Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-11-23
WELL BEGUN IS HALF DONE
BY NORMA sELHv.
CITY PRICES

30 you duVtSc UluIfiLuOuJ M u
means Of removing your bachelor
brothers mental and physical faults7"
mot necessarily matrimony, Bob.
for Betty and viii be more than glad
to have you share our home life for
awhile. Shut up this bachelor apart
ment with all Its literary lore aud
come home with me for a month.
You're getting as set In your ways as
If you were seventy instead of thirty
five. Betty said for me to bring you
and she'd make you as comfortable
and allow you to be as quiet as you
could wish to be-"
"Thats awfully good Of Betty" said
Robert. IF there were more girls like
Betty perhaps l wouldn't have become
sort Of recluse at thlrty-fiye."
| A quick step on the stairway was
followed BY rap on Roberts door
and moment later there entered Doc
tor Edgar.
you're doing finer said the doc
tor. after asking Robert few ques-
lions. The only thing you need now
Is good jolt that win keep you from
settling back again into the same olSi
rut."
"Fine, doctorl" said George. 'Tve
Just been urging him to 90 home with
me for a month"
"Just bundle him into your car and
take him along said the doctor.
Once Robert had let go of his old
life he set about making the most Of
his new surroundings. Robert was
Inzily content with the quiet home life
that left him so much leisure for read
Ing. but one morning at breakfast the
maid handed Betty a night letter con-
tanning news that was anything but
welcome to her brother-In-law.
Dear me. Georgcr exclaimed Bet
~. her brown eyes Frightening with
pleasure. Leone Gray wires that she
wants to stop for a little visit with
us on her way TO Boston for another
year Ia her art work"
"Finei' said George cordially.
LEONE is the dearest Of girls" said
Betty TO Robert. $50 breezy and
charming to have about. We're quite
crazy about her"
That evening when Robert was un-
willingly dressing for dinner he heard
voices and laughter IN the lower hall
which told him that George and Betty
were welcoming their guest whom he
mentally termed representative Of
The frivolous type.
| fI,sF -. f,ss.s, latae ~. trfanf dnxss,
stairs haitingly and was relieved upon
entering the drawing room TO find II
free OF the presence 81 any frivolous
one. Through the open French win
| dow that led TO the porch he felt the
mild evening air and caught a glimpse
Of the moon through the trees, Betty
and George were coming down the
stairs and when Robert heard Betty
softly calling her guest. he was seized
with n desire TO delay his introduction
% that guest as long as possible.
Ia quick strides he made for the
French window that stood open. The
next instant. dizzy sense of disaster
struck him as he collided forcibIy with
ss.s.sa-e who was trying TO enter the
window, The sU-epne Was sTnall and
wore white gown, and she chung to
his shoulders TO kesp the sudden con-
lact from throwing her backward. One
wondrously soft hand touched his face
| for an instant and he was pleasantly
conscious Of very faint perfume. In
the same instant that all this hap-
pened. Robert realized that he was
standing plainly IN view Of George and
Betty when they should reach the
| drawing room door. In desperation he
put an arm around the frivolous one
and swung her gently around so that
both Of them were out of the light
from the open window.
"rm terribly sorry" he whispered.
HDidn't know you were here He felt
eonyulsive giggle shaking the girl
and realized that his arm was still
about her. His arm dropped instantly
and he backed away. The girl adj
yanced very near to him and lifted a
face that was pretty even In the dark
ness.
Don't be so scared" she said, In
dramatic whisper. II won't tell"
Then the little whitehead figure yan-
lshed through the window into the
drawing room and Robert stood there
trying to realize that he was sharing
secret with the girl whose coming
he had resented. But not until he
met their guest little later in the
brightly lighted dining-room did he
begin to realize that he was more
pleased than provoked at having such
secret to share with her.
MY brother" said George In his
earty way, as the dinner progressed.
''hns nothing to do just now but to be
agreeable. so you may count on him
at every turn while you are here,
Leone"
Nothing would please me more than
to try to make It pleasant for Miss
Gray said Robert promptly.
you are all wonderfully kind" said
Leone. "and I'm sure II you continue
TO make things as pleasant as each
one OF you has done this evening.
there's no telling how long I'll stay
She looked from one to the other with
dimpllng and flashing smile that
was fully understood only by Robert.
There's been very little / could dc
this evening" said Robert, looking al
Leone with such twinkle IN his eyes
that Betty lost her last doubt Of his
hospitality, 'bnt Tn glad II hasn't
seemed bad beginning"
gCopyright 1916, BY the Mcclure Newspa.
per eyndlcate.l