The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1917-02-08

course, where Connie stayed she
had to stay, too, until Connie weari-
ed of this latest whim. Mrs. Cur
win devouAy hoped that it would
be soon.
However, there was one allevla-
tion for her misery. Connie seemed
to have lost her enthusiasm over
doing the exposition. She spent her
time investigating art schools and
studios, leaving her mother to
plunge into all the delights Of shop
ping, of which the good woman did
not soon tire. To be sure, Connie
might have shown little more in
terest in her purchases. It was all
very well to say that as an art stu
dent she would need few clothes.
Mrs. Curwin knew better. Connie
had always been fond of clothes,
and some day she would wake up
from her art dreams and find that
her wardrobe was bare.
But her daughters indifference
"to her real interests" did not pre-
vent Mrs. Curwin from entering
eagerly into all her plans for the
studio. If only they had brought
some of their home furniture with
them! Connie tried to explain pa
tiently how out Of place the heavy,
elegantly upholstered pieces would
be in a studio and how much more
delightful it would be to pick up
the necessary things one at time
in the various curio shops. This
last idea was balm to her mothers
rufled feelings. 1t offered such in
finite possibilities for shopping.
With this laudable object in view
she soon became familiar figure to
all the curio dealers. Connie was
usually the interpreter, but if, as
often happened, she did not care to
60 Mrs. Curwin never lacked Ghe
courage to 60 alone. Each day she
came home with some new art
treasure, and the girl had not the
heart to spoil her delight by re-
minding her that they already had
enough traps to fill two ordinary
studios.
These were weary days for Con-
ME, and yet she was too proud to
confde her sutferings to her moth
er. What good would it do any
way to disturb that serenity? And
she had had no word from Jim in
answer to her note. Small wonder,
for what could he say? And yet
and yet-he might have
She had been sitting on bench
in the Jardin des Tuileries, and
now she rose with a start and tried
to enjoy the fountains splashing
and glittering under the July sun
and the pretty French children with
their bonnes in peasant caps.
As she glanced down the path
she saw a well dressed American
looking from side to side as if in
search Of ssme one. Her heart
gave leap. He looked like Non
sense! She was always imagining
that she saw him.
The gentleman came directly to-
ward her. There was no mistaking
him now. 1t was Jim.
She gazed at him. Then the glad
light died from her face.
"You? Herew she said slowly.
Gust got in from New York"
was the cheerful reply. Pound
your mother on the Rue de Rivoh,
so here l am" And he took her un-
resisting hand.
"Ysu don't say you're glad to see
me. That's rough when a chap
comes so many miles to see yeu,
dear"
The "dear" acted like an electric
shock. Wrenching free her hand,
she faced him with blazing eyes.
"You know you ought not to be
here. You ought to be at Newport
with Maud"
Jim seized both hands now. He
had forgotten the people, forgotten
everything but the white, tense face
of the little American girl.
Connie, dear, it's all dreadful
mistake, and I came over just as
soon as l could arrange it to tell
YOU the truth. It's Cousin James
from Colorado, who is engaged to
Maud, and the stupid newspaper
made the error. But l never guess
ed you'd care so much, dearest"
Mrs. Curwin found them at the
nension sitting in the dusk. As