The Detroit times., 1916-02-05

cautiously down. There's no reason
why shouldn't SIT on the porch a
while" she thought. Still. she never
had; her cousin would think Il queer.
But she had started.
IL Was cool on the porch. She
slipped into a deep wicker chair and
settled tie cushions about her COM
fcr,ably.
why don't come down oftener?"
she asked herself.
She drew the footstool nearer and
peacefully regarded the now silent
street she WAS I'm her dream world
and imagined: Il wonder IL any
guests will be here tonight?'
'I wonder" CAME the echo softly
She turned about In her chair and
surveyed the speaker II was Wee
dor Grey.
How do you do. Mr.. Grey" said
Venus calmly.
II? oh. am doing nicely. thank
you, But you know really when
spoke you Ghould have jumped.
slightly startled. you know, anj
shrilled, How you frightened me- y"
But didn';. you see" she said
seriously.
"Ah. of course not, but that is the
thing 10 say"
II suppose you ought 10 know"
sne answered. You are a writer,
and, Of course, writers know just
what should and should not be said.
But, you see. ! never do what the
rest OF them do" She was surprised
al herself. Usually she scarcely
spoke 10 veedor Grey when be visit
ed; In fact, Usually she hurried
away as socn as she could.
"You must ask me TO sit down.
you know. IL would do that for
guest. Yes, just as | came up-I
dropped my notebook somewhere
around here and came back to find
it--you said, L wonder II any guests
will be here tonight?'
Venus blushed. Il was Just pre-
tending as you would call It,"
Pretending what?"
And then. before Venus really
knew that she was going TO, she had
held out the clippings she held in
her hard and she and veedor Grey
were bending over them. their heads
close together. and she Was telling
him how she vas dressed in shell
pink crepe de chine and soft black.
kid slippers, and how she was go
ing TO serve chocolate 20 any guests
that might drop In. AID how she
had dressed her hair like one OF her
clippings that was in the box up
stairs.
Veecor Grey sat staring At her.
Il suppose you think I'm" she
began.
Wonderful. yes" he finished for.
her. ITO think of my seeing you hall
dozen times and net moving
May | have some chocolate!"
Venus gravely took one Of the
cups that was cut out and handed It
10 him As grsvely he pulled his
chair nearer and took il from her
Then they sat fer long time, Meth
er speaking.
lit seems 10 be getting warmer"
said Venus finally. veedor glanced
at her brown chambray frcck. Did
did Did you ever have pink
crepe de chine--whatever it was?
"Oh, ro," she said in a shocked
tone.
But why don't you get some OF
these things" and he indicated
with a wave Of his hand al the clip
pings.
My aunt and my cousin would
laugh II bought pretty clothes. You
see, am very plain" She said this
as though IL were a phrase which
had been repeated 10 her over and
over again until she knew every in
tonation by heart. Yes, indeed.
You see my hair Is red and my nose
In dished In. and so they think I am
hopelessly plain, and ! suppose
am"
"And would pretty clothes ah--ag.
grayate those--ah-shall we say de
fciencies?"
Venus laughed.
do you knew Said veedor, 81
am working now on story that has
for the heroine girl who needs
clothes. pretty clothes. wonder
she's riding horseback In the park
now. That is the point to which |
have got In the story. wonder
Would you let me have these clip
pings and I'll dress her like this!"
why. surely" said Venus.
"And-Miss-and, Venus. I shall
be having other stories. you know;
I wonder"
Tomorrow I shall have the rid
ing habit costume ready for you,
laughed Venus as she gathered up
her clippings and rose.
veedor still waited.
Tomorrow, she laughed as she
opened the screen door softly. She
waved her hand and turned.
plain. not pretty repeated Wee
dor sEascfnntfnr" Tie furued IN