The Washington times., 1920-07-01

Stephanle quest
The nrst night that she slept
under Clelsnd's roof, he was so ex-
cited that he sat up In the library
all night. listening for fear she
should awake. become frightened,
ana cry out.
She slept perfectly Old Janet
had volunteered as nurse and ward
robe mistress, and a new parlor-
maid took her place. Janet. aged
sixty. had been his dead wife's child
hood nurse. his sons nurse In baby
hood; then she had been permitted
TO do in the household whatever
she chose; and she chose to dust the
drawing-room, potter about the
house. and offer herself tea be-
tween times.
Janet. entering the library at six
in the morning, found Mr.. Cleland
about ready to retire to bed after
an all-night vigil.
What do you think of what I've
done-bringing this child here? he
demanded bluntly. having lacked the
courage to ask Janet's opinion be-
fore.
Janet could neither read nor
write. Her thoughts were slow In
crystallizing. For a few moments
master and ancient servant stood
confronted there in the dusk Of
early morning.
Maybe IL was Gods will, sor.'
she said at last, In her voice which
age had made little rickety.
You don't approve"
"Ah, then. Mr.. Cleland, sor, was
there anything you was wishful
for but the dear Missis approvedT'
That answer took him entirely by
surprise. He had never even
thought OF looking at the matter
from such an angle.
And after Janet went away into
the dim depths of the house, he re-
msined standing there, pondering
the old Irishwoman's answer.
Suddenly his heart grew full and
the tears were salt in his throat
hot and wet in his closed eyes.
"Not that memory and love are
lessened, dear" he explained with
tremulous, voiceless lips, but you
have been away so long. an here
on earth time moves slowly without
you--dearest-dear
9Th divifs in that young wan
painted Janet outside his chamber
door. "She won't be dressed! She's
turning summersalts on her bed,
God help her."
Did you bathe her." demanded
Cleland, hurriedly buttoning his
collar and taking one Of the scarfs
offered by old Meacham.
~ did, sor-and it was like scrub
bing an eel Not that she was
naughty, sor the darlint! - only
playfullike and contrayry-all over
tn tub, under wather and atop. and
pretindin' the soap and brush was
fishes and she another chasin'
them"
Janet"
"Sor?"
HAS she had her breakfast"
1.-TWO, SORT"
WHAT"
Cereal and cream. omelet and
toast. three oranges and a pear, and
a pint of milk"
Good heavens! Do you want to
kill the child?"
"Arrah. sorr, she'll never be kilt
with feedin'! It's natural to the
young. sorr-and she leppin' and
skippin' and turnin' over and over
like a young kid!-and how I'm to
dress her in her clothes God only
knows"
Janet. Stop your incessant
chatter. Go upstairs and tell Miss
Stephanie that I want her to dress
Immediately"
"I will. sorr."
Cleland looked at M4acham and
out OF wise, tragic eyes which had
seen hell-would see it again more
than once before he finished with
the world.
what do you think of my little
ward, Meacham?"
"It is better not to think. sir; it
Is better to just believe"
what do you mean?"
"Just that, sir. If we really think
we can't believe. It's pleasanter to
hope. The young lady is very
pretty, sir"
Cleland Senior always wore a
fresh white waistcoat, winter and
summer, and white carnation in
his buttonhole. He put on and but
toned the one while Meacham ad-
justed the other.
They had been together many
years, these two men. Every two
or three months Meacham locked
himself in his room and drank him
self stupid. Sometimes he remain
for two weeks. Years ago Cleland
Once. assisted by hirelings, he had
taken Meacham by combination
OF strategy and force to a famous
institute where the periodical dip
somaniac is cured IL he chooses to
be.
And Meacham emerged. cured to
that extent; and Immediately pro-
ceeded to lock himself in his room
and lie there drunk for eighteen