Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1912-07-25
STANTON WINS
Continued from page -


happy intermediate tint that presup-
posed fiawless health and much sun
light. Stanton had never observed
any dimples about his mechanician.
81 am certain Jes never thought Of
that standpoint He said turn and
a tire were to blame. But his arm
is almost we'll"
She spoke so lightly, with so much
Of Floyd's own nonchalant accept
ance of incidental mishaps, that Stan
ton was surprised into indiscretion.
you do not worry about him?" he
questioned. "You are not nervous
about his racing, and racing with me?"
Her lashes fell, her face grew seri-
Gus.
"If anything happens to Jes, I will
die too" she slowly answered. eve
are-twins. No, do not worry. Be
sides, | grew up used to seeing Jes
in danger; he told you Of his life with
father?"
Eyes"
well, he never had time to be
afraid, or l 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 or
binary babies are taken out in car
riages, Jes was taken out in fast
motor-cars. My father could not bear
him out of his sight; when Jes was
in kits, he was taken to the factory
each day to amuse himself among the
WOrkmen and machines"
Profoundly interested, he studied
her.
"And you, Miss Floyd? What did
you do?"
'I?" she turned aside her head, her
full, firm young mouth slightly COM
pressed. when / was fourteen, l
said to my father, one morning, Dad
dy, what is to become Of Jessica?
Jes is learning all he needs to be
man; how is Jess sister to learn to
be woman And he answered me
frankly, 'Jessica, l do not know. You
have no kinswomen, and | could not
endure a stranger in your mothers
house. You will have to let Jes be
wise for both, except for your nurses
woman-teaching.' So did. Jes is
Jes and Jessica for 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 the world, believe"
you are never lonely?" he won
dered
Her answer he never quite forgot;
long afterward its quiet pathos would
come back to him.
Often" she said, and picked up
the embroidery.
Stanton was not always gentle, but
he had tact enough when he chose to
exert it. With a natural change Of
tone he moved away from personali-
ties, speaking of the race and the race
pictures in the pile Of newspapers
near her. And she responded with
charming readiness and understand
ing.
will your brother be home to-
night?" Stanton inquired when he
rose to go, at the end of half hour.
NO" she regretted, trifle hur
riedly
He hesitated, in the grasp of an i'm
pulse strange to himself.
81 am alone in the crowd, too" he
reioined. eff / thought Floyd would
not object, or feel that ! took advan-
tage of his absence, l should ask if
you would do me so much honor as
to go to the theater with me, this
evening"
Her gray eyes widened, the color
flushed through her transparent skin.
Suddenly and wildly Stanton was re-
minded Of Floyds face on the first
night when he invited the mechani-
clan to race with him for the season.
"You are asking me?" she doubted.
81 would like TO do so. But not il
you think Floyd would refuse to let
me, if he We're here. He can't have
much Of an opinion of me-"
Il wish l might tell you what Jes
thinks of you" she made grave an
swer. 81 am quite sure that he would
let me go with you, Mr.. Stanton; you
are very good and l 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 sense Of having seen
Floyd and yet not seen him, Stanton
went down into the practical city
street.
He spent two hours In selecting an
irreproachable play and theater; a
task of some delicacy in this his ma
tive town. After which, he ate a per-
functory dinner and went home to
dress. Stanton, whose overbearing
willfulness spared no one, whose
rough tongue hurt his mechanician as
often as they met, would no more
have taken Floyd's sister to dine with
him in a public restaurant without
Floyd's permission, than he would
have stolen his purse.
1t was a dazzling Jessica whom he
found waiting for him, at the appoint
ed hour. Yet she was simply gowned
in delicate gray, with a demure lace
collar that came up to her round chin,
and long lace sleeves. 1t was her
vivid, expressive face; the bronze