The Monticellonian., 1904-10-06

Her lifted face winsome and winning Nas full of interest.
 And where is Phoenix. papa? In New York 2"
 Why. Rene!"
 He gave a perplexeG little laugh, then raising his voice, called:
 Roger. come Eeret
 A square shouIdered, thick-set man 1f some 20 and more years came from the little readiue-room into the library His gray. dark-lashed eyes wavered slightly in their placid steadiness when they rested on the slight. young form of his friends daughter
 Good evening Rene"
 Good evening. Roger Papa has ,slled you to witness an expose of my geographical ignorance"
 "Shc asked if Phoenix was in New York. Grant, thought you would ap- preeia.a that and locate the place for her"
 Rene would naturally think the place if of any importance at all. was in New York said Grant "I know if she were called upon to draw map Of the United States New York would cover fve=sixths Of the allotted space Really. Rene. were you not joking when you asked where Phoenix was?'
 No. she pleaded T know have only recently finished. but it's so many years since studied geography.
 Phoenix is the capital of Arizona.
 Really" she asked T didn't even know Arizona was a state.
 Don't you suppose territories require capitals and government
 "Why did papa think my ignorance would appeal 10 you? Is that where you go when you are out west?"
 "Yes: my ranches are near Phoenix.
 Really? And are we all going papa 2'
 Not L There are things doing at present in Wall street. and the cruel code of finance admits of no leave of absence Of course Marie will attend your mother and you will accompany them
 "oh. dear And had planned to have such good times this winter
 Rene you cant always have good times for your objective point2'
 "I will see that you have good time out there. Rene. said Grant
 oh are you going, Roger That makes it better =
 Thank you. Rene will show you on the map where you are going
 He found an atlas and opened to map of the United States.
 Now, let me see you find Arizona, Rene "
 Her index finger traveied quickly westward. paused at North Dakota. lin- gered in Wyoming. faltered at Nevada and landed permanently and trium- phantlv at Arizona.
 There, But what a long way; clear across a continent"
 Tt is quite leap for Rene in more ways than one From New York 10 Arizona-a daring transfer" said her father
 Mortimer was essentially man of ac- tion and before the week was ended his languid wife her meek and mild maid, Marie. his reluctant daughter and his substantial friend were en route 10 Phoenix They were all traveled travellers and passed six days comfort ably and pleasantly iu Pullman
 'Is this it?" cried Rene. in dismay as they filed ont of the car one night, fol- lowed by heavy-laden well-fed porter
 No" replied Grant this isn't it. This is Ash Fork where we have to wait about three hours and then take a branch road in to Phoenix We'll eet ing
 Roger Grant DN you make up the name of this place? Is il really Ash Fork"
 Yes Why notoH
 "It's SO d hehtfully wild and wooIly. I am going 10 drop papa and Lucille letter from here while We wait will send dayless and dateless epistles. for l have lost all track of time "
 The wait and the ride from Ash Fork to Phoenix qnelled Rene's ever vivid vivacity, and she was ready quietly and quickly to go to bed when they reached the apartments Grant had secured for them in the family of some acquain- tanees of his, Mrs Mortimer not being equal to hotel life.
 At II o'clock the next morning. radi- ant and refreshed. Rene flashed upon Grants vision with meteoric brightness.
 Aren't you ashamed" he said. re- proaehfully. to let your sick mother be up and dressed before you?"
 My sick mother! wish she were sick"
 "Rene!"
 "Oh. now don't be SO stern and scowl- ing. Roger You are the only person know who takes ne literally and ser!- ously. Perhaps that IS the way you take everything. and perhaps it's as well some one takes me that way Now papa would have known intuitiye!y what l meant Mamma isn really sick. you know She just thinks she is, and pr Kenneth would order her to any place she migh, suggest. l meant lha, as long as she thinks she is s.ck and