Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-06-05
CHAPTER III.
The Second Encounter.


So after stripping off her jacket and
gloves, rolling up her veil, and scowl-
ing at herself in an oblong mahogany
framed mirror in the hall, she walked
into the dining-room with her hat on.
Seeing her mother sitting at the lunch
table, she asked, where's Rose?"
"She'll be down, presently, think"
her mother said Does your hat
mean you're going back to the shop
this afternoonT
Portia nodded, pulled back her chair
abruptly, and sat down.
81 thought that on Saturday :"
her mother began.
"Oh, know" said Portia, "but that
girl I've got isn't much good"
You'd have known them for mother
and daughter anywhere, and you'd
have had trouble finding any point of
resemblance In either of them to the
Amazonian young thing who had so
nearly thrown street-car conductor
into the street the night before.
The mothers hair was very soft and
white, and the care with which 1t was
arranged indicated certain harmless
vanity in 1t. There was something a
little conscious, too, about her dress.
If you took it In connection with a
certain resolute amiability about her
smile, you would be entirely prepared
to hear her tell Portia that she was to
talk on Modern Tendencies" before
the Pierian club this afternoon.
A very real person, nevertheless
you couldn't doubt that. The marks of
passionately held beliefs and eagerly
given sacrifices were etched with I'M
deniable authenticity in her face.
Once you got beyond catalogue Of
features, Portia presented rather q
striking contrast to this. Her hair
was done with a severity that was
fairly hostile. Her clothes were
brusquely worn. Her smile, if not i'll
natured-it wasn't that-was distinct
ly ironic. A very competent, good
looking young woman, just now droop-
ing little over the cold lunch.
$50 Rose didn't come down this
morning at all. Nothing particular the
matter with her, is there?" asked Por-
tia.
There was enough real concern in
her voice to save the question from
sounding satirical, but her mothers
manner was little apologize when
she answered 1t.
mo, / think not" she said. but
she was In such a state when she
came home last alphabetically wet
through to the skin, and blue with
cold. So 1 thought it wouldn't do any
harm.
"Of course not" said Portia.
'Ttose is all right. She won't spoil
BADLY"
I'm little bit worried about the
loss of the poor child's notebooks"
said her mother.
II don't believe Rose is worrying
her head off about Them" said Portia.
The flush in her mothers cheeks
deepened little. but it was no long
er apologize. 81 don't think you're
quite fair to Rose, about her studies"
she said. IF she doesn't seem always
to appreciate her privilege in getting
college education as seriously as she
should. you should remember her
youth. She's only twenty"
"rm sorry. mother" Portia inter
rupted contritely. II didn't mean any
harm anyway. Didn't she say the
mans name was Rodney Aldrich?"
Il think So" her mother agreed.
Something like that"
ats rather funny" said Portia.
Its hardly likely to have been the
real Rodney Aldrich. Yet it's not a
common name"
THE real Rodney Aldrich?" ques-
toned her mother. But, without ~ait-
ing for her daughters elucidation of
he phrase. she added, ''oh. there's
Rosel"
The girl came up behind Portia and
enveloped her in big. lazy hug. Back
TO work another Saturday afternoon,
Angelf" she asked commiseratingly.
Aren't you ever going TO stop and
have any fun?" Then she Slumped
into a chair. heaved a yawning sigh.
and rubbed her eyes.
Tired. dearf" asked her mother.