The Washington times., 1913-10-09
BY ISABEL OSTRANDER

4, didn't want the bother Of babies, anG
they're the very ones who make slaves
Of themselves afterward, tied to a bas
| sinet.''
1t is not like that with me- replied
Victoria in a low, repressed voice. as II
fearful of the effect of her outburst.
| Il love little children. onlyI will
never have one of my own"
| There was an uncomfortable pause.
| How far away do you suppose the
men went fishing?" asked Lucille art.
lessly. I'm dying for my tea"
I'VE won't wait longer for them" re.
piled Victoria, touching a bell lightly.
| On such a glorious day they may &c
farther up Moccasin river than they
| planned
ut is lovely. isn't it?" Mrs. Ashley
said, her eyes sweeping the gray-green
| of the mountains beyond the lake.
| 1T is-sublime. I'm not religious
woman-not in the accepted sense,
mean'-she spoke dreamily, as II to
herself-''but often, especially in the
| early morning when / look out over
| the lake. and that ridge of mountains
| is all misty and velvety and massive
| and still. it seems to me that David
| must have looked upon them when he
said: I will lift up mine eyes unto the
| hills, from whence cometh my help"
Mrs Ashley and Lucille looked blank
ly at each other-Victoria, in this mood.
was an utter stranger to them in spite
of their long friendship.
AS II divining the constraint in the
air. she laughed nervously and went on
hastily:
Il suppose such thoughts come Of be-
ing alone SO much / really do love this
day like this IL Is indescribably beau
tiful
"Dysart and 1 were in Italy on our
honeymoon. you know, but not even in
Venice did We see sky so deeply blue
as this. Isn't it glorious. / could wish
my last day on earth to be as perfect
why Victoria. what an idea" cried
Lucille. but Victoria had turned to the
trim maid who appeared at the door
'Will you take this book to my room,
please: and then bring tea. just for
three"
Better make it seven." observed Mrs.
Ashley. The men are coming at last
see the canoes rounding the peint?''
Seven, then. Maryland some cracked
ice and siphons. They may want some
thing more bracing than tea after their
long day." she added. after the maid
had disappeared.
Victoria. where did you get that
maid?" asked Mrs. Ashley abruptly.
I've seen her somewhere before I'm
sure: but i can't think where
The agency sent her up yesterday
Della had a wire that her mother was
Ill. and had to leave at once. Her
references were perfectly satisfactorv
and she seems real treasure already.
Everything goes like clock work.
Il wonder where / could have seen
her." Mrs. Ashley unused
Possibly at old General Kennedy's-
one Of her references was from bis
niece. Muriel Kennedy. the girl youns
Freddie Blaisdell is going to marry"
Il don't know them"
hen Mrs. Colin Suydam gave her a
most enthusiastic recommendation"
Mrs Colin Suydam? Why, l Thought
nine years" oi
Victoria. isn't Freddie Blaisdell com.
ing up for the shooting?" broke In
Yes. Robin asked If he might bav.
MIN; He comes tomorrow, l believe"
Good sport called Mrs. Ashley, as
-FOUR tired but contented-looking men
came striding across the lawn.
For answer. one Of them. tall.
broad-shouldered. boyish-lookinr man
with alert, laughing eyes, held I'm tri-
umphantly snaphiad IA long string of good-sized
Lucille. .'eu
Hurry up and change-you're lust
In on time for tea tea, admonished Victoria
Seyion; Ooiong. Or, Scotch Mrs.
Ashley added irrepressibly.
How bright Dysart looks. It does
him good to go off tramping all dav In
the open like this. I wish he would 20
oftener.' Victoria collected the maya
zines from the table top as she spoke
I'm always glad when Robin comes
he simply drags him away from his
books and out into the sunshine"
rs he still deep in that psychological
heritability hobby Of his?'' asked Mrs.
Ashley suddenly. regarding her friend
with new intentness
Yes: he's more interested in it all
than ever. The more profound his re-
searches grow the more he is con-
WINGED that some incontrovertible law
the sins of the father descend upon
the third and fourth generation, but in
greater or less degree upon all the
generations to come"
Her voice was low and uuivering,
That our children, and our chiIdren's
children. reaching out into the infinite
future. shall atone for or redemonstrate.
according to their natures the infamies
We commit today. 1t is a terrible
creed"
go in for that sort Of thing. do you.
Victoria?'
:'I?'' cried Victoria, with a shudder.
the odd. deep thrill vibrating in her
voice. Heaven forbid that I should
be drawn into the vortex Of such
thought
well, If I had An idea that Betty
would grow to be like her father I'd
go to her mercifully and throttle her.
remarked Mrs. Ashley meditatively
Bingham Ashley was rather a beast
observed Lucille tactfully Il wonder
YOU endured it AS long as you did,
Madge."
Il really don't know why did"
Mrs: Ashley replied meditativcly.
"I.crhaps because marriage seems TO
be the safest and least difficult pro-
fession | know OF for a woman with
Out Imagination"
The tea and the rehahtlttated man