Los Angeles herald., 1907-05-19

"a K RS ARBUTHNoT> followed Barbara to
IA IN her room after luncheon and inquired, in
A/H carefully suppressed voice. whether she
1 had noticed how abstracted Garth was
when she asked him if he'd have coffee.
"He has been here hardly week., she lamented,
"and he's already thinking of his work"
What is he doing?" inquired Barbara, leaning
back luxuriously in a big chintzcovered chair and
trying to look unconcerned.
II don't know-research work, he calls it, said
Mrs. Arbuthnot; and relapsed into troubled thought
When she emerged 1t with remark seemingly
irrelevant.
"If Kittie Etheridge could only have come sooner
she sighed.
Barbara grasping her meaning, sat up and glanced
conscientiously into the mirror surveying her own
very white skin and very blue eyes. and hair that
always looked as if 1t had just been washed. She
shook her head trying to regret her own unavail-
ability in her hostess dilemma. Ordinary good looks
she did dsclaim but beauty to hold the attention
of a science.mad student like Garth was not hers.
when do you expect kittie?" she asked smother
ing her relief at escaped responsibility.
mot for three weeks. She is making another
visit first. If we could only keep him interested
In something until she comes.
Barbara leaned back again. stretching her round
arms comfortably above her head.
'I don't believe research work is hard teach
ing school," she said cor he wouldn't have to have
his vacations with trimmings"
Mrs Arbuthnot looked sympathetically at the girl
"To think of the money your father left and you
having to earn your living" she said almost
tearfully. 'Tt is the saddest story"
"The story of trustee" said Barbara, too old to
be interesting. Anyway, the work is good for me.
am disgracefully indolent person by nature. You
don't know how heavenly your big, quiet house
seems"
"And want you to enjoy it all you can, my dear"
Her kind eyes were on her guest evidently her mind
was not "Garth thinks Kittie has classic face,
she said.
Couldn't we hurry her up way" suggested
Barbara hopefully.
mo; everyone wants her. If we could only man
age"
Barbara wrinkled her brows with humorous resig-
nation.
''Ill try to be little entertaining she said
''But Garth never did know whether l was in the
room or not, even when were children"
mo" Mrs Arbuthnot agreed to their lack Of re-
sources.
eff she understood how much depended on her
but we couldn't very we'll tell her that" Barbaras
expression at last reflected her hostess concern.
mo we couldn't do that" agreed Mrs. Arbuthnot,
'Tbut wen try to keep him till she comes. You've
a month, haven't you?"
"Yes thanks to the measles said Barbara. I'VE
divided things up. The little girls have the measles
and I have the vacation"
"And I want you to make the most of it." Mrs.
~I shall not bother you with any more of my worries
Do you suppose Garth would like fruit pudding for
dinner?"
~rm sure he would" laughed Barbara. 'T know
q fruit pudding would make me forget research
work"
GARTH" said Barbara. She in her favorte
corner Of the library Garth after telling her how
terribly behind his work getting. had wandered
of into the lighted end of the room and was taking
the books from the shelves and returning them in
an abstracted sort of way. Another week had gone,
and it was more than evident that he strainng
at his tether.
'rWhat is it. Barbara?" he said. pausing with his
hand on another book But Barbara, after speaking
his name had relapsed into silence. She was wear
ing the expression of humorous martyr but that he
coud not see even after he strolled and stood
before her politely requesting the conclusion OF her
speech She was quite deliberate about making 1t.
'~You never knew did you" she said with queer
little ouaver in her voice, "that in love with
you?"
Mr. Arbuthnot knit his brows.
what do you mean, Barbara" he demanded.
'.Just what say" she repeated softly, that you
never knew was in love with you
why Barbara" he began, in a tore kindly but
uncomfortable
"Oh I am not in love with you now, reinsurance
in her voice. Don't let it worry you.
Tt doesn't worry me in the least, only astonshes
me. you've always had the name of not caring for
anyone you know There that man from New
Orleans He was evidently cropping in his mem
orv for the time when Barbaras actions might have
warned him of her tender feelings
Barbara laughed little. 81 didn't know you no.
m Ww VIZ