Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-14

they went through before they were in
that chastened frame of mind that en-
abled them to see possibilities and good
points in apartments within their means.
Then they hit upon a treasure" in a
fOur-rO0med fiat on the west side of the
city. not too far removed from the theater
district. What mattered it that the house
resembled in few things. except perhaps
the SmallneSs of its rooms. the dwelling
structures they had had in mind? What
mattered 1t that the rooms were not all
light and the stairway leading to them
was dark? Their very presence impaired
brightness to them. and the cheap fur
niture and carpets the indomitable Patsy
procured on the installment plan at thrice
their actual selling value gave them a
positively luxurious appearance in the
eyes of the enraptured girls. And when
the final touches had been added In the
shape of the dainty knickknacks that
start into mysterious being at the touch
of wOman's deft fingers. and the portraits
Of Dan and pop and 'mOm'' smiled at
them from their place of honor on the
parlor mantelpiece. what could be want
ing to fill the girls cup of proud happi-
ness? Nothing but the actual presence
and admiration OF their far-distant loved
ones.
II wisht Dan could just see this" ex-
claimed Patsy. stepping backward to the
door of the parlor. in order to take in the
effect OF the ensemble. wouldn't it
wabble his lamps?''
In the encha ntment of the city, in the
promptings Of the world of make believe
in which shes played part. the reason
for being of which is the purveying of
delight. is it to be marveled at that a
young girl such as Nora. weaking. sud
denly transplanted from the clOistral
mOnotOny of a home far removed from
even the unexciting whirl of a country
town. should be daZzled. hypnOtized into
a gradual disregard of warning and adj
vice? Selfishness and curiosity were her
chief traits, and with her selfshness was
doubled a persistence in the pursuit Of her
desires, which from her cloak of in
genuOusness and submissiveness never
would have been suspected. There was
nothing consciously or at all events in
tentionally evil in these desires. but she
was impatient of counsel, especially since
she had tasted of the liberty of her new
life She could learn no lesson from the
wisdom acquired by others through ex-
perience and suffering. 1t had to be
agreeable to herself. Yet she was Of
those natures which when their own ac-
lions have landed them in trouble
founder. clutch at any and every straw
grateful to those who may respond and
extricate them.
She did not of herself seek Crawford
but when he secretly sought her she saw
no harm in continuing on good terms
with him. notwithstanding Patsy's preach
-,
anyhow. she told herself. She liked
Crawford. and he had proved his friend
ship for her by enabling her to win not
little money on the races She had
very strong penchant for gambling. 1t
was an easy way to supplement her earn
ings-nearly all of which went for her
own keep and to the folks at home-When
she could get tips from gentleman like
Crawford who knew all about horses and
horse racing. was in the position to get
sure things and was anxious to help
her. He was SO very nice too, He
treated her as an equal and a chum and
manifested his solicitude in many delicate
ways. She almost wished that Patsy
was not in New York. that she could
be more free to profit by his kindness
and to spend more on dress. He had
given her pretty presents that she was
obliged to hide. and had insisted upon
taking her to lunch more than once. She
liked to go to the luxurious dining halls
he escorted her to; also she liked the at
tentiOn she never failed TO attract among
the people there.
But it was only very rarely that she
was able to accept these invitations
only when she could escape the society
of Patsy on the pretext of going shopping
or of taking a walk when her sister was
busy at home. Patsy liked to keep the
fiat in apple-pie order. Nora. whose zeal
In the performance of the household uu-
ties had soon lost its edge, was not averse
to letting her do as much of the work as
she wanted to and she herself could
escape from doing.
10 be continued tomorrow