The citizen., 1914-08-21

broiling steak and in a minute he
called her.
With kitchen towel stuck under
his collar and face as red as sto-
ker's he held a chair for her and bade
her to the board.
There. how is that. my lady?" he
asked proudly. Gould the Waldorrs
famous Oscar do any better? Eat,
drink and be-"
Sleepy" she finished for him. II
just know I'm going to collapse right
here when my hunger's satisfied. for
Bob, I'm tired. and it's such job to
put up bed"
'Ill fix that, honey. Never felt bet
ter in my life. Why. II had lantern
I'd go out and start my garden aftN
get you tucked away"
They sat over the coffee talking and
planning.
There was knock at the door.
Good Lord, who's that?" said Bob.
IT'S nearly nine o'clock"
Il don't know, but If it's Dick or
any of your friends l just know I'll
insult them, Bob. I'm nearly dead"
"Sh-h," he answered. 'T'll CO."
Good EVENING"" said a CHEEKY,
though rather high pitched voice as he
opened the door. 81 saw you moving
in and l thought I'd drop around to
see II there was anything l could do.
I'm Mrs. Collins from up at the next
cottage. Bungalow, James called 1t
when we came here, but that was
two years ago."
ITS awfully kind Of you to call"
said Reynolds. Things are in ter
rible mess here, but you won't mind.
I'm sure"
He offered her chair Mrs Collins
opined she wouldn't mind. Her ap-
pearance buttressed her assertion that
she usually took things as they were
She looked an easy-going, buxom sort;
of good figure, but slightly passe 9TH
erwise as to personal charms and con-
comitant adornment. Her skirt of
black serge was tight fitting and
rather modish in cut, but soiled in
places. Her white shirt-waist was
open at the collar and tucked under,
revealing throat full and round, but
red. Her hands matched this color
and were coarse In texture. Her
abundant hair was her chief attrac-
ton. 1t was done up in pompadour
fashion and floated wildly here and
there like some intrepid amazon's. But
it, too, despite the magnificence Of its
growth. could not escape the general
tone of dowdiness that embraced the
whole; for, In the greater part it was
light gold, but in intervening strands
and at the roots 1t showed a darker
hue. Her eyes we're clear blue with
dark brows and lashes. Here nature
had been neither cheated nor cajoled
Mrs. Collins eyes. If all other clues
were abandoned. pointed the way to
past beauty; beauty not extant, but
clouded: crossed by the lines of life;
hard life; toilsome life. Mrs. Collins
was forty-five and she looked her age
Granted luxury of servants, social
pleasures, mental Responsibilities
and milk baths, she would have passed
for thirty.
do you like it here?" asked Jane,
who had now come forward and met
her caller.
We'll, James likes it. Little old
New York and four-room fiat was
hut hA kaI
bit Of the country, and put up with
1t for his sake. But, don't let me dis
courage you, dearie," she added quick
ly as she detected slight waning Of
the younger woman's smile, ut has its
attractions here, too. 1t is mighty
fine for children, only-we haven't got
any"
Il must meet your husband" Bob
declared 81 guess we are kindred
spirits. / wanted bit of the country,
too, and a place could call my own.
Does Mr.. Collins have garden?"
"Oh, Lordy. yes. That's what he
calls it, anyway. His speciality is po-
tatoes that mostly don't amount to
much. But he gets plenty of fresh air
and exercise hoeing them and l guess
that's better for him than polishing
somebody's brass rail with his boot"
"How about fiowers?" asked Jane.
Don't you enjoy having them?"
Goodness, child, don't find much
time for flowers, though ! am mighty
fond of geraniums. l had bed of
them the first year. but found that
the water here was more useful for
washing dishes. Potatoes, you know,
don't need any watering. so leave
the gardening to James"
Mrs. Collins arose. well, I'll be
going, dear. l know how tired you
are after a day like this. Don't for
get, now, II there's anything you need
in the morning. just run right over.
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