The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-03-13
4 STUDY FROM LIFE
BY LEIGH ATWOOD

told Mr.. kingsweli what thought
OF his idea. or course. 1t would be use
full but impracticablc.
always knew he WAC a fine ch,im
I had known him for ever 10 many years.
but 1 think he was Just trump for
what he suggested 1T wns that no
should be my lover for fortnight 20
that | might sec how "A man would act
II he loved somebody. Since he didn't
mind the trouble. 1 was, OF course, per-
fcc,ly willing. and soon after we had
arranged 1t, he left
But no sooner had Mr.. Kinsswcll gone
than i began to feel wretciicd. II was
about his last book. read 1t. There
was such nice girl in 1t. about like me
/ should think. ] wondered II she pre-
tended to he his very dear friend while
he wrote the hook. It wasn't n nice idea
somehow.
Next day Mr. Kingswell wrote inc
little note asking me 10 go skating with
him that afternoon on the lake. / went.
and did enjoy myself Immensely He
looked after me and talked 30 nicely that
j was sorry when he had to go back
to dinner. Dad was laughing when lie
met us In the hall. / didn't see why.
for I hadn't told him about our plan.
and 1 didn't seem TO want to; but sud
denly he kissed me and went off In q
hurry, which thought Was rather funny
Of him
had always felt wee bit jealous thai
Mr.. Kingswell always came to see dad,
and not particularly me; but now when
knew his visits We're really mine, II
was delightful. had "A lovely time,
! and the days Just flew BY. The fortnight
began 10 draw to the end. counted
the days as they passed. l couldn't help
thinking how / should miss a lover. For
| lie was a splendid actor: anyone would
| think he really meant IT,
/ 4 nnce we went a walk
| dad Mr.. Klngswcll and I--whcn one OF
| those harum-scarum Graham boys dash
ed up on his bicycle just as we were
] crossing the road. can't tell how "
| happened. but the next minute Mr.. King5i-
| well was lifting me up all covered with
road dust. while dad was anNously en-
| treating me to tell him n were hurt.
! / wasn't. and said so: and really VI
| WAS a good thing dad had turned 10
| speak 10 the hoy. for 1t took my lover
| quite long time to realize there was
] nothing the matter He kept on holding
| me az II he would never let me go. AMI
] I distinctly heard him murmur: Thank
| God for that. my darling when | SAID
l was all right. exactly as IL II really
| mattered 10 him.
AT length the last day came. and M
| KingsweIl did not appear till the eve
/ ming after dinner. Dad had gone to his
4 study. he wouldn't let me go with him.
!, but said had to amuse myself till he
1 came back I took my violin and tri't'i
] to play--but couldn't: / was TOO lonefS.
! So Just cuddlcd up on the big settle ana
!. tried not 10 cry. Some one came in. |
!. thought II was dad until looked up
] and saw--Mr. Kingswell.
He looked so stern wondered what
| wa sthe matter til ] remembered the
/ fortnight was really over now. and "t
| course he would go back to being Just
dads friend didn't know there WAS
/ such difference-1 wished mad never
/ learned. Everything seemed miserapis
now. and really our experiment "ohi'i
not be- of much use, for vowed J wonln
never write about Mr.. akingsweil. IN u
book-.I would just remember nm my
self
/ ar course. the right thing for me to
do was 10 thank him for his Kindness
in helping me. but was afraid TO lie
= was looking at me so nnmerclluiis NJ
4 deed. that dnren't try, especially US
/ r knew my voice would he sure 20
sbiyer MS II + had Just been cryns-Tahd
of course. hadn't. So ! Just waited
aud lonred for dad 10 come IN t,li at
last he spoke. ,,..,,.,.o,.
n was the first time he had caiiee,
me that, and i liked to hear IT. !
4 couldn't think of anything to say, anu
neither did he for moments tneh 10
said quite suddenly:
you think me good actor uoii - Z
Observation-Disclosures wa, real! nr,h,
found my voice and gasped out. ~
1T am 81 .;lad! ,,oro for
4 nv 1Sinrswell was only a little way
from me and he takes such big striaes!
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