Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-28
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he had wished it known. Perhaps he
did not want to see his driver unoh.
cially. A sense of unwelcomeness op-
pressed Stanton. but he kept on his
way. He had never swerved from a
| course because of the opinions OF
| others; he did not think Of turning
back now.
Some one was singing, as he reached
the fourth floor; singing in smooth.
honey-riah, honey-golden contralto.
Warned OF his approach by the bell
pushed below, the door of the apart
! ment was opened. so that the melody
| came flooding his hearing with its
haunting familiarity. A little old
! Irishwoman in black silk was peering
| up at the tall visitor on the threshold.
"Mr. Floyd?" he inquired. "My
name is Stanton"
The old servant drew back, smiling
Invitation. and pushed aside cur
tain. And Stanton saw Jessica Floyd
rise from her seat at the piano. tax.
ing step to meet him.
| She was SO like Floyd that he could
have cried out In wonder, yet was
most purely and softly feminine. She
seemed taller, In her clinging pale.
blue gown, apd even more slender, but
Floyd's silvergray eyes looked out
from her long lashes, Floyd's bronze
curls clustered around her wide
brows, under the braids wound about
her head, and her smile was a more
timid reflection Of the incarnate sun
shine OF his.
| II am sorry Jes is not at home" she
said, holding out her hand with nat
ural grace Of hospitality that rose
above her nervous shyness. 81 am
!; Jessica Floyd, Mr.. Stanton, his SIS
ter"
She was afraid of him. The too OBJ
vious fact struck deep into Stanton,
as he felt her fingers autter in his
clasp. So this was the reputation he
had earned for himaelf?
Perhaps l should not have come"
he apologized quite humbly. e.
Floyd gave me no warrant for 1t. But
he was very good to me, when l was
sick in Lowell. and wanted to thank
him"
She looked at him fully. then, and
again he could have cried out at the
wonder Of 80 meeting Floyd's straight
candor of regard.
"Why should you not come? Jes
|has not so many friends that they are
not welcome in his home. Only. II he
had known Of your coming, he would
have been here"
She moved to chair, inviting him
by gesture to do likewise, and took
up half-embroidered silk scarf.
'He was called out of town." she
added, after waiting for her silent
guest to speak. "He will be sorry 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"
II was driving the car" Stanton
assumed grim responsibility.
This time she laughed, two adorable
dimples starting into view in her
cheeks Of glowing rose-and-amber
velvet; not the complexion Of blonde
beauty, nor of brunette, but some
happy intermediate tint that presup-
posed flawless health and much sun
light. Stanton had never observed
any dimples about his mechanician.
II am certain Jes never thought Of
that standpoint. He said turn and
a tire were to blame. But his arm
is almost well.'
She spoke so lightly, wifi go 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.
I III anything happens to Jes, win
die too" she slowly answered. we
are-twins. No, l 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 to be afraid for him. You
! can not be afraid of things you have
| 0SSA OOAAS Va SSCANS OOiS SSSI SAuCO
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 l was fourteen, I
said to my father, one morning, Dad
dy. what is to become Of Jessica
Jes II learning all he needs to be q
man; how Is Jess sister &c learn to
be woman And he answered me
frankly, 'Jessica. 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
| Womap-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 Il the world. believe"
You are never lonely?" he won
dered.