The Washington times., 1920-07-17
BY Robert w. Chambers.
tCs.tin.sd fron Yesterday

ouo nestled close 10 MIN as they
went out to dinner. all three very
gay and loquacious. and the two
men keenly conscious of the girls
rapid development. OF the serious
change in her. the scarcely sup
pressed exuberance. the sparkling
and splendid bodily vitality.
As they entered the dining room:
"Oh, Meacham, I'm glad to see
you. she cried. infpulsively. taking
the little withered mans hands into
both of hers.
There was no reply. only in the
burnt-out eyes a sudden mist-the
nrst since his mistress had passed
away.
dad do you mind IL I run down
q moment to see Lizzie and Janet
and Amanda. Dear, I'll be right
back" She was gone, light
footed. eager. down the service
stairs-a child again in the twink
ling of an eye. The two men.
vaguely smiling. remained stand
ing. ... ..-
When she returned, Meacham
seated her. She picked up the
blossom beside her palte, saw the
other at the unoccupied place OPP
posite, and her eyes suddenly filled.
There was a moments silence.
then she kissed the petals and
placed the flower in her hair.
my idea" she began. cheerfully,
sis to waste no time in life! So
think I'd like to go to the theater
all the time"
The mems laughter checked her
and she Joined in.
you do understand, both OF you"
Hhe insisted. you're tormenting me
and you know it! ! don't go to the
theater to amuse myself. I go to
inform myself-to learn, study. i'm
prove myself in the art of self-ex-
pression-Jim, you are a beast to
grin at me"
"Steve. for heavens sake, be a
human girl for a few moments and
have a good time"
That's my way Of having a good
time, / wish to go to studios and
see painters and sculptors at work!
} "How about seeing a real author
at work, Steve?"
"You?" she OWNED with dainty
sniff
Certainly Come up any morning
and watch genius work a leadpen-
Gil. That ought to educate you and
leave an evening or two for dane
ing
"Jim. I positively do not care for
parties. I don't even desire to
waste one minute of my life. Ordi-
nary people bore me, tell you"
"Do II"
Sometimes" she retorted, with
: swiftly to, Cleland Senior: "As for
you. darling. could spend every
minute Of my whole existence with
you and not be bored for ono sec
ond"
The claret in Tohn Cleland's glass
--claret forbidden under DR.. Will
mers regime-glowed like a ruby.
But he could not permit Stephanie
to return without that old-fash-
ioned formality.
So John Cleland rose, glass in
hand, his hair and mustache very
white against the ruddy skin
"Steve, dear. you and Jim have
never brought me anything, but
happiness-anything but honor to
my name and to my roof. We well
come you home, dear, to your own
place among your own people. Jim
we have the honor-our little Ste
phanie! Welcome home!
The young fellow rose, smiling,
and bowed gaily to Stephanie.
"welcome home" he said dearest
Of sisters and most engaging in
sirgent Of your restless sex!'
That night Stephanie seemed
possessed of a gay demon of de-
monstrative mischief. She con-
versed with Jim so seriously about
his authorship that at first he did
not realize that he was an object
of sarcastic and delighted malice.
When he did comprehend that she
was secretly laughing at him, he
turned so red with surprise and in
dignation that his father and Ste
phanie gave way to helpless laugh
ter. Seated there on the sofa
across the room, tense, smiling, tri-
umphantly and delightfully."- danger
Gus, she blew an airy kiss at Jim:
THAT will teach you to poke fun
at me-" she said. you're no longer
an object of fear and veneration
Just because you're writing a book"
The young fellow laughed.
'T am easy" he admitted. "All
authors are without honor in their
own families. But wouldn't it sur
prise you, Steve, II the world took
my book respectfully?"
mot at all. That's one of the
reasons don't. The opinion Of or
dinary people does not concern me-"
she said with gay impudence, "and
II your book is best'seller 1t ought
to worry you, JIM.
'You don't think" he demanded
sadly, "that there's anything in
me?'
"oh, Jim"-swiftly remorseful-
"I was joking, of course" And,
seeing by his grin that he was, too,
turned up her nose. regretting too
late her hasty and worm-hearted
remorse.
How common, this fishing for
praise and sympathy she remark
| cd disdaipfully. dad, does he
read his Immortal lines to you at
inopportune moments?"
Cleland Senior, in his armchair
white haired, deeply ruddy, had
81 been laughing during the bantering
passage at arms between the two
he loved best on earth.
He seemed the ideal personifi-
cation OF hale and wholesome age,
sounds as bell, very handsome,
that the flush on his face seemed
rather heavier and deeper than the
usual healthy colour