Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-12
CHAPTER XVI
A Little Gaiety For Tayy


You are like sunshine in a gar
den, child" exclaimed Mrs. Stuart,
; as she received Geraldine in the
dainty pink and gray parlor. She
had keen love of bright color. which
had found its expression in the gay
little court dolls she had made down
in Vanheuster Square, and Geraldine's
/, afternoon frocks always delighted her
Il feel like spring bonnet"
laughed Geraldine, looking down at
the rose silk, and once more deciding
that its becomingness quite excused
it's brightness. She sat by the window
and glanced out at the shimmering
!, river. The trees along the Palisades
] were beginning to feather out, and
their greenness to-day, for the first
time, was visible from this distance,
A trace of speculation came into Ger
z aldfne's eyes. IT'S a beautiful af-
ternoon. / thought that perhaps Tavy
might care to go for a drive"
& Il don't know that she has any
8 engagement for the afternoon" con-
sidered Mrs. Stuart contentedly. "She
can't stay out late because we are
going to the theater this evening"
s Geraldine's lashes dropped for the
most infinitesimal flash of time. She
knew quite we'll with whom they
+ were going.
I'll bring her back at four-thirty."
she gaily promised. THAT will give
her time for the nap to make her
especially beautiful for the evening;
although Tavy doesn't need it,"
4 That's pretty of you" Mrs.
Stuart smiled with pleasure. How
ever, | don't believe Tavy will need
it tonight" .t,. t|--
Again that infinitesimal flicker of
the lashes. A clumsy river steamer
was churning down stream, a broad.
glistening white blot on the water. and
Geraldine watched it's slow progress
as interestedly as if it were laden
with lifetime of pleasure for her.
How much stronger you are look
ing than when I first met you, Mrs.
stuart. The air seems wonderfully
good up here"
Il don't think it's air so much as
Just solid happiness" returned Mrs,
stuart. and her gaze strayed to the
huge basket of white liiacs which
hung in the bay window.
A little twitch in the trinity gloved
wrist of Geraldine, where IL Law on
the arm OF the chair. She knew that
type of basket, One of Billy's tricks
There was an ornate box of candy
on the table. Geraldine knew every
piece in 1t; Billy special That par
ticular assortment was known in The
crowd. His imagination did not run
to variations in candy Billyt RiIlvi
Billy! There were evidences of him
everywhere! The hand on the arm,
or the chair contracted. Up. the
river -
Hello, Geraldine, I didn't know
you were here" Tavy; in a quaint,
stin little pompadour taffeta. She
was beautiful; stunningly beautiful,
with her exquisitely tinted comnlex'
llon' and her glowing dark eyes. and
her dancing black curls. There was
new sparkle about her to-day,
new vivacity. 1t was as if the slv
little imps had slipped out from
those glossy ringlets. and turning de-
mure, had taken complete possession
OF her, glinting and giimmerine
everywhere, from the pointed toes Of
sner little patent leather slippers
from There was a sudden flash
IKE crimson fire, as Tayy reached
forward her hands in greeting, and
1T was then that Geraldine saw tha
ring; Billy's ring! '-Ao
{ How sweet you 1ook!" exclaimed
Geraldine, rising to take the out-
stretched hands, and she kissed Tavv
! simpulslVely. She spoke with exag-
gerated animation, and her voice was
JUST the slightest degree sharper and
nigner In pitch than usual. 1T want
TO take you for drive. VIII Won
Acome?" you
Indeed I will" Tavv,s yo;oo q.
more animated, too, but II is NOT
shade sharper or higher in tone IF
anything it is softer and sweeter. a
great happiness has come to raw
and 1t has made her better in evary
way, as happiness must, for only
they can be happy who are made
better by 1t.
Tavy sat in the bay between her