The Washington times., 1920-07-17


deceitful man! Steve is going to
chaperon you everywhere you 60"
John .Clelands smile altered SUB
tly:
mot everywhere, Steve"
Indeed, 1 shall! Every step you
take
No dear"
why not?"
"Because-there is one rather
necessary trip l shall have TO make
some day
A moments silence; then her
arms around his neck:
"Dadw she whispered, In breath
less remonstrance.
"Yes, dearY'
"Don't you--feel well?"
Perfectly"
"Then." fiercely. "dont dare
hint such things"
"About the-journey I spoke Off
he asked, smiling.
"Yes! Don't say such thing!
You are not going! until 1 Co.
too"
III / could postpone the trip on
your account"
"Dad Do you want to break
my heart and kill me by such
jokes?"
"There, Steve, I was merely teas
ing. Men Of my age have a poor
way of. joking sometimes.
mean to postpone that trip. In
deer, I do, Steve You're handfui
and I've got to eep hold OF you
for long while yet"
Jim overheard that much: p,
"a handful? Rubbish" he re-
marked. Send her to bed at nine
and be
careful about her diet and censor
her reading matter. That's al!
Steve needs to become a real
grown-up some day."
Stephanie had risen to race the
shafts of good-natured sacasm.
suppose" she said, that told
you l had sent poem to certain
magazine and that 1t had been ac-
cepted"
..Td say very amiably that you
are precocious," he replied torment
ingly.
"Brute! did! I sent it"
"They accepted itT"
II don't know" she admitted, pink
with annoyance; but 1t won't sur
prise me very much II they accept
it. Really, Jim, do you think no
body else can writo anything worth
considering? Do you really believe
that you embody all the talent in
New York? Do you?" And. to Gle
land Senior: "Oh, Dad, isn't he the
horrid personification of everything
irritatingly masculine? And I'll bet
his old novel is perfectly common
place. I think I'll go up to his room
and take a critical glance at tt
Hold on, Steve!" he exclaimed
for she was already going. She
glanced over her shoulder with
defiant smile. and he sprang up to
follow and overtake her.
But Stephanie's legs were long
and her feet light and swift. and
she was upstairs and inside his
room before he caught her. reach
ing for the sacred manuscript.
"Oh, Jim," she coaxed, beguiling-
ly. "do let me have one little peep
at 1t, there's a dear fellow! Just
one little"
shape. Wait till it's typed"
writing easily"
Its all scored and cross-written
and messed UP"
please, Jim! I'm simply half
dead with curiosity" she admitted.
BE an angel brother and let me sit
here and hear you read the first
chapter-only one little chapter.
i Won't you?" she pleaded with melt
ing sweetness.
I'D be-embarrassed-
what! To have your own sister
hear what you've written?"
There was short silence. The
word "sister" was meant to be reas-
suring to both. To use 1t came in
stinctively to her as an inspiration,
partly because she had vaguely felt
that some confirmation Of such mat
ter-of-fact relationship would put
them little more perfectly at their
ease with each other.
For they had not been entirely at
their ease. Both were subtly aware
of that-she had first betrayed it by
her offered hand instead Of the
friendly and sisterly kiss which had
been a matter of course until now.
Come" she said, gaily, "be a good
child and read the pretty story to
little sister.
She sat down on the edge of his
bed; he, already seated ut his desk,
frowned at the pile Of manuscript
before him.
"Id rather talk" he said.
about what?"
Anything. Honestly, Steve, I'll
let you see it when it's typed. But
1 rather hate to show anything until
it's done-I don't like to have peo-
pie see the raw edges and the ma
chinery.'
I'm not people How horrid.
Also, 1t makes a difference when a
girl Is not only your sister but also
somebody who intends to devote her
life to artistic self-expression. You
can read your story to that kind of
girl, i should hope!'
Haven't you given that upr'
Given up what?"
THAT mania for self-expression
as you call it."
"Of course not"
What do you think you want to
do?" he asked uneasily.
Jim, you are entirely too patron
izing. 1 don't think I want to do
anything; but / know I desire To
find some medium for self-expres-
sion and embrace it as a profess
sion"
That rather crushed him for n mo-
ment. Then:
Therell be time enough 70 start
that question when you grad
} uate---"