Evening star., 1914-04-19
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR APRIL 10. 1914

own feet, independent. When You help in
efficient people, you throw your money
away. What do you think OF the ideao'
"A first-rate one. I'd like to come in.
NO; this is all my own and Molly's.
But how'll | start her off?
Get an efficient young man to act as
private secretary,-a fairly good account
ant; no rich mans son, but someone who
has had chance to observe life. Make him
a buffer between Mrs. killigrew and the
whining cheats. And, above all, no young
man who has social entr6e to your house.
That kind of private secretary is always a
fizzle"
"Anyone in mind?"
a have said Kitty, rising and going
toward the companion ladder to the lower
decks
"What now?' demanded Killigrew.
"Let her be. Kitty has a sensible head on
her shoulders, for all her foolery." Mrs.
Killigrew laid a restraining hand on her
husbands arm. But Mrs. Crawford smiled
a replica of that smile which had aroused
her curiosity in regard to Kitty. And then
her face grew serious.
KITTY had mind like her fathers Her
N ideas were seldom nebulous or slow in
forming. They sprang forth, full grown,
like those NEUROLOGICAL creatures. Minerva
was an idea of Jove's, as doubtless Venus
was an idea of Neptunes. Men with this
quality become Captains General of armies
or of money bags. In a man it signifies
force in a woman charm.
Kitty searched diligently, and found the
object of her quest on the main deck, star
board, leaning against one of the deck sup
ports and reading from book that lay flat
on the broad teak rail, in blue shadow.
The sea smiled at Kitty, and Kitty smiled at
the sea. Men are not the only adventurers:
they have no monopoly on daring. And
what Kitty proposed doing was daring in
deed; for she did not know into what dan
gers it might eventually lead her.
"Mr Webb?"
Thomas looked up. "You are wanting
me, Miss?"
"If you are not too busy"
Really, no. l have been reading He
closed the book, loose leafed from frequent
perusals. Il am at your service
"Do you read much, Mr.. Webb?'
The reiteration of the prefix to his name
awakened him to the marvellous fact that
for the present he was no longer the ma
chine: she was recognizing the man.
perhaps, tor man IN my station, read
too much, Miss Killigrew."
Kitty's scarlet lips stirred ever SO slightly.
to the prefix: he in his turn was recognizing
the woman. And this rather pleased her;
for she liked to be recognized.
MAY l ask what it is you are reading?'
He offered the book to her,-"Alorte
d'Arthur7 Kitty's eyebrows, hundred
years or more ago, would have stirred to
tender lyric the quilts of Prior and Lovelace
and Sucking: arched when interested, a
funny little twist to the inner points when
angered, and when laughter possessed her
Let Thomas indite the sonnet! Just now
they were widely arched.
Il am very fond OF the book explained
Thomas diffidently. Il love the pompous
gallantry of these fairy chaps. How politely
they used to hack each other to pieces.'
"Are you by chance university MANI"
mo. am self-educated, if one may call
it that. My father was fellow at Trinity.
For myself, have always had to work
"Do you like your present occupation?'
at was the best l could find How he
would have liked to throw discretion to the
winds and tell her the whole miserable story!
"Are you good at accounting
Fairly" What was all this about? He
began to rifle the leaves of the book res
lively.
4Could you tell an honest man from dis
honest one?"
Il believe So" Thomas had eyebrows
too; but he did not know how to use them