanting In common sense you must
be-"
And then he. stood rather defiantly be.
fore her and laughed; and Rita was lit.
tie abashed and did not quite know what
to say. 1t was true she had called him
old, and rs far as years went he was
old. she thought, and yet she could not
but allow to herself that he certainly had
not the look or manner Of an elderly gen.
tleman.
II was 70 little when I saw you before;
you forget that" she said, rather depre.
catingly after moment.
"And seemed 30 very big. do you
mean to imply! he asked.
"N-o: you are 10. so Sei, big" Rita
said this little bluntly. Il don't sup.
pose ever thought you that; but I am
sure. you know" half reproachfully, "that
when ono Is a child all grown.up people
seem rather old"
"And how do they SEEM" inquired
Jack, pleasantly. "wAen one comes to he,
let Us say. eixA.ssA Or thcreaboutsi'
And then poor Ritz looked embarrass.
cd ahd blushcd again.
II don't know" she said. shyly.
II suppose you still think of me as q
sort Of Mcthusclahy
mo, DON'T" she said.
"One Of the patriarchs, then. at any
rate?'
II think you look younger than papa
does" she said.
"Wcll, l ought to. for I arr his junior
by three months, and at our time of life
three months tell" replied Jack. grave
ly.