The Washington times., 1920-07-06

punished for making pictures ON
the wall"
"oh." said the boy soberly.
After a moment the boy jumped
up:
I'm hungry. / believe luncheon
is nearly ready. Come on. steve"
The child could scarcely speak
from pride and happiness when the
boy condescended TO take her hand
and lead her out OF that enchanted
place into tho magic deeps below.
At 9:30 that evening Stephanio
made the curtsey> which had been
taught her to Cleland Senior. and
was about to repeat the process to
Cleland Junior when the latter
laughed and held out his hand.
Good night. Steve" he said re-
assuringly. you've got TO be
regular girl with me-"
She took his hand, held II. drew
closer. To his conservation. he
realized that she was expecting to
kiss him, and he hastily wrung her
hand and sat down.
The child's face flushed; she turn
ed to Cleland Senior for the kiss
to which he had accustomed her.
Her lips were quivering, and the
older man understood.
Good night. darling" he ssid.
drawing her close into his arms.
and whispered in her ear gaily:
you've scared him, Steve. He's
only a boy. you know"
Her head, buried against his
shoulder. concealed the starting
tears.
"Youve scared him." repeated
Cleland Senior. "All boys arc shy
about girls"
Suddenly it struck her as funny;
she smiled; the tears dried In her
eyes. She twisted around. and. plac-
ing her lips against the elder mans
ear. she whispered:
"Im afraid of him, but l do like
him."
He likes you, but he's a little
afraid Of you yet"
That appealed to her once more
as exquisitely funny. She giggled,
snuggled Sioser observed by Jim
with embarrassment and boredom.
But he was too polite to betray 1t.
Stephanic, with one arm around
Clelands neck, squeezed herself
tightly against him and recounted
in a breathless whisper her I'M
pressions of his only son:
talked to me upstairs about his
school and all the boys there. He
was very kind t<1ne. Do you think
I'm too little for him to like me?
I'm growing rather fast, you know.
I'd do anything for him. anything.
I wish you'd tell him that. VIII
you?"
"Yes. l will. dear. Now, run up
again."
Shall I say good night to Jim
again."
"If you like. But don't kiss him,
or you'll scare him.
They both had a confidential and
silent ht of laughter over this; then
the child slid from his knees, drop
ped a hasty, confused curtsey in
Jim's direction, turned and scam
pered upstairs. And a gale OF
laughter came floating out of the
nursery, silenced as Janet shut the
door.
The subdued glow Of lamp
fell over father and son; undulating
strata of smoke drifted between
them from the elder mans cigar.
"Well, Jim?"
.'Yes, Father"
"Do you like her."
She's a-funny girl. Yes,
she's a rather nice little kid"
We'll stand by her, won't we,
Jim?"
Yes, sir"
make up to her the lost days
the cruelest injustice that can be
infiicted-the loss of happy child
hood"
"Yes, sir"
"All right, old chap. Now. tell
me all about yourself and what has
happened since you wrote"
II had fight"
with whom. Jim?"
with Oswald Grismcr. of the
first FORM
"What did he do to your" in
quired his father.
HE said something - about a
girl"
What girl?"
"I don't know her"
"Go on"
Nothing. Except I told
him what / thought of him"
ITO he Continued Tcmorrow.)
Copyright. 1917, 1918. by the Interna-
tional Magazine Company)