The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-07-31
a;,;n;:n:..ru;
A Novel
A Week
MssIsiiiiisI;ii;I:

"On approyal7 But why. Dleasef"
Because ! want you 10 get used
TO having the things you want.
dariing."
Then. 10 keep from laughing
crying ran toward the door.
What is that burning?" ! asked.
shifting suEpicioualy.
II was a vaguely familiar scent
Acorchlng dress goods--and suR-
geHtive OF the awful feeling which
comes 10 you when you've stood
too close TO tho fire IN your best
coat-suit.
what is It! Tell the truth,
motherl"
TITS your brown tweed skirt,
Grace" Guilford finally explained.
as my eyes begged the secret OF
them both. They frequently had
secrets from me.
MY brown tweed skirt7 But
what shall tramp in7'
Then mother took fresh courage.
you're not going 10 walk" she
answered triumphantiy. You're
going 20 ride-in your very--own-
electric-coupe. Here's the cata-
logue."
She scrambled about for a book
on table near AZ hand-and ] be-
gan TO sec daylight.
"Oh. a player.piano. and an cleo.
trio coupe--all In one dayi ] see
You two plotters have been putting
your heads together 10 have me get
rich quick and gracefully"
We understand that this stroke
OF fortune is going 20 make a great
change Ia your life. Grace" Gull
ford said grayely. lie was always
grave.
THE Coburn-" mother began.
Colt" he REINFORCED, then they
both hesitated, and looked at me
meaningly.
] gave a hystericai laugh.
My betrothed sat down and lifted
from the bridge OF his nose that
badge OF Civilizations pair of rim
less glasses. lie polished them With
a dazzling handkerchief. then rc-
placed the handkerchief in the
pocket OF the most fauitless Goa;
ever seen.
We'll. this business OF your get.
ting 10 be a famous compiler OF lit
erature may help you get your bear.
ings." Gullford remarked. after an
awkward little pause. You have
always said that you wished to cx.
ercise your own wings little be
fore We married. and have given
In 10 you--altho / don't know that
It's right TO humor a woman In
these days and times. Really. D
don't know that II L."
"Oh. you DON'T"
Mo- don't. But we're not dis. |
cussing that now. Gracel What I'm
trying TO get at is that this offer
means n good deal to you
AT all events. ! must decide"
exclaimed, starting 20 my feet.
"Dccide7" mother repeated. her
face filled with plteous amazement.
''Decide7"
"Decide7" Guiiford said, taking
up the strain complainingly.
Mother darted across tho room
and caught my hand
You don't mean to say that YOU
have scruples - scruples - Grace
?"
Honest fnjun. I don't KNOW" I
admitted. "of course. II does seem
absurd 10 ponder over what a fam
lily row might be raised in the Sew
enth Circle Of Nirvana by the pub
Ileation of these old love letters,
but"
James Mackenzie Christie died
IN is4e." she declared vehemently
Absurd II is insanel"
That's what the Uncle Iancelot
part OF my intelligence keeps telling
me-" ! laughed. "But--you Just
ought 10 hear the grandfather ar.
gument"
What does he--what does that |
silly Salem conscience OF yours say
against the publication OF the let
ters7" she asked grudgingly.
! sat down again.
FAN day grandfather has been
telling me what already know
that the Coburn-Colt company
doesn't want those letters OF James
Christie because they are literary,
DR. beautiful. or historical. but sim
ply and solely because they are
They'll make a good.
seller because they're the thing the
public demands right now"
Nonsense" mother interrupted. |
Lady Frances Webb thought she
ought not to marry anyone because
she was so frail She sent her low.
ers across seas. because she felt
that she mustl Why, the publica.
ton OF these letters would do good. |
not harm
They would shame the present.
day idea of affinity right" said
Guilford.
Maybe you two-don't exactly |
these letters as | do"
| suggested.
Then you have decided finally7"
mother asked in a suspicious voice. |
Il believe I have" answered. |
"Oh. please don't look at me that
please don't cry! can't
help 81"
1T is prcposterous." Guilford said
shortly.
But you don't-understandl" I
cried. turning to him pleadingly. |
You don't know what II is to feel
as feel about those lovers-thoss
people who had no happiness In
this world-and are haunted and
by curiosity in their very
graves, don't YOU suppose | want
to do the thing you and mother
want me TO do? or course, | do, !
want this-this new piano-and an.
other brown tweed skirt that
doesn't bag at the knees--and III
want--so many things!"
Then why In the name Of"
he began.
"Because WON'T" I told hin,