The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1917-08-04

Stralnlngiy Helen listened as Dora
ushered in the caller. She could not
catch the words, only the deep mum.
BILE Of Warren's greeting.
Her lace frills becomingly arranged,
she lay back on the company" linen
pillowcase, surveying the effect In the
hand mirror. There was just time to
thrust the glass under the covers as
Warren flung open the door.
The meeting was somewhat awk-
ward. Harriet, drawing the chair near
er the bed and out of line of the IL
tbrary vista, expressed her perfunctory
regrets at finding Helen Ill.
How she has changed, much older
but much better dressed, was running
through Helen's mind as she murmured
her disappointment that Harriet was
not to be in town longer. They would
SO like to have her to dinner.
That she was being subjected to
similar swift appraisement Helen
knew, but she was fortified by the
consciousness that the lacy gown and
boudoir cap were most becoming.
Instead Of seeming impressed by the
apartment and by Warren, this West
ern cousin was disconcertingly asser-
tive. Ignoring Helen's lead, she
promptly directed the conversation in
to her own channels.
"You know Miriam has little SOM"
Miriam was Harriet's younger sister,
who had married a wealthy Omaha
contractor. "A ten-pound boy proud
ly. "Born a week ago yesterday.
Didn't Aunt Elizabeth write your"
mo, I haven't heard from mother
this week. Tell me about Miriam"
with feigned interest, for she had new.
er. liked this other cousin. II know
she's glad it's boy"
"And he's simply wild about i'll
They've wonderful place for chill.
dren-one of the most beautiful houses
in Omaha. Yes, Miriam has every
thing she wants. They keep three
servants and two cars-it's an ideal
home"
ut must be-" murmured Helen, not
relishing this line of conversation.
"We're thinking Of taking trip West
this year, If we don't go abroad, But
Warren has business in London-4-if we
can possibly get over"
"Harvey's crossed so many times,
and he's SO anxious to take Miriam,
but now with the baby"
Here Dora appeared and Helen gave
the signal for tea, while Harriet
launched into a further recital of the
comforts and luxuries of Miriam's
home.
With the arrival of tea, Helen, hop
ing to switch the conversation, adroit-
ly called attention to the Sheffield tea
service she had brought from England
But this gave an opening for an en-
thusiastic account Of all the silver
Harvey's people had given Miriam
when they were married.
Warren, always caustically taciturt
when anyone began to ''blow," drank
his tea in stolid silence. But under
this continuous laudation of Miriam's
possessions, Helen grew more and
more FESTIVE.
Wouldn't you like to see the apart.
ment? We've some interesting old
things we brought from London" She
fairly dragged 1t in. Dear, do show
Harriet through"
"Oh, yes, love English furniture
Miriam has several very fine old
pieces. They're both keen about an
tiques."
Flinging Helen a black scowl, War
rem, with evident reluctance, led the
way into the front ROOM But from
their murmurous voices Helen knew
that 1t was Harriet who did all the
talking. An occasional comment drift
ed in.
| "That's Bokhara, isn't it? Miriam
has one almost exactly that pattern
:. Yes, she has some very wonderful
rugs. +. Her rooms are so large
but you can't get much space in New
York"
When Harriet came back to the bed
room, 1t was without single compli
mentary remark about the apartment
II mustn't stay any longer-I dom
want to tire you. But I've enjoyed see
ing you both so much. Now, If you d.
make that trip West, you must stop a
Omaha and spend few days with Mir
lam. They'll entertain you royalty"
| AS Warren saw her to the door
Helen could hear her still exclaimint
over how, much they would enjoy tn,
trip to Omaha.
"Well, that's the time you go
yours" with an amused grin, as HI
came back and slouched into the chat
by the bed. "The stage setting stun
didn't make much of dent"
"Oh, dear, she's changedl She didn'
used to be like thatl'
Seems to run in your family" will
q chuckle. didn't have much of he
own to toot about-so she rung in Mir
iam."
"Runs in the family?" flushing. 4
"Yes, and she beat you to it! Didn'
give you look-in. Everything set TO
a star performance-but she neatl.
side-staged you and grabbed the spot
light. Ha-ha!" it was an apprecia
tive laugh--"that was ripping! r