The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-03-26
NEWS EVENTS AND FEATURES FOR WOMEN READERS

, abode. secure in the knowledge that the place was looking fresh and dainty.
 The visitor looked about her curiously. She had rather hoped to find this inde- pendent. truant damsel in a garret. She was disagreeably surprised. then. to ob- serve that there was no signs of poverty anywhere
 i In fact, the. studio looked most opulentl It was lafge apartment with three French windows facing the river On the lhighly polished floor were handsome rugs splendid piece of tapestry one wall And Shirley had upholstered the deep, cozy chairs and wide divan with a very pretty chintz that lent fresh summery aspect to the whole 1 Stacks of flowers were everywhere. Mrs. Arnold guessed-and rightly too-that they were offerings from would-be suit ors and admirers. great gowl of roses fra grance
 '.H'mi Rather pretty placer said the good lady grudgingly. Then she added "where's your freakfshly dressed young friend?"
 l If you mean Vivian, she's gone home l said Shirley shortly, busying herself In "Surely not aione2" Mrs. Arnold bounded from her ehair. Shirley. it's not proper'-
 Nonsense, I'm all rightr' Shirley, made brisk chatter with the Japanese teaset. I'm perfectly content and lhappy.'
 | Mrs. Arnold walked restlessly around the room, surveying various pictures on | the walls with an inquisitive eye. It was obvious that she was bent on criticism JIM HEARS SOME NEWS l Tn the studio below sat Jim Dalton, listening to the voices and the footsteps 'up above
 {. He recognized the carrying tones of Mrs Arnold. And he couldn't fail 10 hear her comments. For the door Of both the rooms was open. Shirley must certainly be engaged 10 Burke, when his sister came in thls m formal way to see her. A feeling of immense depression seized him. ,, l Shirley had acted in a most extraoral- nary way. And yet he wanted her :, It was only pride that held him oacN from running up to see ner every hour l of the day It sounded now as though Mrs. Arnold were featuring the young girl. Her l brothers name seemed frequently men- toned in the conversation. Him didn't want to be an eavesdropper. 1 He rose and shut his door He got out Ihis canvas, paints and brushes, ana ap- piled himself to work. 1 But somehow his thoughts ran riot ] What on earth was the good of sue cess if one hadn't anyone to share 1t with?
 and money, too? -
 He was an only son-an orphan. He had a large private income It was greater than lis wants. He didn't have to work. He coulo pc an idler if he wanted to- But he was an iambitious. energetic youth. He wanted success in the profession he had chosen land success had come Yet now it all seemed empty, meaning Hess.
 He dropped his brush and his eyes sought the slow-flowing river Meiah- choly, profitless, reflections on the .Might- Have Been obsessed him.
 Meantime in the studio above, Mrs. Arnold harangued Miss ShHley Marsh on matters matrimonial, financial and cor rectn
 Shirley was bored, but did her best to lconceal it. She was kind young girl land hated to hurt peoples feelings-a lquality unshared by Mrs Arnold whose forte was certainly not tact
 And so you propose to go on hVins lhere, in solitude?" that lady was de- manding.
 T Shirley shrugged her shoulders. ssNo. not necessarily--l should like t' travel. I have several plans in mind. But travel costs a lot of money Mrs. Arnold looked triumphant. She nao "caught'' Miss Shirley here
 "Oh, that will be quite all right" sain Shirley airily: I'm making good deal you know"
 Mrs. Arnold looked annoyed. She had forgotten Shrley's profession for the mo- ment
 Her tea finished, she rose to go.
 "Ill come with you to the corner and lput you on your bus" volunteered hei young hostess.
 They descended the stairs together AS they passed Jim Dalton's studio Mrs Arnold stopped for moment, facing Shirley.
 shirley, have you quite decided no' to marry David? Tell meas his sister I really have a right to know'
 Jim through the panels of the door heard every syllable.
 q have told you already. Mrs. Arnold, what my feelings and intentions are. said Shirley bravely, clearly. T can marry MT. Burke. because I don't love him sufficiently. It would neither De right nor honorable
 Shirley, there's another man in the case, then? Isn't that so? That young fellow up the river-you care for him Jim's ears were strained to hear the answer. It meant so much to him. It came at last, low, but distinct. Yes do care-very much"' the young girl said.
 l Read Tomorrows Exciting chapter)