The Washington herald., 1918-12-15

through his mother. His name hsS
never been mentioned between them.
Boyish and LoseIy.
Now Il Rebeccs could only hsv.
looked into Toms heart. and have
understood how very boyish and lone=
ly II was In spite of his thirty struEy
ghng years-StruCgling. since his pa
rents were not alone responsible for
his education-she might not have felt
sudden dismsy at sight Of him. have
experienced that queer little feeling IN
her skin which pressged an en-
bsrrassing food Of color II was such
pity that IL had to be so-that she
had 10 feel. as she looked into his
friendly. frank blue eyes all the &C
cumulated shyness Of the last ten
years flaming toward her face. FIJI
teen years ago her tall visitor. who
stood bowing so correctly before her.
had been a freckled-faced boy with A
perpetual grin. Now the grin had
become a subdued and regulated.
though merry. smile. II consisted IN
a flashing OF exceedingly white teeth.
twinkling OF the eye-and then it ,
disappeared While il lasted IL irrsdi-
ated his face 10 such an extent that
when il ceased il seemed as thour,
~
observer usually attempted TO pro-
woke IL second time.
Not so Rebeccs Her manner be
came naughty and reserved under IN.
pressure Of disa Freesble emotions. She
seemed TO shrink into herself-to hIcs
behind an impenetrable mask OF flesh
and bone. She bsde him a friEid vel
come, consisting merely Of, How DO
you do. Mr. Farnum?" then withdrew
her cold hand from his friendly clasp
as though his touch were conts nina
tion. and, before she was fully aware
OF the exceeding brusqueness OF her
demeanor. had excused herself on the
plea OF a pressing engagement. saying
that her mother would be down in =
moment She left Tom standing dszed
In the center OF the rug. his hand still
e1tended-as though the witches
curse had suddenly descended upon
him as Spon the household OF sleep
ing Besuty-his smile frozen fsst on
his face.
Spurued a Gift.
He shook himself angrily, and made
his way back to the willow chair
Cad. what a fright" he .muttered
He then went on to assure himself =,
that were she as wealthy as Croesus
daughter. he would not take her as a
gift After that he rplled a cigarette
and essed his wounded vanity by a
few savage puffs. managing 10 smoke
IL nearly through before gentle Mp
Vanderpool rustled out upon the
porch. She had been mapping when
Rebecca had petitioned her services
as substitute
II was true that Rebecca had an en-.
gsgement but it's Importance was
relative. In all probability y/the teIe-
phone man could have installed the
branch telephone beside the bed IN
the guest chamber without her over
sight II was the room which for
some time to come would harbor Nj
Lewis, whom her clever friend had
managed to project into the Wander
pool family-at least he would be pro-
1ected into II on the morrow. II was
a curious freak OF Fate that had pre-
pared this as his home. and Rebeccs
was notN fully reconciled in spite OF
his blindness, which as the hours
passed appealed more and more
strongly both TO her heart and 10 her
Imagination.
Tom had. as he afterwards con
hded to Bige, the young physician
and his one-time school chum. o
pleasant visit with the sweet Old
party" but he decided then and
there that he would not 20 bach for
a second call. not n he were maid
for IL. Rebecca's disposition matched
her face.
TIE be eentisses teserrcw.