New Britain herald., 1919-04-09

q glance at Mrs Durl1ee, saw her
frowning at Dicky. and decided that
for once | had not been wrong.
Can YOU take this job over?~
Dicl1v was saying. 81 hope YOU can,
for W, the author, has such crush
on artist-and model-Of the illus
tratiOnss in that other book that he's
biting pieces out of the atmosphere
so Irurkee tells me, for fear he won't
have the same combination for his
book I've promised to do my little
part, but 1 can't do justice to the
thing without your help"
There was an interval Of silence
that seemed interlninahle, while w.
listened intcnuy. Then hij Nv-~.s
dubbed out, enthusiastically.
oh, [ say you're darling! That's
mighty good of you to pass up
hing like that for me. l never can
thank you enough, old girl. But
here's one thing I've forgotten. You
know / sublet my studio when I went
away, and I can't get possession OF
it for another month"; Can you sug-
eest any place where I could make the
drawings? I'd have you come out
here, but It's a long journey, and,
YOU know, VIC have q baby and many
other distra actions here. What's that?
Wait a minute. Sure thing.
1t was less than a minute when
-woman's voice, strident, hight pitched,
seemed to ill the room. For a sec
ond I was startled, then I realized
that the voice was one Of those which
can be heard at one end of a tele-
phone as we'll as the other.
What DicI<y Asked.
For the love Of Mike, Dicky-bird,
since when do you have to hunt a
hole to draw in as long as my little
shack is on earth? Just tell Edith
when you want to use my studio and
I'll see that you have every conven-
fence, and if you're very good, some
eats into the bargain. BY the way,
welcome home, old top. I'm dying
to see YOU
Thank you, Rita" Dicky's voice
was cordial but trife constrained
IT appreciate your kindness III sure
But it's an imposition on you. no"
ever if I cant rustic some place OF
nv own I'll be mighty glad to accept
So long. See you tomorrow
If hadn't been miserable my
self / would have laughed at Mrs,
Durkee's face it was SO comically set
with disapproval Of Dlcky and all his
friends But neither Dicky nor any
of the rest of TeTeTIS ed TO The SUI
iect again. save for Dicky's triumph
ant announcement to Alfred Durkee
that the little Fairfax would pose"
When at last the Durkees went
home and D1cxy and I we're alone in
the library there fell a strained ST
lence between us. The knowledge
that for weaks Dicky's work would
be staged In Rita Browns studio, WITH
Edith Fairfax as his constant COM
: panion, weighed upon my heart.
I would not speak my anxiety
could not talk commonplace
Dicky paced up and down. occa-
sionally CHANGING at me curiously- At
last he came to a halt in front of
my chair
Look here old girl he said, half
tenderly, half-im patiently Il know
you don't like this Brown Fairfa2
com bination, but on the other hand
I don't like your teaching under Mr..
What's His Name over there in Bay
view. I've talcen my N edicine in that
direction. don't you think you can
swallow this wit hout making a face?'
His face was very close to mine.
T put nv arms around his neck with
| rush Of tenderness
TIL try to be sensible, sweetheart
! I whispered
But I coa1dnt help rejecting that
| my happiness was no longer SO flaw
| less that it frightened me.