New-York tribune., 1918-03-03
FROM "The Rise of SIos Lapham,' Chapter IX)

temptuous mouth. "Hc isn't American,
though" she suggested.
NO." said Corey; "he's Scotch. 7 believe"
Irene passed her glove over her forehead.
Il always get him mixed up with Cooper.
well ell papa has Got to get them. If we have
Pen says it's perfectly ridiculous having one
hut papa thinks whatever the architect says
is right. He fought him hard enough at
first. | don't see how any keep the
poets and the historians and noveists sepa-
rate III their mind OF course papa will buy
them if we say SO. But | don't see how
I'm ever going to tell him which ones"
The joyous light faded out of her face and
left it pensive.
"Why, if you like said the young man,
taking out his pencil, 'I'll put down the
names we've been talking about"
He clapped himself on his breast pockets
to detect some lurking scrap of paper.
"Will you?' she cried deightedly. "Here
take one of my cards." and she pulled out
her card-case "The carpenter writes on
three-cornered block and puts it into his
Pocket, and it's uncomfortable he can't
help remembering it. Pen says she's going
to adopt the three -cornered block plan with
papa
Thank you" said Corey. 81 believe III
use your card He crossed over to her. and
after moment sat down on the trestle be-
side her. She looked the card as he
wrote. Those the ones we mentioned
but perhaps I'd better add few Others
ooh, thank you' she said, when he had
written the card full on both sides Gle has
got to get them in the incest binding too
I.shall tell him about their helping to furnish
the room, and then he can't object She
remained with the card, looking at it rather
wistfuly
Perhaps Corey OWNED her trouble of mind
"lf he will take that to any bookseller and
tell him what bindings he wants, he will fill
: the order for him.
"Oh. thank you very much,' she said and
put the card back into her card-case with
great apparent relief Then she turned her
lovely face toward the young man. beaminc
with the triumph woman feels in any bit
of successful man9uvrng, and began to talk
! with recovered gaety of other things, as it,
| having got rid of a matter annoying out of
all proportion to its Importance, she was
! now going to indemnify herself
- OREY did not return to his own trestle
~ She found another shaving within reach
of her parasol, and began poking that with
it, and trying to follow it through its folds
Corey watched her for a while.
You seem to have great passion for
playing with shavings," he said. "Is it a
new onc?'
"Ncw what?'
"Passion.'
II don't know she said, dropping her eye
/ lids, and keeping with her effort. She
looked shyly aslant at him. "Perhaps you
don't approve of playing with shavings?"
ooh, yes. do. ] admire it very much. But
it rather difficult. I've great am
bition to put my foot on the shavings tail
and hold it for YOU"
"Wcll,' said the girl
"Thank YOU" said the young man. lie did
so, and now she ran her parasol point easily
through it. They looked at each other and
laughed. "That was wonderful Would you
like tc try another?" he asked.
"No, I thank you,' she replied. 81 think
enc will do"
They both laughed again, for whatever
reason reason, and then the young girl
became sober. To girl everything a young
man does is of significance; and if he holds
shaving down with his foot while she pokcs
through it with her paraso] she must ask
herself what he means by it.
'They seem to be having rather long in
terview with the carpenter to-day" said
irene, looking vaguely toward the ceiling.
She turned with polite ceremony to Corey.
"l'm afraid you're letting them keep you.
You mustn't
"Oh, no. You're letting me stay" he re-
turned
She bridled and bit her lip for pleasure
II presume they will be down before great
while. Don't you like the smell Of the wood
and the mortar? It's fresh.'
eyes, it's delicious.' He bent forward and
picked up from the floor the shaving with
which they had been playing, and put it to
his nose. "lt's like flower. May offer it
10 you?" he asked as if it had been one.
ooh, thank you, thank you!" She took it
from him and put it into her belt, and then
they both laughed once more.
Steps were heard descending. When the
cider people reached the floor where they
were sitting Corey and presently took
his leave.
"What makes. you so solemn, Rene ?'
asked Mrs. Lapham.
Solemn % echoed the girl. "I'm not bit
solemn What you mean?"