The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1916-11-30


relei objected.
"Oh. offer your own price for Ger
ties fiat If you like IL. They're crazy
for tenants. It's cheaper than hotels
II you want to save money"
Lorelel was surprised to find her
friends quarters not only richly but
lavishly furnished. The decorations
were harmonious and bespoke a reck-
less disregard OF cost A fluffy Jap
anese spaniel with protruding eyes and
distorted visage capered deliriously at
Its mistress feet.
But the objects that intrigued the
visitor most strongly were several
paintings. They were OF a kind she
had seldom seen, and in the afternoon
light one stood out with particularly
startling effect. II was a dusky land
scape; there was n stream. a meadow
edge, trees just growing black against
dying sunset, a herd of cattle com
ing out OF the west. Before this pic
ture Lorelei paused, staring with wide
eyes of wonder.
Lilas flung her hat carelessly into
chair, lit cigarette from Tiffany
humldor, then turned with the spaniel
In her arms and, beholding her guest
with rapt, upturned face, remarked,
with laugh:
Looks like the real thing. doesn't IT."
"Oh-it's wonderful-so clean and
cool and quiet! I've seen cattle in Vale
that looked just like those, when
went barefoot In the grass"
"Some Dutchman painted this
names on the corner. He's dead now,
believe. II used to hang in some
museum-I forget where. like pic
lures Of women best, but" She
shrugged and left the sentence unfin-
ished. There's a dandy in my bed
room. although II didn't cost half as
much as that barnyard thing. The
frames foot wide and covered with
solid gold"
81 had no idea you lived like this"
Lorelei peered through pair of
French doors and into perfectly APP
pointed library, with massive mahog-
any table, deep lounging chairs. a writ
ing desk, and q dome-crowned read
ing lamp.
"My study" Lilas laughed. shortly.
That's where l improve my mind
not The books are deadly. Now come;
Hltchy Koo must have dinner ready.
His name isn't Hltchy Koo. but It
sounds like 1t, and he's the cutest
little thing; got the cutest little
swing" She moved down the hall,
the chorus OF the senseless
popular song from which she had
quoted,
Everywhere was the same evidence
Of good taste In decoration and luxury
Of equipment, but a suspicion had en-.
tered Lorelei's mind. and she avoided
Hitchy Koo was cook. but
Ter and house-boy, and in view of Miss
Lynn's dlsorderly habits it was evil
dent that he had all he could do to
keep the place presentable. His mis-
tress ate without appetite and in
mood that took no ac-
count of the wasteful attempts to
please her. Quite regardless of the pa
tent little Jap, she found fault with
1im savagely, so that Lorelei was
,ften painfully embarrassed.
$50 you like my home, do your" she
lueried. after time.
"I've never seen one-so beautiful"
Lilas nodded. "Hitchy sleeps out, |
md that leaves me the whole place. |
Jarvis furnished 1t, even to the books, |
md I'm studying to be a lady" Again |
she laughed mockingly. II make al
)luff at reading, but 80 long as talk |
about Napoleon he never thinks to |
question Inc. know that French gink |
II wish had hobby-something to |
interest me, something to live for"
laid Lorelei, lamely.
Yes. 1t gives you something to |
hink about when you're alone. 1t |
lelps you to--stand things" For the
irst time Lilas showed trace of feel
ng In her voice; she dropped her chin
nto her palm and, leaning upon the
able, stared as II at vision. Her
lark eyes were somber, her brows
vefe lowered and drawn together.
The slipshod informality of the meal,
he constant faultfinding of the host
ss, made 1t something of trial. Lore
Ell was not sorry when It was over
md Lilas took her to look at the va
ant fiat.
Miss Moore's apartment offered a
vide contrast to the one they had just
luitted, being very small and very
furnished; but 1t was on the
econd floor, convenient to both eleya-
or and stairway, II boasted a piano,
nd the superintendent allowed his
tenant to name her own
erms. She descended with relief, feel
ne that she had made not bad bar
.ain.
She stated, as she sank into Lilas'
zig library chair, II feel quite indie
endent at last. The rent is ridlcu-
ous, and l can do my own cooking"
"Don't make a fool OF yourself. You
an do as well as I've done. You have
he looks"
"But I'm not engaged to a multimil-
lonalre."