The Washington times., 1918-10-12

again have the pang OF feeling the
outsider" His old life would slip
away into q background Of unim-
portant memory and his real life
would date from the hour he had
found me.
dreamed as I worked. and littiS
snatches Of song rose to my lips.
wonder II every woman longs a. I
do to be all-ln-all to the man she
loves? / must mean everything to
my Jim-as he does to me.
Quickly and deftly my happy
fingers completed their tasks.
II win, Neal" I cried, actually
hippity-hopping to the door Of the
living room.
NeaIe FInds Hidden Robe.
There stood Neal over by the big.
carved Florentine chest Its ia
was thrown back. and In my broth
er's hands was the shimmertng
blue and green robe Tom Mason
had-giVen me. dashed across
the room and tried to snatch the
lustrous thing from Meals banda
But Neal turned. twisted IL from my
grasp and swung the silk high
above his head where It winked at
me evilly.
"Tush, tush. Barbara Anne, why
this unseemly haste?" questioned
my brother in a teasing voice.
Give II to mel. Give Il to me!-
cried
Come and take it," laughed Neal
sliding across the floor and brand
ishing the flashing robe above his
head.
Don't tease, NeaI-give it to msF'
cried in expaseration that was
almost fearful.
Then his teasing look turned suG-
denly to an earnest one:
What do you want to do with
his-thingumabob, BabbsieT'
II want to hide 1t away"
Hide it, from whom
From myself. Neal"
Sure it's not from your husbandF
Meal! What do you mean?'
IT want to know what you mean,
Babbsie-having all this heavy,
embroidered stuff made into some
sort OF = dress and hidden away,
said my brother. sternly.
And as l faced the sturdy detsF~
mination in his young eyes I knew
with relief that at last was going
to tell the story Of that "hauntsds
robei And when I had told him
how Tom Mason had made me q
gft-an unwelcome one-but still
a sift-of that priceless robe, my
brother was fairly furioua He
stormed out that must send It back
at once and that he'd M any cad
who dared insult his sister By
forcing presents Of clothes upon
her
Neal you're right. You and
have different standards. We ars
not new-fashioned city folk. but
simple, honey country people-and
I'm proud OF it and I'm going to b
what 1 am as honestly as I can.
Now, put the robe away. dear. ri
tell my husband about 1t as soon as
he comes in, and then he and I to-
gether will send 1t back to M.
Mason"
Neal kissed me. huEEiuE n
tight:
you need some one to look cot
for you. Babbsie-some one who
understands you. Maybe it's COINS
to turn out for the best that
came"
This disquieted me. Did Neal
mean to insinuste that Jim didn't
understand me? And why should
his coming to New York not turn
out well?-'
tied his tie. helped him smooth
down the rebellious waves Of his
red hair and sent him
of to join hts Lady Evelyn" Then
1 got out my mending and stitched
a little Of my love into the criSs-
cross OF Jim's socks At noon J
put the roast OF lamb into the oven.
At 1 began peelfng the potatoes
and carrots fine hot dinner
should be awaiting my boy when
he returned - that would refresh
him and help him over disappofnt-
ment perhaps.
Indifferent About Present.
But there was no disappointment
Even my boys limp had lost some
Of its weary drag. for As he hur-
ried in a few moments later. he
shouted boyishly that he had . Job
Tomorrow Neal and start on
FOR the workingman's life together
he cried. enveloping me in = bear
hug. Little brother has nothing
on me. I'm Inspector in a cap fac
tory. Don't know nothing about
,aps-or inspecting. but this pays
eighteen hundred a year and may
lead right to the presidency"
After our FIRST rejoicing was over,
I pulled Jim down at my side On
ne big couch and told him the story
% the blue robe. At FIRST didn't
fare raise my eyes to his face-the
words came stumbling out in cold
panic. I sat staring out ahead OF
ne with cold hands clasped-thsn.
or comfort, l reached over and
leized the lapels OF Jim's coat and
ragged my eyes up to his. He was
milling.
You aren't angry" I Easped.
Veal. had been 50 very angry.
Angry" Jim swept his hands
lown and caught my wrists-hs
fitted them and laid a kiss in each
,alm Poor little frightened girl
,and had shut her up in a Blue
,eard tower"
You'd let me accept presents
rom other mem" l gasped in .
ghirL
Jim threw back his head and
airly shouted. Take all you can
ret - Riddle. That's the law Of
Ociety. or course. wouldn't have
ou push that to extremes. But the
ODE was right here in the apart
nent, and Tom threw II In as part
Z the rent. Hes rich--it won't
urt him to be a little generous
o US"
drew away-oIended. Jim's
rords hurt mo Had my husband q,
10 real prize TO- ms-or for hiP-
elf:
CTO Ne cOntiAuea.l