The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-02-23
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HER ALOOFNESS :
BY ISABEL FROST. N
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BY ISABEL FROST.


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If there was one thing more than
another that Virginia prided herself on
it was her aloofness, which in this
particular case, showed itself In her
ability to live months at time in a
New York apartment house without
becoming acquainted with any of her
neighbors.
In spite of the fact that she had to
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
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 mail she received
was from Terry. He usually wrote
once a week, a brief, jerky, boyish
epistle, full OF complaints, football,
seats" 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 a 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 a letter she had
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
surreptitious groceries that Virginia
! knew represented light housekeeping.
Terry arrived at Mrs. Finnegan's at
nine o'clock. Lewis heard the alterca-
| ton in the lower hall while Terry tried
to explain his relationship to Miss
1 Darlington and his rights and priv
ileges in her absence. But Mrs. Fin
negan was obdurate. It might be SO
and then again it mightn't. She would
take no chances.
81 saw Miss Darlington go away
about :30," called Lewis over the BAN
lister rail- Anything can do2 Won't
you come up with me until she gets
back?"
Terry accepted with alacrity. He
not only came up, but ne pitched into
| the remains of Lewis supper and
cleared it up to the last crumb.
Lewis listened alphabetically to
everything, even when Terry told how
he had been bounced" from the
prep" school. There had been a lit
tie affair of guinea pigs, many guinea
| pigs hidden all around the assembly
hall on a certain evening when the
/ younger boys were excluded from a
| senior dances.
"Some fellows can't take a joke, "
Terry concluded, scathingly. "Pm glad
| to be out of 1t. I'm sixteen and ought
sister support me. Wish you could
get me job before she gets back"
Lewis considered the matter. He
liked the boy. It was the age Of
specialization.
"Pn help you on your 'math' at
night. don't think your sister has
room for you downstairs. I'd Ike 1t II
| you'd bunk up here with me, old man,
and keep me company"
Terry loved him for that phrase,
"old man." He went to work the next
morning, and walked In on virginia
that night fuIl-hedged business man,
with steady job and a salary. She
listened to his explanations in silent
| amazement.
why, Terry, have only a bowling
acquaintance with this person"
'FWell, wen fix that" replied Terry,
comfortably. I'm going to share hts
room, and pay my bit, so you'd better
| get acquainted, GIMME. If it hadn't
been for him, think where your little
brother might have ended up-Iost in
great city, while sister was house
boating gaysomely. invited him
down for dinner tonight with us. OF
course, if you don't want him, we can
| go out"
Virginia stood at the open window
/ looking down aft the COURTYARD where