Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1914-06-27
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cool, awning-cOvered verandah as ne
drove up. There was a sullen, dissat-
isfied look in his face. She was stretch
ed out comforta bly,, lazily, in a great
chaise-lounge, her black little slippers
peeping out at him with perfect aban-
Comment.
Hello" he said shortly. She gave
him her hand. Sorry 1 couldn't get
out last night" He shook her hand
rather ungraciously.
I'VE missed you," she said Pull up
a chair. 1 was never so lazy as now.
Dear me, am afraid I'll get stout and
gross
Spring fever" he announced. He
was plainly out of sorts. I'll stand, II
you don't mind. Beastly tiresome, sit
ting in a hot. stufry train"
He took a couple of turns across the
porch. his eyes shifting in the eager,
annoyed manner of one who seeks for
something that, in the correct order Of
things. ought to be plainly visible.
please sit down, Leslie. You make
me nervous, tramping about like that.
We can't go in for half an hour or
more"
Cant go in?" he demanded, stop
ping before her. He began to pull at
his little moustache.
mo. Hetty's posing They won't
permit even me to disturb them"
He glared. With final, almost dra-
matte twist he gave over jerking at
his moustache, and grabbed up a chair,
which he put down beside her with a
vehemance that spoke palmer than
words.
Il say" he began, scow1ing in the
direction of the doorway, how long is
he going to be at this silly job?'
SILLY Job? Why, it is to be mas
terpiece," she cried.
Il asked you how long?"
"Oh. how can 1 tell? Weeks, per-
haps. One can't prod a genius"
It's all tommy-rot," he growled.
ct suppose I'd better take the next
train back to town"
Don't you like talking with me7"
she inquired, with a pout.
"Of course 1 do" he made haste to
say. But do you mean to say they
say, This Is rich!"
Spectators upset the muse, or
words to that effect"
He stared gloomily at his cigarette
case for a moment. Then he carefully
the back of his hand.
See here, Sara, I'm going to get
this OF my chest" he said bluntly.
I've been thinking 1t over all week.
1 don't like this portrait painting non
sense"
Dear mel Didn't you suggest it,"
she inquired innocently. but all the
time her heart was beating violent
time to the song of triuprStSa
He was jealous. 1t was what she
wanted, what she had hoped for all
along. Her purpose now was to en-
courage the ugly flame that tortured
him, to fan it into fury, to make it I'M
endurable. She knew him well: His
supreme egoism could not Withstand
an attack upon it's complacency- Like
all the Wrandalls, he had the habit
of thinking too well of himself. He
possessed a clearly-defined sense of
humor, but 1t did not begin to include
self-sacrif1ce among it's endowments.
He had never been able to laugh at
himself for the excellent reason that
some things were truly sacred to him.
She realized this, and promptly
laughed at him. He stiffened.
Don't smoker. Sara" he growled.
He took time to light his cigarette, and
at the same time to consider his an
swer to her question. In a way, yes.
1 suggested a tort of portrait, of
course. A sketchy thing, something
like that, you know. But not an all
summer operation"
But she doesn't mind" explained
Sara In fact. she is enjoying it She
and Mr.. Booth get on famously to-
gether."
She likes him, eh?"
Certainly. Why shouldn't she like
him? He is adorable"
He threw his cigarette over the rail-
ing Comes here every day, 1 sup
poser
My dear Leslie. he Is to do me as
soon as he has finished with her. 1
don't like your manner"
oh" he said in a dull sort of won
der No one had ever cut him short
In just that way before. Whats up,
Sara? Have 1 done anything out Of
the wayr"
You are very touchy. it seems to
me-"
I'm sore about this confounded por-
trait monopoly"
I'm sorry. Leslie suppose you
viii have to give in, however. We are
three to one against you-Hetty, Mr..
Booth and l."
Il see." he said. rather blankly.
Then he drew his chair closer See
here. Sara. you know I'm terribly keen