Tombstone epitaph., 1917-09-02

4 disgust, found that her eyes were
blurring up with tears. She was a
little bit slack and edgy today anyhow.
What he had just referred to In .
dozen brisk words, was the final dis
| appearance Of the home they had all
+ grown up in. Their father, one Of
Chicago's great men during the twenty
odd years from the Fire to the Fair.
had built ii when the neichborhood
included nearly all the other big men
Of that robust period. and had always
been proud of it. OF course for years
the neighborhood had been impossible.
Her mother had chung to II after her
husbands death. but Rodney had SIM
| ply stayed on. since her death. waiting
for an offer for 1t that suited him. His
curt announcement that the long
looked-for change had come. brought
| up quick. unwelcomed tears. She
squeezed them away with her palms.
rs that" she asked. why you've
been looking so sort of-gay. all the
evening-as if you were licking the
last of the canary's feathers OF your
whiskers?"
perhaps So" he said. Its been
pretty good day. take it all round"
She got up from the couch. shook
herself down into her clothes little.
and came over to him. "All right,
since it's been q good day. let's go TO
bed" She put her hands upon his
! shoulders. You're rather dreadful"
she said. but you're a dear. You
don't bite my head off when urge you
TO get married, though 1 know you
want to. But you will some day
don't mean bite my head off-won't
/ you. Rod:"
when see any prospect Of being
as lucky as Martin-find girl who
won't mind when turn up tor dinner
looking like a drowned tramp. or kick
her plans 10 bits. after she's tipped me
off as to what she wants me to do :"
Frederick took her hands of. step
ped back. and looked at him. There
was an ironical sort OF smile on her
lips. You're such an innocent, Roddy
utdT. lpll tiililh llic XII you Anoi -
will ever treat you like that"
But look herew he exclaimed.
How In thunder am / going TO know
about the girl l get engaged to, before
it's too lateT'
you won't" she said. You haven't
a chance in the world"
Him." he grunted. obviously struck
with this Idea. You're giving the
prospect OF marrisge new attractions.
You're making the thing out-an ad-
venture
She nodded rather soberly. "Oh.
I'm not afraid for you" she said.
Men like adventures-you more than
most. But women don't. They like TO
dream about them. but they want TO
turn over to the last chapter and see
how it's going to end. It's the girl
I'm worried about. oh, come
along! We're talking nonsense. I'll
go up with you end see that they're
giving you pajamas and toothbrush
She had accomplished this purpose.
kissed him goodnight, and turned to
leave the room. when her eye fell upon
heap OF damp. warped, pasteboard-
bound notebooks. which she rernem-
bered having observed In his side pock-
cts when he first came in. She went
over and picked them up, peered at the
paper label that had half peeled of the
topmost cover. and read what was
written on ii.
"Who." she asked with considerable
emphasis. ais Rosalind StantonT
"Oh." said Rodney, very casually. be-
hind the worst imitation of a yawn
she had ever seen. "oh. she got put of
the car when did"
That sounds rather exciting" said
Frederick behind an imitation yawn
Of her Own-but better one. ''Going
to tell me about it:'
Nothing much to tell" said Rodney.
There was a row about a fare. as
said. And then, we both got put off.
So, naturally. I walked with her over
TO the elevated. And then i forgot to
give her her notebooks and Rme away
with them"
What sort Of looking girl?" asked
Frederick. rs she pretty?"
"Why. I don't know" said Rodney
judicially. REALLY. you know. hard
ly got fair look at her"
Frederick made a funny-sounding
laugh and wished him an abrupt good
night"
She was a great old girl. Frederica-
pretty wise about lots OF things, but
Rodney was inclined to think she was
mistaken in saying women didn't like
adventures.
you're a liar. you know" remarked
his conscience. telling Frederick you
hadn't n good look at her. And how
about those notebooks-about forget
ting to give them 10 her!"
CHAPTER ~.