The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-08-16

III anything happens to Jes, / will
die too" she slowly answered. I'VE
are-twins. No, do not worry. Be-
sides, j grew up used to seeing Jes
in danger; he told you of his life with
father?"
YES"
We'll, 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 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?"
IL" she turned aside her head, her
full, firm young mouth slightly COM
pressed. When / was fourteen,
said to my father, one morning, Dad
dy, what is to become of Jessica
Jes is learning all he needs to be a
man; how is Jess sister to learn to
be woman?' And he answered me
frankly, Jessica, do not know. You
have no kinswomen, and l 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 forgott
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 1t. With natural change OF
tone he moved away from personals
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 a half hour.
NO." she regretted, trifle hur-
riedly.
He hesitated, in the grasp Of an i'm
pulse strange to himself.
II am alone in the crowd, too" he
rejoined. "If I thought Floyd would
not object, or feel that l took advan-
tage of his absence, / should ask II
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 Floyd's face on the first
night when he invited the meohani-
clan to race with him for the season.
you are asking me?" she doubted.
81 would like to do so. But not if
you think Floyd would refuse to let
me, II he were here. He can't have
much of an opinion of me-"
Il wish / might tell you what jos
thinks of you," she. made grave an
swer. Il am quite sure that he would
let me go with you, Mr.. Stanton; you
cOnd ond thonly
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;
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 Floyds sister to dine with
him in public restaurant without
Floyd's permission, than he would
have stolen his purse.
1t was 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
curls massed under the wide gray
hat. the splendid glow and young VI
m