The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-01-10

\ am MISS COlSOn, SAID Leone
coolly. Il was locked in my brothers
studio and didn't want to wait-so
jumped down here"
The man glanced up at the open
window in Jim Colson's workshop
You jumped from there?" he asked
incredulously, and as she nodded, he
added quickly: you are hurt-wait q
moment and I will fetch you cup OF
coffee-then, perhaps you will let me
carry you downstairs"
At the kindness in his altered tone
Leone promptly sat down on the sofa
pillow and sobbed while her rescue1
disappeared.
Il hope you will pardon my rude.
ness he said when she had finished
the cup of hot coffee and could smile
at him; but, you see, when chaps
up against 1.-THE lost egg and the end
Of the loaf mean whole lot! Oh
there'll be plenty more tomorrow" he
went on hastily, as pitiful little cry
escaped her. only it was inconvenient
you know. I'll run out and get bite
to eat by and by"
Leone smiled again, but a wave o.
pity swept over her heart for she fell
very sure that his light tone covered
heavy heartedness and that he would
go to bed supperless now that she had
ruined his omelet
But there was nothing she could say
or do to mitigate the circumstances:
although the gold mesh bag was
crammed> with money, she could not
offer 1t to this perfectly fierce looking
man whose supper she had spoiled.
Leone would not let him carry her
down stairs, but she leaned on his
arm, and as they made slow progress
down four flights of stairs to the street
he told her something about himself
1t seemed that he was an illustrator;
he had turned out some fair stuff, he
told her modestly, but progress had
been slow. While he was awaiting the
payment for some magazine sketches
he was illustrating advertisements.
Shocking, isn't it," he laughed.
II think it's splendid!" cried Leone
why, always look at the advertis
ing sections of the magazines the very
first thing"
Il am encouraged" he cried almost
gaily; some of them pay very we'll
but you know, it isn't the sort of stuff
I really want to turn out"
"Of course not" agreed Leone SC
berly.
They became better acquainted as
the moments flew while they waited
for the taxicab summoned by the art
list. He told Leone that his name was
Loomis-Carl Loomis-and she wa:
startled at the vague familiarity of it
OF course he was one of Jim's friends
II am sure. that l have heard my
brother Jim mention your name," she
told him.
very likely. We were classmates
Leone blushed holly because of thf
thrill of delight she felt. If he was
one Of Jim's friends, she would meet
him again.
| The taxicab came and Mr.. Loomis
tucked Leone inside, handed her the
gold bag, held her hand in his big on
for a brief instant, and then watched
the machine bear her from. his wist
full sight.
In the Colson mansion, James Col
son, Jr., was plunging into his over
coat in remorseful search for his pref
ty sister. He had entirely forgotten
his dinner engagement with Leone un
til long after the appointed time; the1
he had arrived home to discover tina:
ho6
knew where she was.
| When Leone came limping into the
house it was to fall into Jim's arms
In the warm library, where her father
and mother had taken anxious refuge
during Jim's absence, Leone told her
amazing story and tossed the sofa
pillow at her brother.
"Loomis-Carl LOOMS? Well,
should say did know him. Best chap
in the world. Didn't ever tell you
about the agreement he made with his
father? You know old Loomis is roll.
ing in money-could buy the governor
out several times, couldn't he, STRIP
grinned Jim.
Mr.. Colson smiled indulgently an6
passed hand over Leone's brigh,
hair.
us he the youngster who wanted tc
be an artist and his father told him /,
he could support himself for one year
by his pen and brush he would settle
hundred thousand dollars on him and
send him abroad to study?"
That's Carl Loomis." exclaimed
Jim. HE told me the other day thai
the year would be up next week-saic
he had been on tie ragged edge O.
starvation half the time, but he hat
worried through. Carl said he'd beer
cooking for himself when funds were
low and that he'd grown sick to dealt
of eggs"
Leone laughed softly and her eyer
were very bright, but she made nc
mention of the frugal meal or of the
omelet she had ruined. She would
never forget LOOMS angry dismay a,
the catastrophe.
Six months later xhen Carl Loomi:
asked Leone to marry him and go tt
Paris for year or 50, she turned E
rosy face to his.
II can make delicious omelet," she
whispered.
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
\