The Washington times., 1918-10-29


opened each others letters. But
this was different; and, after pom
derinE over the matter for several
minutes, 1 decided that q telegram
demanded immediate attention-so
opened It.
And because Of what Tread there
I set about busting and scrubbing
and putting my little home in such
marvellous order that I had actually
Just finished with the four rooms
when Jim came home.
Tired, dearT' asked sympa-
thetically. I was q bit tired my
self.
"A little. But an hour or two
alone with you In this little nest OF
ours would rest me all right" an
Ewered Jim, fitting up my chin for
his kiss.
Then I remembered the telegram
gave It to Jim, and he read 1t
quickly. He looked up with eyes
Geiow.
virginia and Phoebe get IN from
Chicago at 10:1oF'
Il know, dear-I opened the mes
sage. I thought ought to. hope
you don'r mind"
Jim Dismissed that as triding-
unimportant in the face of his newE.
''VirginIa's ooIuing!" he said,
looking at me as II to see whether
understood how much that meant
to him. Then his glance eluded me.
Il seemed to travel away where /
could not follow-back to the
youth he had shared with his sister
Virginia, I suppose. slipped into
the kitchen and left him to his
dreaming.
Neal did not come home until
GfteP z. He brought with him q
faint aroma, but I dared not ask
him II he had been drinking. Ny
face betrayed me, however, for he
grinned at me impishly and said:
'sDon't preach, Babbsie. Evvy
called round at the office for me.
We took q little spin snd then stop
ped for sup Of tay'-only the 'taY'
was q mint julep for mine, It gave
me an appetite, too. Dinner ready"
ct Will be in 4 little while, dear
inns shaving now and putting on
clean linen. His sisters are coming
this evening"
Verz Coed NewE-
'.dis sisters? Didn't know he had
any folks" Neal replied. indiner-
emily Il was just on the tip OF my
tongue to tell him that Pat Dalton
was Virginia's husband, when Jim
came in fairly beamtng.
tssHear the news, NealI Virginia
aad Ptosbe- came in tonight
Tt was the first time he had called
Neal anything except "Hyland"-
and the boy responded to his 3ovtal
tcne with delight
a'Great! I'm tickIed to death to
hear It I'll be glad to show the
girls the town"
Jim laughed.
virginia Is q married woman
twenty-nIne,. NeGl-a bit old for you,
Ell? And Phoebe is q kid. But thanks
just the same. lad"
Jim's friendliness gave Neal cour-
age to advance a BIT further. And
when we had finished serving up the
dinner and were cheer.ullY devour-
ing our veal chops and baked pota.
toes he suddenly hurst out:
Say, Jim, could you lend me q
nYer. I'm pretty near stony"
Jim scowled:
@out of cash already, Neal! This
b only Tuesday. Saturdays pay
day, isn't it?'
yep" replied Neal tersely, ready
to be on the defensive.
'sWeH, you're hinging money
around pretty fast Sorry, but
can't encourage you in this extrava-
ganee."
asked Neal
ssNo."
Ny brother rose In q fury:
HI've got to have the money. 'Tn
pay you back"
Sorry" Jim said again. grimly.
Neal turned to me with twitch-
bag lips: - 49, ..
WIN you lend it to me, Amer"
I went into the bedroom, took
the SO Neal had given me from
It's hiding place and brought It in
10 my brother. He picked up one Of
the IS bills and hew from the apart
ment- I wonder II he knew it was
his own money gave him.
Jim gazed at Meals empty place
silently for q moment. But when he
EooI<e il was not Of my brother.
Poor little girl-giving up her
aayfngs!" he said, sadly. 81 didn't
have the money to spare, dear; but
I couldn't tell Neal that. I've only
a little money on hand. ana since I
can't ofIer Virginia the hospitality
OF my home want to take her to
A hotel and pay her bills. That's
the least q man can do for his own
sister"
wanted TO reply that what
had done was also the least I could
DO for my brother, but humiliation
RFfpped me as I realized that II was
my extravaGant young brother who
was costing Jim his chance to offer
his sister q home.
But / dared not risk putting that
into words, and Jim. too, was re-
pressing emotions that must not be
exprsssed. So we finished our din
ner in q silence that remained un-
brokeu until we found a safe tenn
porary outlet in washing the dishes.
II was nine by the time we were
through. There was just time for
me 70 make myself fine and start
for the station with hJim-Iwondered
a he would ask me to 60.
He came into the bedroom with
me and began limpinE heavily up
ana down the room, while
gnoothed my hair. At last he
gHoke jerkiiy:
Parting Cheer.
Il think I'll start alone, Anne. I
want to walk. I'm q bit Jumpy.
You know 1 haven't seen Virginia
gfnce 1 went to France; she's never
seen rne-hobbllng around on this
game foot Of mine"
eco along. dear" I contrived to
say st0adily-brightly even-in
spite of my longing to be asked to
Eo with him. But he kissed me
So.N s., Nvffhout making the