The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1920-12-25


slant. then turned to him again. quite
calm. Julia could not help doing these
little things; she was born that way
| and no lessons changed her.
. he stopped with this beginning, ms
a., voice seeming to have exhausted itself
upon the name.
, When 20 you think you'll start?'
she asked
lust whei," he said. and he began to
! feel q little too much committed to this
sudden plan of departure, and TO Won
der how It had come about. ~
haven't set any day.-exactly:, ,-
Have you talked 1t over with your
mother yet. Eohlc?"
Not yet--exactly" Forgetting that
his means We're totally insufficient Tor
the trip. he was conscious of q hearty
listastc for China as something un IN
pleasant and iplminent. II thought I'd
wait till--till it was certain I WOMB
When will that be. NobleT' And in
spite Of herself, Julia spoke In the tone
: OF one who controls herself, 10 ask In
y Well" he said. It'll be as soon
rs Two made UP my mind to go. prob
ably wont 90 before then; not till I've
"pu, you might do that any day.
Sobie began TO feel relieved; he
seemed to have hit upon 4 way out;
Yes; and then I'd be gone" he said
at ali unless decided TO-" This seemed
10 save him from Cnina. and he added
rccklessly: II guess I wouldn't be
missed much around this old town II
yves. you would" Julia said quickly.
Your famIlyd miss you--and so would
everybody"
Julia, you wouldn't"
She laughed lightly. "of course !
would; and SO would Papa, s on
pearcd TO WAIVER from the feet upward.
what"
Papa was talking about you this
very morning at broadcast. she said.
and she spoke the truth. He said he
dreamed about you last night
He did," .t
Julia nodded sunnily. HE dreamed
that you and he were the very greatest
frIends!" This also was truc. so far as
II went. but she omitted 10 state that
Mr.. htwater had gone on TO- classify
his dream as q sample OF nightmare
THERE" she cried. Why, Of course
he'd miss you-hed miss you as much
as he'd miss any friend of mine that
comes here
Noble felt sudden rush OF tender
ness toward Mr.. Atwater; II Is always
possible to misjudEc A man for few
hasty words. But Julia went On quick
ly:. ,
hlc DiIl!' she exclaimed. II don't sup:
pose there's nobody In the United
States rxcep; you that would be capa.
be an officer in the Chinese army-at
be an officer in thr Chinese arn-all
just any minute like this. I've declared
reckless man J ever knew"
Nnhln shook his head. NO" he said
Jud!cially. I'm not reckless: It's Just
that dP ont. care what hs sno.. rou~
ITO me-" hc said hurriedly. II mean
I don't care what happens TO myself.
mean that's more thu way / am than
Just reckless Of cnurse, in one way,
suppose that. Is reckiessnexs, and
good many people would say !. was
10 me"
atsrd. though she shook her head. as
If knowing herself to be wiser than he
abou; his unadulteratcd recklessness. A
chcrrfulness came upon them: the CHI
.cs. question seemed TO have been set
tied by the indirect process-tn fact,
neither Of them ever mentioned i
again. 81 mustn't keep YOU. she said.
especially when you ought to be get
ting on downtown 10 business. but
oh" (She gave the little cry OF FOR
getful person remndcd.) Il almost
forgot what I ran out TO ask you.
What was Il. Julia" Noble spoke.
huskiiy, in a low voice. as people speak
sometimes In the hushrd crises OF life;
What Ia II YOU want me to do. Juiia!
She gave little fiuitering laugh. han
tImtd. half confidtnE, You Know nov y.
iPut she hurried on without wa!tfnk
for IN answcr) We'll. he Is. Hes the
funniest old hing; he doesn't ike any
kind very much except his own spec,aI
Ia, 1ln q
other kind. bu, the rigars that Mr..
R!dgely smokes when ne comes here
papa really does make fuss over
And. you see. don't like 10 say no
When Mr.. Ridyely asks y he can
so uncomfortable when they're sitting
on vrranda, but thought II could
lust tactfully get him 10 buy some-
things different from his cigars. ana
thought the best thing would be 10
makes the least fuss about and seems
to like thcm the most, =! meas NJ
I'd forgotten the name of them That 8
what ] ran, out 10 ask SSn' .o-.,r,
Egyptian cigarettes
Would you mind giving me one
Just TO show Nj. Ridgely!
Noble gave her an orduma ciea-
rette; .u,. 81 ,,,.,n.,
Keen YOU another minute. because !
know your father wouldn't know what
to do at the office without you. ThanS
you 80 much for this: Sh. e. s" re- na ana
trcn raused. looking back over her
shoulder. "Ill only show 1t TO him.
Noble" she said. Il won't give II 10
him" o.
than she should have said; shook her
head as in self-chidlng, then laughed 1
and in a flash touched the tiny white
wand to her lips. waved II 10 him. an9 \
ran TO the porch and up the steps and
into the house. She felt sauSned that
she had set matters right, this wild
The facts. however. were contradic-
tory Before she set matters right with
Noble he had been unhappy and his con-
dition had been bad; now ne was nappS'
hut his condition was worse. In truth,
he/was much. much too happy: nothing
rational remained in his mind. No elm
orchestra seemed 70 buEz IN his ears az
he went down the street but loud
beautiful brass band. HIS unathetlS
up with strange joys; and little child;
playing on the next corner, turned ana
followed him for some distance, Trying
TO initiate his proud. singular walk Re-
stored to too much pride. Noble became
also much too humane; he thought rs
Of Mr.. Atwater a. he did Of
Julia. and felt almost motherly need
TO cherish and protect him. There was
a warm spot in Mobiles chest, produced
by a Rush of exalted love and humble
yearninE toward that splendid old man.
Noble had q good home. s!Sty-six dollars
in the bank and q dollar and forty cents !
in his rockets: he would have given all ,
FOR a. chance to show Mr.. I.twnter now
we'll ne understood him now AT last and
how deeply he appreciated his favor
Students Of alcoholic intox!catton have
observed that in their cups common
place people. and not geniuses. do the
Noble Din was indeed |
no genius: his only distinction Of any
kind whatever, present or potential. vas
that among all Of Julia Atwaters fol-