The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-20


man, the girl had been trying to ad-
lust herself to this new incarnation
of a certain James Neeland who had
won her gratitude and who had
awed her. too. from the time when,
as a little girl, she had first be-
held him.
She lifted her golden-gray eyes
to him; a little unexpected sensa-
ton not wholly unpleasant checked
her speech for a moment.
This was odd. exen unaccountable.
Such awkwardness, such disquieting
and provincial timidity wouldn't
do.
Would you mind telling me a
little about Brookhollow she VEN
tured.
Certainly he would tell her. He
laid aside his plate and tea
cup and told her OF his visits
there when he had walked over
from Neeland's Mills in the pleasant
summer weather.
Old Scenes still Unchanged.
Nothing had changed, he assured
her: mill-dam and pond and
bridge. and the rushing creek
below were exactly as she knew
them; her house stood there at the
cross roads, silent and closed in the
sunshine. and under the high moon;
pickerel and sunfish still haunted
the shallow pond; cartridges still
frequented the alders and will
lows across her pasture; fire.
flies sailed through the sum-
mer night: and the crows congre-
talked over the events of the day.
'And my cat? You wrote that
you would take care of Adoniram."
"Adoniram is an aged patriarch
and occupies the place Of honor in
my fathers house." he said.
He is well?"
"Oh. yes. ne prefers his food
cut fineIZ, that is all"
II don't suppose he will live very
long"
Hes pretty old" admitted Nee
land
She sighed and looked out of the
window at the kitten in the garden.
And. after an interval of silence:
Our plot in the cemetery-is it
pretty"
1T is beautiful" he said. under
the great trees 1t is well cared
for. had them plant the shrubs
and flowers you mentioned in the
list you sent me"
Thank YOU" She lifted her eyes
again tEshim.s 81 wonder il you
realize aw-how splendid you
have ally Dis been to me-"
SurPfBsd he Redeemed. and said
Awkward Y that he had done moth
ing. hege was the easy. gay and
debonafn0-sAssuranc of this fluent
young man? He was finding MOTH
ing to say to Rue Carew, or saying
what he said as cTudely and I'M
couthly as any haymaker in Cay
field ~
He'dodiFd up. exasperated. and
met her eyes squarely. And Rue
Carew blushed.
They-both looked elsewhere at
once. but in the girls breast a new
pulse beat; a new instinct stirred,
blindly importuning her for recog-
milton; a new confusion threatened
the ordered serenity OF her mind,
vaguely menacing it with unaccus-
toned questions.
Rue COmpOses Herself
Then the instinct OF self-command
returned; she found composurS
with an effort.
you haven't asked me- she
said, about my work. Would you
like to know"
He said he would: and she told
him-chary OF self-praise. yet
eager that he should know that
her masters had spoken well Of
her.
And you know she said. "ev-
cry week. now, I contribute .
drawing TO the illustrated paper
I wrote TO you about. 1 sent one
off yesterday. But" and she
laughed shyly. my nostrils are no
longer filled with pride, because I
am not contented with myself any
more. I wish TO do-oh, so much
better work."
creative work means that we have
nothing more to create"
She nodded and smiled:
"The youngest born Is the most
tenderly cherished-until new
one comes. It is that way with
me: I am all love and devotion and
tenderness and self-sacrifice while
fussinE over my youngest. Then
a still younger comes. and I be-
come like a heartIess cat and drive
away all progeny except the newly
born
She sighed and smiled and looked
up at him:
1t can't be helped. I suppose
that is. il ones going to have
more progeny"
IT'S our penalty for producing.
Only the newest counts. And those
to come are to be miracles. But
they never are"
She nodded seriously.
when there is a better light I
should like to show YOU some OF
my studies" she venturcd. NO. not
now. l am too vain 10 risk anything
except the kindest OF morning
lights. Because l DO hope for your
APPROVAL"
Charmed BY Rue.
Il know they're good" ne said
And, half IaughingIy: I'm begin
ming to find out that you're a rather
wonderful and formidable and over
towering girl, Ruhannah."
You don't think sO"' she ex-
claimed. enchanted. do you? Oh,
dear. Then l feel that l ought to
show you my pictures and set you
right immediately" She sprang
to her feet. III get them; III De
only moment
She was gone before he discovered
anything to say. leaving him to
walk up and down tho deserted
room and think arout her a. clearly
I