The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-05-12

NaHtcu 10 Juduh nun.
She looked at him fully. then, and
again he could have cried out at the
wonder OF so meeting Floyd s
candor of regard.
why should you not come? Jes
has not SO many friends that they
are not welcome In his home. Only,
If he had known of your coming, he
would have been here,
She moved to a chair. inviting
him by a gesture to do likewise, and
took up helf-embroidered silk
scarf.
He was called out of town." she
added, afte rwaitlng for her silent
guest to speak. "tIe viii be osrry
to have missed you. From Mr..
Green he learned that you had quite
recovered, after he left you"
And he? | hurt his arm"
She glanced up, astonished.
You hurt his arm?" ------~
Il was driving the car" stanton
assumed grim responsibility.
This time she laughed. two ador-
able dimples starting into view in
her cheeks of glowing rose-amber
velvet; not the complexion of a
blonde beauty, nor of brunette,
but some happy intermediate tint
that presupposed fiawiess health and
amuch her sunlight. Stanton had
never observed any dimples about
his mechanician.
that standpoint. He said a turn and
Il am certain Jes neve rthought
a tire were to blame But his arm
is almost we'll"
She spoke so lightly, with SO much
of Floyd's own nochalant acceptance
of incidental mishaps. that Stanton
was surprised into indiscretiou.
You do not worry about him.
he questioned. You are not ner-
vous about his racing, and racing
with me?"
| lierl ashes fell, her face grew Sc
/ rious
IF anything happens to Jes, | will
die too" she slowly answered. I'VE
are twins. No. ! do not worry.
Besides. grew up used to seeing Jes
in danger; he told you of his life
/ with father?"
! Yes"
Nv ell. he never had time to be
afraid, or to be afraid for him.
You can not be afraid of things you
have been doing or seeing done ever
since You could understand at all
AS ordinary bellies are taken out in
carriages, Jes was taken out In fast
bear him out of his sight; when Jes
was in kits. he was taken to the
factory each day 10 amuse himself
among the workmen and machines
7 Profoundly interested. he studied
her.
And you. Miss FloydT What did
you do?"
/ ~" she turned aside her head
her full. firm young mouth slightly
compressed. When / was fourteen
l said to my father, one morning
Daddy, what is to become of Jessi
ca? Jes Is learning all he needs tc
be a man, how is Jess sister to learn
10 be a woman And he answered
me frankly. 'Jessiea, do not know
You have no knswomen. and coult
not endure a stranger In your moth.
er's house. You will have to lei
les be wise for both, except for
your fittfse communicating. Sc
did. Jes Is les and Jessica both
You are the first visitor who ever
followed him here. and the first
ever received In New York. We are
like no one else in tn world be.
lieve'
You are never ionely?'' he won.
dered
Her answer he never quite for,
got; long afterward it's quiet pathos
would come back to him.
OFTEN. she said. an dpicked III
the embroidery
Stanton was not always gentle
but he had tact enough when hs
chose to exert 1t. With natura
change of tone he moved away from
personalities. speaking of the race
and the race psatgFes in the 4psle, sqi
newspapers near her And she Re,
sponded with charming readiness ant
understanding.
'Wiil yonr brother be home to
stanton inquired, when he rose K
60. at the end OF half hour.
No. she regretted, trifie hur
rledly.
He hesitated. in the grasp OF ar
Impulse strange TO himself
II am alone In the crowd, too" hi
'retoined IF thought Floyd wuuit
not object. or fell that I took advan
tage of his absence, should ask t
you would do me so much honor al
to go to the theater with me. this
evening"
Her gray eyes widened. the colol
flushed through her transparent skin
Suddenly and wildly Stanton was
reminded of Fioyd's face on the frs
hight when he invited the mechan
ician to race with him for the sea.
son.
''You are asking me?" she doubt
ed.
Il would like to do so. But not Il
you think Floyd would refuse to lei
me, II he were here. He cant have
much OF an opinion OF me-"
i wish I might tell you what JET
thinks of YOU" she made grave an.
swer. II am quite sure that he
would let me go with you, Mr.. Stan
ton; you are very good and | thank
you from the bottom of my heart.
! The little old Irishwoman In black
silk opened the door for him, beam
ing and smiling Amazed at himself
bewildered by a sense of having seen
| Floyd and yet not seen him, Stanton
went down into the practical city
| street.