The Washington times., 1920-10-12
T was only eight when I awoke.

was only elsht when ] awoke.
Stealing on tip-toe TO the big.
old-fashioned b. tn that opened
off our bedroom. | dressed and hur-
ried downstairs. I couldn't bear TO
waste q single moment In the WON
derful old Harrison homestead. The
day before, with all our dear
friends. IL had been beautiful; but
for the real essence OF the place !
felt J wanted an hour alone.
At hsif-past nine ia go back and
wake Jim. so we could drive TO the
stat on to meet the ten-forty, on
which Pat WAS due. In the mean
time. 1 wanted Just TO breathe the
sweet. clear air OF the wonderful
old estate
We had this one day left us.
Then, unless Jam and I could dis
suade him, Pat was to start ON his
long journey" And what disposal
he would make OF the dear old
home I didn't know. But this ]
kDew--Pat could never make q
more wonderful gift than the two
days OF happiness he had given me.
lived. There was none OF the mus
room floor / had a queer sensation
OF being In place where folks
lived. There was none of the mus
tiness and decay in the air one
generally finds In house that has
been shut UP for a long time. There
was,a homely air that our one day
Of occupancy seemed hardly enough
to produce. l expected to stumble
over a bit OF sewing or book flung
down open where some one had just
left II.
- =
at myself, j went out to the veranda
and gszed over the beautiful lawn
that had been a mass Of decay when
1 first saw IL few months before.
The paths were carefully raked
now. the vines green and blooming.
the grass like a carpet OF velvet.
the flower beds a blaze OF color
How Pat had loved IT! How he had
put his heart and soul into making
II beautiful for the woman who
scorned him and his old homestead
as well and found her Joy in chas-
ing about with an insincere flirt
like Sheldon Booth.
ANNE MAKES A vow.
vowed then that Jim and
must find a way of making 1t up to
went up to wake my boy.
Don't go down and leave me-"
Jim protested as / started to 60
downstairs again. 'Val brought out
some wonderful servants-one is
that Bertha who was with us for
So long. Breakfast win be on the
jot Of ten, and we'll have time for
a bite before we go to meet Pat.
Wait on the little balcony for your
Romeo. won't you. Juliet?'
"As IL could refuse you any
thing here!" cried and went out to
perch on a little cushioned chair on
the balcony that hung from our
window behind a dense screening
Of vines.
As sat there I thought that I
must make a point of welcoming
Bertha and telling her my ring was
found. Thinking of Bertha had the
odd effect of reminding me of my
new chauffeur. That seemed odd.
but just as / was preparing to con-
centrate on 1t something happened
which startled me out of thinking
of anything else.
From where I sat I commanded
view OF the path to the river and
Of the quaint little summer house
built on the river bank. Dimly-
for the morning mists hadn't fully
burned off yeti saw a woman
strollipg along the river path on
her way to the summer house. There
she flung herself down and sat very
quiet.
Must be Envy Mason come over
from Mason Towers" told myself.
But somehow / knew IL wasn't
Envy. and then / saw who IL was.
Ready in a minute, sweetness"
called Jim from his room. Just a
few artistic touches and I'm with
you"
j hurried to him. and though
there was no need for whispering,
l murmured, very low:
"Jim, what shall we do? Vir-
ginia's in the summer house by
the river. or course she doesn't