Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-11-05


\ don't believe you really much about m
steve" :
Her grey eyes regarded him sideways while she suc
ca the orange; conteed laughter interrupted the pr
cess; then suddenly both arms were around his nc
ana her bewitching looked into his deep yer
deeply.
you know you Dad
"No, don't"
"Don't you really know it?.f'
DO you, really. Steve?" n
There passionate second Of assurance o. st,a,
sigh; the little on his shoulder egea
serious gazing out al the early April sunshine
Tell me about little, boy Dad she nurnaured
presently. presently
You know he isn't little Steve. He's fourteen
nearly fifteen"
II forgot C;oodnessl" she soid. sof,,v ~, -
fully f' -" ie'pee-
Me seems little to me- continued cIeland but he
wouldn't like to be thought Little girls don't m nd
being considered youthful do they?"
* es the do. You teasing m, Dad"
st ~ IL unoefstond that have ready-made
groWn-up family, and little child to comfort me
with charming little sound in her throat ike
against his ~ >
TELL me- she murmured
About what, darIing?"
About your Ht-about your bow"
She never tired hearing about this wondecf,u con
and cieland never tired telling about Jim 50 thew
were always in accord that subject
Often Cleland tried to read in the grave1v vou+bf,
eyes uplfted to his dreamy emotions which bis nor
ratVe evoked-curosity shy delight, frank hun
NDNDt WouQer-DOy would
condescend to notice her wistfulness onelness-the
delicate tragedy of solitary souls
Always her gaze troubled him little, because he had
. ~. see tola MS son Of what he had donehad not
written to him concerning advent of this lite
stranger. He had thought bes and easiest way
"as 70 Ten jim when he met him the station
and, without giving the boy time to hnl hrood nar
maps worry, let him see little stephane face face
tlt seemed the best way John Celand R, ut
moments lying alone sleepless the night he became
horribly afnd. - ~
II was about that time that he received letter from
Miss Rosalinda Quest: ! r,il
Dear Mr. Clyeland
Will you bring the child out to Bayford or sbau
call 70 see her when business takes me into town?
want to see her SO take choice
Your truly
Rosainda Quest"
\. This brusque reminder that stephanie was not en-
t,rey nis upset Cieand. But there nothing TO do
call. - ~ f. -
. Which she did one morning week latter She wore
ITatue-grey tweeds and toque. Krupp steel eoup.
WV. , 2. retcuie and umbrella; and she looked the
Fighter from top to toe.
When ceiand down to the drawing room with
stephanie, Miss Quest dhim with perfunctory
'Y1liy and ookd upon stephane with unfeigned
''1s that my niece?" she demanded And stephanf,
vho had been wnned Of the lady ana Of the relation
MP dropped her cursey and offered slender Aand
gith tn shy but affable smile nstcve in all chilnran
But the grey friendly eyes and the smile dtd In.
tanty business for the child which never could
ave foreseen; for Miss Quest her colour and stood
ute dumb and rigid with girls and erasned
ghty IN her grey-gloved fingers
Finally she found her voce--not The inelsive tom-
ative, precise voice whirh Celand taew--nut a I M
ne and uncertain parody on 1t.
'Do you know who am stephanle?"
yes manm. You my Aunt Rosalinda"
MISS quest took the sat which Celapd offered ana
y down drawing the child to her knee. She looked
her for long while without speaking
Later when Stephanie had been given hcr c,nra in
ew OF lessons awaiting her in nursery Miss Quest
10 TO cieland as she going:
I'm not bhnd can see whnt you doing tor
'ryT-what you have done. The child adores YOU"
u love her exactly though she were my own, he
i'd. flushing. -',s ,-I@t.s. -
Ihahs plain enough, too, Well shall be lust
y rs yours. don't suppose there ever will be a
rher IN her heart for me. could love her too
had the time" ~ '
rs not what in her only another ,
,fafioe to the noble work In which are
Rubbish! like my work. BUTT does do a lot of !
ou Ond It's quite true that l not do 1t and give !
NE to Stephanie Quest. And So she shrug-
her trim shouldersT soarcely expect the child
ycare straw for If I rome to see her now q
then" ~ i " g
Iceland said nothing. Miss Quest marked to the
n held open by Meacham, turned to .CieIand:
Thank God you got her. she said II failed with | n
rry' don't deserve her onre not claim ra- |,
nsipnity But T. see that she inherits what nos N
Nv | "
aadanie' beg you will not occupy yourself with h
n matters am perfectly able to provide suf- 4,
Good Lord! Are you trying to tell me again how al
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