The Washington times., 1920-09-06

They chatted for a few minutes
then Helen smilingly excused herself
and went back TO her work, and
Cleland continued on his way te
lunch, chagrined at his stupidity.
II wonder" he thought. III thai
was my little unknown dancing
partner Now, she will think I've
spoiled IL an"
He was in masculine error again
Disconnected beauty has the con
ISOLATION that IL Is beautiful. Other
wise, 1t remains merely outraged
modesty; and bitterness abides In
it's soul.
Helen, laughipgly mentioning the
AFFAIR to Stephanie, still immensely
amused at Cleland's distress and
apologetic bushes, added that the
model, Marie Clifr, had been sensible
enough to appreciate the humor
OF II. too.
"You mean" said Stephanie. cold
ly, that she didn't care" And, not
smiling, went on with her sewing.
shes rather a refined type" said
Helen,> looking curiously at the giri
who, bent over her mending, was
plying her needle furiously.
Stephanie shrugged.
"Don't you think so, SteveT
mo. / think her typically COM
mon"
"How odd! She's quite young,
and she's really very nice and mod
est-not the type OF person you
seem to imagine--"
II don't like her." interrupted
Stephanie calmly. But her slender
fingers were flying, and she had set
her teeth in her under lip, which
had trembled a little.
Helen, CHANGING to mention Gle
land that night as they were pre-
pairing for bed, was astonished at
Stephanie's impatient comment:
"Oh, Jims quite spoiled. I'm
rapidly losing interest in that young
man."
"Why?" asked Helen, surprised.
Because he runs about with
queer people. No man can do that
and not show 1t in his own man
ner."
What people, Steve?'
well, with Lady Button-eyes for
one. With your modest and BASH
full little model, for another"
Does he?" Then she began to
laugh. Pm glad he displays good
taste, anyway! The little Cliff girl
is charming -
isn't that rather a horrid and
cynical thing to say?' demanded
Stephanie, flushing brightly.
EVERYBODY SEEKS AMUSEMENT
why? ! Think she's quite all
right. /Let them play together II
they IKE. It's none of my business
Az ycu. the high-priestess OF t"i-
4rarcc, becoming iptolerant?' she
added laughingly.
mo. / don't care what he does
But / should think. he'd prefer tt
frivol with one of his own class
IT'S a matter Of chance, re-
marked Helen, brushing out hef
curly brown hair. The beggar-
maid or Vere-de-Vere-it's all the
same to a man IL the girl is sum-
GENTLY attractive and amusing"
"Amusing?" repeated Stephanie
That is humiliating role--to
amuse a man."
IF a girl doesn't, men soon neg
lect her. Men go where they are
amused. Everybody does. You DO
do. why not?" -,
Stephanie, still hotly flushed
shook out her beautiful chestnut
hair and began to comb it viciously
II don't see how a common per
son can amuse a weli-born man.
she said.
IT'S a reflection on us II we give
them the opportunity" retorteo
Helen, laughing. But IL were not
clever enough to hold the men o1
our own caste, then they'll certainly
go elsewhere for their amusement.
"And good riddance"
But who's to replace tham?'
II can get along perfectly with
out men,"
"Steve, you're talking like a child
What happens to be the matter with
you? Has anything gone wrong?'
= Absolutely nothing she
turned sharply; her comb caught in
her hair and she jerked IL free. Per
haps that accounted for the sudden
CLINT of tears in her gray eyes.
Helen slipped her arm around her
but the girls rigid body did not
yield and she kept her head obstin
ately averted.
sTEPHAINE IN A TEMPER.
"Are. you getting tired of your
dih with NS" "iN "SNSN
Helen, gently.
mo, / am not! He never bothers
me-never gets on my nerves
never is unjust-unkind-"
"Who is?"
"I don't know. 3. Men in genera
annoy me-men in-general"
None in particular"
mo. IT isn't very agreeable tc
know that ones brother goes about
with a shameless dancer from the
Follies."
Are you sure he does?"
Perfectly. He gives her a party
in his studio, too. sometimes
But there's no harm in"
"a party for two! They drink-to'
gether."
"Oh."
"They drink and dance and eat
all by themselves! They take up the
rugs and turn on the music and
and I don't know what they dol
-d-don't know DON'T don't
Her head fell into her hands; she
stood rigid, her body shaken by
emotions too unhappy, too new, too
yarue for her Youthful analysis