Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22

| ready feel her spell. So do l..
She rose and peered into his face
! searchingly, laying her hands on his
| shoulders.
Wayne, I believe you know that wom'
an! Play fair with me about this; have
you ever seen her? Have you ever heard
of her before?"
Fanny, how absurd you are, You
| asked me that question before and l an
swered no. Do you imagine I have seen
her today? Come now, please be the rea-
| sonable little sister you always have
! been. You are the brightest. cleverest,
dearest girl in the world. That gown is
| a dream, if you ask me: YOU should be
I painted by Alexander for the family pOr-
trait gallery. Dick Wingield suggested
to father today his own duty in the mat
| ter and 1 see the finished product-father
| ful-length in frock coat. with his hand
! resting lightly a volume of his own
| speeches"
| Mrs. Blair's eyes filled with tears.
| Poor mammal" she mourned. I'm
glad her portrait was painted just when
| it was-the picture is SO dear I'm going
| to get it out of the house before that
| creature comes If it's the last thing /
| do
| please. Fanny. don't do that" he
pleaded. touched in his own heart more
| than he wished her to know. Come,
now. cheer up, for L must trot If / get
! home for dinner. I promised father to be
l IL
| Count on me for all your functions. I'll
| get Wingfield to support me at the teas
and so on. If YOU want me to come to
your antiquarians dinner l shall be here
and you may place ME next the solemnest
| dowager you invite to the banquet. You
| needn't go on a cOd-water basis for the
! occasion either: my glasses shan be
| turned down: remember that.
I'm glad, oh. SO glad. Wayne. I can't
| tell you what that means to me"
She stood in the doorway and watched
him slip into his topcoat He moved with
the athletes ease; there was real grace
| in him. He had never been so dear to her
| sisterly heart as now, in the ligh, of this
| new event before which they waited For
| sister-love goes far and deep. Like char
| ity, it suffereth long and is kind. In self
! effacement and service it is happiest, and
| it knows the pangs of neglect and jeal-
| ousy. Fanny's eyes were upon Wayne
| in love and admiration Is she watched
him fasten his coat and draw on his
| gloves.
| by the way. Fanny. that was a stun
| ming girl you had in there when I came.
l caught glimpse Of her against nose
dark red curtains-a very pleasing por-
| trait if I'm asked.'
"She has known trouble, poor child; l m
! doing what 1 can to help her"
| That's like you, Fanny.
"She's very interesting: she has lot of
| talent
| II you Heeo Heip III f'uN ''iis me-
| cause you may call on me-" he said.
| lightly. but she knew him SO well that
she fathomed his serious wish to know
about her protege. He had taken UP his
hat. but fingered expectantly. Il saw
her in the art gallery today. and she's
certainly unusual 1 wish you would in
trOduce me to her!
Mrs. Blair had not been prepared for
the directness of his request. Her figure
stiffened: she must be on guard against
| the joy i'll him that had filled her heart.
Il know the way round at the institute
! and might be of service to her. he said
carelessly, but she knew that he was
deeply interested-women always inter-
ested hin-and she saw no way at the
moment of putting him off.
Il can't, Wayne.
Il should like to know why not?" and
he Laughed &c ic balanced his hat by its
brim in his hands. She usually yielded
readily to any of his requests and he was