The Washington times., 1920-07-03
,Contiausd from YesterdayJ

little, because he had not yet tod
his son OF what he had done-had
not written TO him concerning the
advant of this little stranger He
had thought that the best and
easiest way was to tell Jim when
he met him at the railroad station,
and. without giving the boy time TO
think, brood perhaps, perhaps
worry, let him see little Stepharie
face to face.
II seemed the best way to John
Cleland. But, at moments. lying
alone, sIeepless in the night. he be-
came horribly afraid.
II was about that time that. he
received a letter from Miss Rosa
linda Quest:
Dear Mr.. Cleland:
Will you bring the child OUT TO
Bayford, or shall | call to sec her
when business takes me into town?
want to see her, SO take your
choice.
Yours truly,
ROSALINDA QUEST.
This brusque reminder that
6tephanie was not entirely his, up
set Cleland. But there was moth
ing to do about It except to write
the lady a civil invitation to cali.
Which she did one morning
week later. She wore battle-grey
tweeds and toque, and a krupp steel
equipment OF reticule and umbrella;
and she looked the fighter from TIP
to toe.
drawing-room with Stephaine. Misc
Quest greeted him with perfunctory
civility and looked upon Stephanle
fat0
-"Is that my niece?" she demanded.
And Stephanie, who had been warn
ed of the lady and of the relation
ship. dropped her curtsey and Offer
ed her slender hand with the shy
but affable smile instructive in AL
children.
But the grey, friendly eyes and
the smile did instantly a business
for the child which she never cou'd
have foreseen: for Miss Quest lost
her color and stood quite dumb
and rigid, with the little girls
hand grasped tightly in her grey
glovcd fingers.
Finally she found her voice-not
the incisive. combative. precise
voice which Cleland knew-but
feminine and uncertain parody gu
It:
DO you know who am Step
haine"
Yes, ma'am You are my Aun!
Rosalinda"
Miss Quest took the seat which
Cleland offered and sat down, draw
ing the child to her knee. she
looked at her for a long while with
out speaking.
Later, when Stephanie had been
n
awaiting her in the nursery, Mss
Quest said to Cleland, as she was
going: .
I'm not blind. ! can see what
you are doing for her-what YOU
have done. The child adores ycu.'
II love her exactly az though She
we're my own" he said, flushing.
THAT'S plain enough, to.
Well, shall be just. She is Noirs.
I don't suppose there ever VII, ce
a corner in her heart for me.
Tcould love her, too, If l had the
time"
lis not what you renounce in her
only another sacrifice to the noble
work in which you are engaged:
Rubbish! I like my work. But 1T
does do a lot of good. And It's
quite true that l can not do it ana
give my life to Stephanie quest.
And So" she shrugged her trim
shoulders-"I can scarcely expect
the child to care a straw FOR me,
even 81 come to see her now ana
then"
CIeiand said nothing. Miss Quest
marched to the door, held open oy
Meacham. turned to Cleland:
Thank God you got her. she
1T Got |
deserve her and / dare not claim
responsibility. But I'll see that she
inherits what possess
Madame. beg you Will not &C.
cupy yourself with such matters.
am perfectly able to provide sui
ficiently-"
Good Lord. Are you trying to
tell me again how to draw my
will?" she demanded.
"I am not. | am simply request
ing you not to cucumber TINS ch'lo
with any unnecessary fortune.
There is no advantage TO her in any
unwieldy inheritance; there u.s. IN
the contrary, very real and alarm
ing disadvantage
1T shall retain my liberty to think
as / please. do as ] please. and ar
fer from you as often as ] please
she retorted hotly.
They glared upon each other lot
moment: Meacham's burnt""ut
paze travelled dumbly from ore ID
the other.
Suddenly Miss Quest smiled ana
strctched out her hand TO Cleland.
THANK Cod" she said again
"that it is you who have the child
Teach her to think kindly of me-.
II you can. I'll come sometimes To
see hcr-and to disagree with Ncu.
Cleland. bare-headed, took her
out to her taXicab. She smiled AT
him when II departed.
CHAPTER v.
There came the time when
Easter vacation was to be reckoncd
with Cleland wrote to Jim that
nc had a surprise for him and that,
as usual. he would be at the sta
ton to meet the school train.
During the intervening days. at
moments fear became an anguish.
He began to realize what might
happen. what might threaten his
hitherto perfect understanding with
his only son.
He need not have worried.
Driving uptown In the limousine
beside his son, their hands stu
.l~k,t,, ,nl,rlnrk cd. he tod Nun