The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-01

ness and then suddenly broke into laughter
'Oh, Alan. You're a. she paused
for the word, "a pachyderm!"
because l won't gush-
She laughed again. Imagine It," she
said hopelessly and turned indoors. Then
cheerfuily, But we're not going to quar-.
rel. After all, you know, Alan dear, you're
a very nice pachyderm." She indicated
the lunch table. Were going to be quite
tete-a-tete. Mother and Jack have gone
to town. You and I, alone in our glory.
Isn't 1t thrilling?"
"Awfully."
She caught him by the arm and shook
him.
Thrill! Alan. Please thrill"
He caught her quickly before she could
elude him and kissed her. She hadn't
bargained for that but had to admit that
she had brought 1t on herself. She slipped
away from him and went upstairs while
Jessup went out upon the terrace to smoke
q cigarette and wait for her.
"Pachyderm," he muttered. "Sluggard."
And then sank into a wicker chair YEARLY
and gazed OF across the waters Of the
Sound. quite right But then what can
O fellow do?-- oh, what's the user
He hicked his cigarette into the bushes
and paced moodily up and down. He
didn't mind a bit OF fun-could stand for
1t as well as the next fellow, but hang II!
Connie ought to know that he couldn't
change his spots to suit a within. And
then this war husiness-he shook his head.
And while he waited, gloomily abb
stracted, Constance Masterson appeared,
clad in something soft and white, and
wearing fetching hat which spoke elo-
quently Of further plansIfor the afternoon.
He followed her in to the lunch-table,
content with the pleasure Of the moment.
Really, Alan" she said, smiling gaily,
Il think you're improving. You smiled
twice over the bouillon, three times over
the entree and now you've actually laughed
since the salad. II could only believe
that you really meant It.
They say happiness was born a twin"
She leaned forward, her dark eyes sud
denly focusing full upon him.
And so were you, Alan Jessup, born
a twin. You're two people In one
"Jekyll and Hyde?"--
mo. II you don't mind my saying SO,
my dear, your nature is too colorless for
the brilliant virtues Of the one or the
sombre villainies OF the other. You're too
Indifferent ever to be Jekyll and too decent
ever to be Hyde. What is tt she ap-
pealed at last rather whimsically, that I
do like in you, AlanS"
GOD knows" he said with a hopeless
sbrug.
81 sometimes think II you'd stop being
merely negative and do something. some
thing big-something positive, good or bad
i don't care what-villainy even-that I
could adore you. But you're 80 supine.
The world riots gloriously all around you,
alive with opportunities for action. and
YOU let 1t pass you by, while you dream
dream"
You mean that should DO something
in the war? l do help a little, you know.
Connie
by giving money that you don't need.
because somebody asks you for it, and
because it's easier to acquiesce than to
refuse"
But the money must help somebody.
It's my money-so it's who am helping"
mo, Alan" she said decisively. at
isn't you who are helping. Your checks
are as impersonal as the paper they're
written on. You are, like the checks them
selves. merely a part Of the machinery OF
exchange, like the pen. like the ink
Oh, Alan, can't you see what / mean?
Copyright, 1918. by Star Company.