Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-11-01
HER ALO0FNESS

BY ISABEL FROST.

another that Virginia prided herself on
II was her alOOfness, which In thil
particular case, showed itself in hei
ability TO live months at n time in 1
New York apartment house withou
becoming acquainted with any OF hel
neighbors.
In spite Of the fact that she had e
earn her own living now, she never
forgot for one moment that she was
Miss Darlington Of Darlington Hall
Ga.
She occupied the back suite on the
second floor. In the front there was a
young sculptor whom she did not even
know by sight. The rooms above her
own were occupied by Wells Lewis,
an incipient dramatist; the floor be-
low, by an interior decorator and his
wife. On-the very topmost floor were
little skylight rooms where several
birds of passage lived, students for the
most part.
The only personal nail she received
was from Terry. he usually wrote
once week, brief, jerky, boyish
epistle, full Of complaints, football,
"eats" and ratings at Latin, English
and everything else under the sun ex-
cept mathematics and herself.
This did not bother Virginia at all.
She felt herself responsible for Terry
and his proper upbringing as a Car
rington. If she could work and sup
port herself, their slender income
would suffice to send Terry through
school and turn him out civil engi-
neer, as her father had wished.
She had not realized until these days
of early summer how tagged out she
was getting.
Miss Darlington, you'll break down
If you don't stop working so hard"
Peggy said at the office, as Virginia
waited to see the buyer for the art
goods department.
Virginia went home that day feeling
rather puzzled. Was that what was
the matter with her? She studied her
face In the mirror carefully, and then
thoughtfully opened letter she had
picked up from the table In the lower
hall. 1t was an invitation from the
Chapins, for her to visit them on their
houseboat over the weekend.
She left that Friday night for the
shore with a feeling of elation, as
though she had escaped from a mild
sort of prison. On the front steps she
passed Wells Lewis. He was person
ally conducting several paper bags Of
groceries that Virginia
knew represented light housekeeping.
Terry arrived at Mrs. Finnegan's at
nine o'clock. Lewis heard the alterca-
don In the lower hall while Terry tried
to explain his relationship to Miss
and his rights and priv
ileges In her absence. But Mrs. Fin
negan was obdurate. 1t might be so
and then again II mightn't. She would
take no chances.
II saw Miss Darlington 60 away
about 9 30" called Lewis over the BAN
lster rail. Anything can do? Won't
you come up with me until she gets
backT
Terry accepted with alacrity. He
not only came up, but he pitched into
the remains of Lewis supper and
cleared 1t up to the last crumb.
Lewis listened sympathetically to
everything, even when Terry told how
be had been bounced" from the ,
prep" school. There had been lit
lie affair Of guinea pigs, many guinea 3
pigs hidden all around the assembly
hall on certain evening when the
younger boys were excluded from a =.
senior dances.
"Some fellows can't take a Joke" i.
Terry concluded, scathingly. I'm glad
o be out of It. I'm sixteen and ought
o be 'at work instead Of letting q girl
dster support me. Wish you could z
Iet me Job before she gets back"
Lewis considered the matter. He
liked the boy. 1t was the age Of
II
"Tn help you on your 'math' at
light don't think your sister has
Dom for you downstairs. I'd like It II 4
'ou'd bunk up here with me, old man,
nd keep me company"
ierfy iOVeu MIN Tor tnat phrase, q
old man." He went to work the next
morning, and walked in on Virginia
hat night full-hedged business man. q
Nth a steady job and a salary. She .
Istened to his explanations In silent
"Why, Terry, have only bowling
cQuaintance with this person" h
"Well, Wen fix that" replied Terry,
I'm going TO share his
DOM, and pay my bit, so you'd better
ct acquainted, Ginnie. If II hadn't E
cen for him, think where your little
rother might have ended up-lost in
great city, while sister was house
eating gaysomely. / invited him
own for dinner tonight with us. OF
purse, If you don't want him, we can