Tombstone epitaph., 1917-09-02

Portia nodded. pulled back her chair
abruptly. and sat down.
~ thought that on Saturday :"
her mother began.
'Oh. l 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 a street-car conductor
into the street the night before.
The mothers hair was very soft anc
white. and the care with which it was
arranged indicated a certain harmless
vanity in IL. There was something a
little conscious. too. about her dress.
II you took il in connection with
certain resolute amiabllity about her
smile. you would be entirely prepared
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
deniahle authenticity in her face.
Once you got beyond a catalogue Of
features. Portia presented rather a
striking contrast to this. Her hair
was done with severity that was
fairly hostile. Her clothes were
brusquely worn. Her smile. II not ILL.,
natured-it wasn't that-was distinct
ly ironic. A very competent. good
looking young woman. just now droop-
ing a 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 a little apologize when
she answered it.
mo. 1 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 thought it wouldn't do any
harm.
''Of course not" said Portia.
'Rose is all right. She won't spoil
badly"
I'm a little bit worried about the
loss Of the poor child's notebooks"
said her mother.
Il don't believe Rose is worrying
/ her head of about them" said Portia.
The flush in her mothers cheeks
deepened little, but IL was no long
er apologize. II 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 a
college education as seriously as she
should, you should remember her
youth. She's only twenty"
I'm sorry. mother" Portia inter
rupted contritely. II didn't mean any
harm anyway. Didn't she say the
mans name was Rodney Aldrich:"
II think So" her mother agreed.
Something like that"
Its rather funny" said Portia.
Its hardly likely to have been the
real Rodney Aldrich. Yet it's not
common name"
THE real Rodney Aldrich?" Ques-
toned her mother. But. without wait
frg for her daughters calculation Of
the phrase. she added, .'Oh. there's
Rose!'
The girl came up behind Portia and
developed her in a big. lazy hug. Back
to work another Saturday afternoon.
Angelo" she asked coAmiseratingly.
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. dear?" asked her mother.
She said Ii under her breath In the
hope that Portia wouldn't hear.
mo" said Rose. AUST sleepy"
She yawned again. turned to Portia,
and. somewhat to their surprise. said:
"Yes. what do you mean-the real
Rodney Aldrich? He looked real
enough to me. And his arm felt real
the one he was going to punch the
conductor with"
Il didn't mean he was imaginary"
Portia explained. II only meant I
didn't believe 1t was the Rodney
Aldrich-who's so awfully prominent;
either somebody else who happened
to have the same name, or somebody
who just-said that was his name"
whats the matter with the promi-
nent one?" Rose wanted to know.
why couldn't 1t have been heY"
Portia admitted that it could, 50 far
as that went. but insisted on an In
herent improbability. A millionaire,
the brother Of Mrs. Martin Whitney,
wasn't likely to be found riding in
street cars.
"MilIionaires have legs" said Rose
Il bet they can walk around like any
body else. However, I don't care who
he Is, IL he'll send back my books"
Portia went back presently to the
shop, and 1t wasn't long after that that
her mother came downstairs clad for
the street, with her Modern Tender
cies" under her arm In a leather port
folio. Her valedictory. given with
more confidence now that Portia was
out Of he house. was q strong recon-