Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-14

Copyright 1907. by Thomas II. McKee)
Mrs Arbuthnot followed Barbara to her
room after luncheon and inquired, In
carefully suppressed voice. whether she
had noticed how distracted Garth was
when she asked him If he'd have coffee.
Hes been here hardly a week" she
lamented, land he's already thinking or
his work"
What is he dolng?" inquired Barbara.
leaning back luxuriously In big chintz-
covered chair and trying to look uncon-
cerned.
II don't know-research work. he calls
II" said Mrs Arbuthnot; and relapsed into
troubled thought When she emerged 1t
was with a 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 II 1t had Just been washed. She
shook her head. trying to regret her own
unavailabity in her hostess dilemma. Or
binary good looks she uid not disclaim. but
beauty to hold the attention of science
mad student like Garth was not hers.
When do you expect Kittie?' she asked,
smotherinz her relief at escaped RESPONSE
bnity.
Not for three weeks. She Is making an
other 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
Il don't believe research work is as hard
as teaching school," she said, "or he
wouldn't have TO have his vacations with
trimmings"
Mrs. Arbuthnot looked sympathetically
at the girl ITO think of the money your
father left and you having to earn your
own living she said, almost tearfuliy.
lit Is the sIddest story
The story OF trustee" said Barbara,
"too old to be interesting. Anyway. the
work Il good for me. am a disgracefully
indolent person by nature. You don't know
how heavenly your big. quiet house seems"
And ! want you TO enjoy IL all you can,
my dear" Her kind eyes were on her
guest; evidently her mind not Garth
thinks kittic has classic face" she said
Couldn't we hurry ncr up some way"
suggested Barbara, hopefully.
No; every one wants her. If we could
only manage
Barbara wrnkled her brows with humor-
Gus res ignation.
TN try to be little more entertaining -
she said. But Garth never did know
whether l was in the room or not, even
when we were children"
NO Mrs Arbuthnot agreed to their
lack of resources.
"If she understood how much depended
on her-but couldn very well tell her
that" Barbara's expression at last re-
nected her hostess concern.
No. we couldn't do that agreed Mrs
Arbuthnot. but wei try to keep him till
she comes. You've month, haven't your
Yes thanks to the measles said Bar
bara I'VE divided things up The lttle
girls have the measles and have the vaca-
ton
And want you to make the most of it
Mrs. Arbuthnot regarded the girl with af-
fectionate eyes. Il shall not bother you
with any more OF my worries Do you sup
pose Garth would like fruit pudding for
duneT?
I'm sure he would" laughed Barbara. !
know a fruit pudding would make ME for
get research work.
Garth" said Barbara. She was in heI
favoritc corner of the library and Garth
after telling her how terribly behind his
work getting. had wandered OFF into
the lighted end of the room and was taking
the books from the shelves and returning
them In distracted sort of way An.
other week had gone and il was more thar
What Is it. Barbara he said paus n
with his hand on another book But Bar.
bara, after speaking his name, had relapseC
sion of a humorous martyr, but that h.
and stood before her, politel& requesting tn,