The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03
s.IE WORD OF THE ORACLE
BY LILY A. LONG.

father"
Really I knew he was distinguished
but didn't know it went as far as that
He was watching her closely, but there
was no laughter in her face now. Indeed
1t was almost too nonchalant. Honor.
airy or aetive?" Charlie asked abruptly.
He takes his obligations rather sell.
ously, II that is what you mean"
1T is, exactly. Does Mrs. Fessender
"Oh, of course. She is an old friend OF
the family"
You never mentioned him to me-"
There has been no occasion"
That's not my fault. l would have
established the occasion the second time
| saw you alone If you hadn't frozen me
off And you can't say | haven't tried
since to the best of my ability"
Il don't know what you are talking
about"
THAT is a departure from the strict
standard of truthfulness that usually dis
tinguishes you. But Mrs. Fessenden, you
say she is an old friend of the family?"
Charlie, you are positively incoherent."
Some people laugh at their own inner
thoughts and some people grow incoher-
emit 1t is merely a matter of tempera-
ment Why didn't you invite me to meet
him?'
why should p
1T would, have been so fattering, and
a little fattery is good for me. Besides,
/ should rather appear under your au-
spices than under Mrs. Fessenden'
Mrs. Fessenden likes to take up good
looking young men and give them a
chance to meet distinguished people She
thinks it is good for their development"
But she is an old friend of the family"
Friends rush in, she murmured.
Charlie shrugged his shoulders impa-
tiently. oh l suppose if you have made
up your mind not TO admit that there is
any reason why I should meet your god
father, | can't coeree you into it. Well
say that Mrs. Fessenden asked me out of
the air, and let it go at that. But the
idea surprised you nto-into secret laugh
ter"
Il didn't know 1t was going to happen
tonight
'1t?"
Il mean l didn't know Professor Way
land was going to come so soon. Proba-
hly there is a wire at home. | have been
away all afternoon"
What is he professor OFF,
Sociology. Bruno university
THAT is your university
"Of course
Then it was he who put you into this
social settlement racket
Her frowning silence conveyed the idea
that she took exception to the form of his
question.
Il beg your pardon, I didn't mean to
seem disrespectful to it. l think it Is
glorious work-for any one else in the
world
you think I do it inefficiently?'
Il don't know how you do it
He has never been here to see you be-
fore, has he?''
Not here. But l worked two years in
Rivington street. you know. He prom
ised to spend a day here as soon as he
could arrange it. to look over the situa-
ton and help me with suggestions
What do you want with suggestions
about this work, when you are going to
give it up so soon, anyhow asked Char
lie blandly.
Instead of the saucy retort that he ex-
pected, she walked on in silence for
moment, and then asked seriously:
What am l going to do instead?'
His opportunity was so open that he
looked at her doubtfully, fearing trap.
May l tell your
IF you think your imagination is equal
to it,"
MY imagination takes you out of this
mud" Charlie cried, with a gesture that
Included all the HdlS lilueT llle WOIu
ct puts you into a beautiful home of
your own-not as beautiful as it ought to
be, but the most beautiful that THAT
my imagination-can make. 1t shows you
in the setting that belongs to you-dressed
in silks and laces and radiant with jewels
1t shows me your face in the light of our
all the world shut out-and
there is a light on 1.-THE light | have
been waiting for all my life-the light-oh,
LUCY"
why, what a commonplace magma
tom cried Lucy disdainfully. 1t was
the tone to restore him to sanity. "Laces
and silks and jewels and general useless
ness. Any primitive imagination could
work as well as that"
Charlie scowled into the darkness.
Primitive, indeed. You don't know how
primitive. If 1 could only fight for you"
You are going to beard lion tonight"
she said lightly.
'Then he is the lion?" he caught her
up quickly.
You said yourself that he Is distin-
guished and you don't know half"
81 know so much less than half that 1t
is practically indistinguishable from moth
ing" he said gloomily. rs he the Lion
in my Path?'
And 1 ventured to call your imagina-
ton commonplace! Perhaps after all
did you an injustice in that"
He bent down to look sharply into her
face as a street lamp made yellow spot
in the murk.
eff you thought my imagination beyond
hope of development, you did," he said
quietly. 81 don't care row of pins what
sort of pattern it weaves. I'll set it to
spinning walking skirts and overshoes If
that will please you better. You know
that don't you, Lucy?"
She did not admit it, but in her secret
soul she did know it, She knew it so
we'll that her heart misgave her about
letting him go to meet the critical judg-
ment that did not know. 1t had not been
her doing, moreover! The dismay that
had lurked under her banter deepened
suddenly into remorse.
why, here we are already" cried Char
lie, in surprise. as they turned a corner
and came directly upon the Settlement
House. This walk has the queerest way
of teescoping. We must have inadvert-
emily skipped three or four blocks some
where"
Lucy ran up the little flight of narrow
steps that led to the entrance.
won't you come mr. she asked sweet
w. Her hand was on the door. which she
pushed invitingly open.
Charlie looked at her suspiciousy.
"You told me last Wednesday that I
must not call again for a week"
THAT was last Wednesday,
And you mentioned specially that you
were going to start new sewing class
tonight" His suspicion had deepened
into reproach.
THAT is my affair." she said, with a
touch of impatience. "If l invite You 70
come in, you needn't make difficulties.
IIa sboolx bfs head sadly.