The Dolores star., 1918-12-20

silk-stockingeu fest ut the small coal
CRATE. Fall had come, and there v,s
a sharp nip to the air.
"Well, what do you think of IL N
far as you've goneT" he asked alb
ruptly.
81 think it's flne," she candidly id.
mtted. I'm enjoying myself. like
it Don't your"
"As diversion" he observed
thoughtfully, II don't mind It. These
people are all very affable and pleas
ant, and they've rather gone out of
their way to entertain us. But, after
all, what the dickens does 1t amount
to? They spend their whole life run
ming In useless circles. I should think
they'd get sick of 1t. You will"
Hardly. Billum," she smiled. Were
merely making up for two years Of iso-
lation. think we must be remarkable
people that we didn't fight like cats
and dogs. For eighteen months, you
know, there wasn't a soul to talk to,
and not much to think about except
what you could dc II you were some
place else"
You're acquiring the atmosphere"
he remarked - sardonically, she
thought.
NO; just enjoying myself" she re-
piled lightly.
swell, If you really are" he an.
swered slowly, 1--WE may as well settle
here for the winter-and get settled
right away. I'm rather weary Of being
a guest in another mans house, to tell
you the truth
why, I'd love to stay here all win.
ter" she said. But I thought you In
tended to knock around more or less"
But don't you see, you don't partic-
ularly care to-" he pointed out; "and
1t would spoil the fun of going any
place for me If you were not interest
ed. And when 1t comes to a show
down I'm not aching to be bird of
passage. One city is pretty much like
| another to me. Well take q run over
! to New York. I want to get some
books and things. Then we'll come
back here and get house or a fiat.
tell you right now" he laughed not
unpleasantly, "Tm not going to renig
on this society game. You can play 1t
as hard as you like, until spring. I'll
be there with bells on when It comes
to dance. And I'll go to a show
when good play comes along. But
won't mix up with lot of silly women
and equally silly she-men, any more
than is absolutely necessary"
"Why, Bill" she exclaimed aghast
well. amt 1t so?" he defended la.
lilly. There's Kitty Brooks-she has
certainly got intelligence above the av.
erage. That Lorimer girl has brains
superimposed on her artistic tempera.
ment, and she uses 'em to advantage.
Practically all the rest that I've met
are intellectual nonentities-strong on
looks and clothes and amusing them.
selves, and that lets them out. Shucks
there isn't real man in the lot. May.
be I'll run across some people who
don't take two-by-four view of life
If stay around here long enough, but
1t hasn't happened to me yet. I must
say that the habitual conversation OF
these people gives me q pain. That
platitudinous discussion Of the play to-
night, for instance"
"That was droll." Hazel chuckled at
luc leSoleCllOu, duu size TecdlleQ IQe
weary look that had once or twice
fitted over Bits face during that
after-theater supper.
Bill snorted.
'Droll. Perhaps" he said. "Bla.
tant ignorance, coupled with desire
to appear the possessor Of culture. is
sometimes amusing. But as a general
thing it simply irritates."
you're hard to please" she replied
| He shrugged his shoulders and re
manned silent.
SWELL" he said presently. "we'll take
that jaunt to New York day after to
morrow"
He was still sitting by the window
when Hazel was ready to go to bed
She came back into the room In a
trailing silk kimono. and, stealing
\ ~