Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-10

wonder how it had come about. Il
haven't set any day-exactly."
Have you talked it over with your
mother yet. Nob1e?"
Not yet-exactly" Forgetting that
his means were totally insufficient for
the trip. he was conscious of a hearty
distaste for China as something un-
I'd wait till-till it was certain l
would CO.
When will that be, Noble?' And in
spite of herself Julia spoke in the
tone of one who controls herself to
ask in calmness: us my name on the
list for the guillotine?"
well" he said. It'll be as soon
as I've made up my mind to go.
probably won't go before then; not
till I've made up my mind to-"
But you might do that any day.
mightn't you?"
NOBLE began to feel relieved: he
seemed to have hit upon a way
out. Yes, and then I'd be gone he
said firmly. But probably / wouldn't
20 at all unless I decided to-" This
seemed to save him from China, and
he added recklessly: Il guess 1
old town if l did 60
Eyes, you would" Julia said quick
ly. Your family'd miss you-and SO
would everybody"
Julia, you wouldn't
She laughed lightly. ''Of course, 1
would. and so would papa"
Noble released the gatepost and
appeared to waver from the feet up
ward. What"
Papa was talking about you this
very morning at breakfast" she said.
and she spoke the truth. He said
he dreamed about you last night"'
He did,
Julia nodded sunnily. He dreamed
that you and he were the very great
est friends!' This also was true SO
far as it went. but she omitted to
state that Mr.. Atwater had gone on
of nightmare "Therer' she cried.
why. of course he'd miss you-he'd
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; it is al
ways possible to misjudge a man for
a few hasty words.
She was content to let this stand,
though she shook her head, as If
knowing herself to be wiser than he
about his unauthorized rscklessneSs.
A cheerfulness came upon them; the
Chinese question seemed to have been
settled by these indirect processes
in fact, neither of them ever men
toned it again. II mustn't Keep
you" she said, especially when you
ought to be getting on downtown to
business, but-ohw (She gave lit
tie cry of a forgetful person remind
ED II almost forgot what ran
out to ask you!"
what was it. Julia?" Noble spoke
huskily. in a low voice as people
speak sometimes in the hushed crises
of life. What is it you want me to do,
Julia?"
She gave a little fiuttering laugh.
half timid. half confiding. You know
how funny papa is about tobacco
waiting for an answer.) We'll. he is.
He's the funniest old thing: he doesn't
like any kind very much except his
own special cheroot things. He growls
about every other Kind. but the cigars
that Mr.. Ridgely smokes when he
comes here papa really loes make a
fuss over! And, you see. don't like
to say no when Mr.. Ridgely
asks if he can smoke. because it
always makes men SO uncomfortable
when they're sitting on a veranda, but
1 thought if 1 could just tactfully get
him to buy something different from
his cigars, and I thought the best
thing would be to suggest those
cigarettes you always have Noble:
they're the one papa makes the least
fuss about and seems to stand the
best-next to his own, he seems to
like them the most. I mean-but I'd
forgotten the name of them. That's
what ran out to ask you"
"Orduma." said Noble. "Orduma
Egyptian cigarettes"
would you mind giving me one
just to show Mr. Ridgely?"
Noble gave her an Orduma cigar
cite.
Thanksw she said cozily. AZ mustn't
keep you another minute. because
know your father wouldn't know
what to do at the Office without you
turned and walked quickly halfway
up the path. then paused. looking
back over her shoulder. TIL only
show it to him. Noble" she said. 81
won't give it to him"
She hit her lip as if she had said
more than she should have said: shook
her head as in self Gliding: then
tiny white yand to her lips. waved it
to him. and han to the porch
and M the stems and into the house.
She felt satisfied that she had set
ma tiers right. this wild Julia,
The facts. hawever. were contradic-
tory. Before she set matters right
with Noble he had been unhappy and
was happy, but his condition was
worse. In truth, he was much. much
too happy: nothing rational remained
in his mind. No elfin orchestra seemed
to buzz in his ears as he went down
the street. but a loud. beautiful brass
band. His unath1etic chest was peri
lously inflated: he heaved up with
ing on the next corner turned and
followed him for some distance. try
ing to initiate his proud. singular
walk. Restored to too much pride.
Noble became also much too humane:
he thought as corsta nt1y of Mr.. A.
water as he did of Jnlia. End felt al
most motherly need to cherish and
protect him.
+ + *k
A S Noble sat musing alone, near a
window in his fathers office. late
in the afternoon, his exalted mood was
not affected by the falling of a prefer
natural darkness over the town, nor was
he reused to action by any perception
Of the plain facts that the other clerks
and the members OF the firm had gone
home an hour ago: that the clock show
I'd him his own duty to lock up the office
and not keep his mother waiting dinner.
and that he would be caught in a most
outrageous thunderstorm if he didn't
hurry. No; he sat smiling fondly by the
open window and at times made a frag-
mentary gesture as of some heroic or
benevolent impulse in rehearsal Mean
while, paunchy with great portents of
wind and wetness, outlandish clouds
came smoking out of the bla ckened
west Rumbling. then roaring, they
drew on. From cloud to cloud dizzying
OF white fire cracked, stag
gered, and doomed the wireless signals
for assault; then the watts of the winds
were opened, the tanks of deluces un-