The Washington herald., 1921-12-18

Cor nDsteen years had lived the patent bond
between them, he had never been able 70
look without at least the memory Of that
catching Of the breath with which be bad
FIRST seen his face.
Il suppose Juniors just an ordinary boy
he told Agnes often enough az the boy grew
before them - But / do like him most
extraordinarily
As hi. son sat beside Frances, facing Gene
vAeves tremulous pendants and ereeninS par
rots, Austen caught himself. more than onos
In the intervals OF laugh and talk that went
about the table searching the boys face. He
felt that he could not bear any cloud upon
that clear glance Of his sons eyes in which
he had always found comfort No eyes, look
ing at life with that directne@, could COZ
ceal anything fur,ive behind their steadtnesa
1t almost seemed impossible TO him howevsf.
that any adoiescent boy could face Gene~se-s
without furuveness. Yet - dinner bowed On
smoothly, helped TO its ease, be realized. by
Agnes, perfect as always, no furtivenes xp-
peared After dinner Agnes remembered that
she was TO sit with a neighbor's baby untn
ten o'clock. And Frances had a paper 10
write on the early life Of the Romans. Aus
ten Junior found his hat He was swfully
sorry there was the glee club tonight
But I'll be back In time TO get you safely
home" he told Genev1eve at parting. II
was not furtive- Yet hi, father knew q bad
moment, as he found seat for Genev,svs
opposite him. beside the hearth.
Mind II I smoker" she said looking sbout
the quiet room Austen found the oesren.
and they had smoked for a few moments In
silence Austen waited
Its nSos here" Genevieve said finally.
knocking her ash OF into the oak embers
Think Of the awful woodworthr She
sighed and Austen let another silence como
between them Genevteve found q fresh
cigaret.
I suppose" she began at last, mother
wants you to speak 10 me-" Austen laughed
What makes you think that"
%, saw the symptoms. Tear wet lasbes,
air OF guilty innocence, as entered Poor
old Uncle Austen! She smiled al him = TN
q terrible care TO you In her smile be
almost saw a replica Of Helene's satistaction
over AgnesL Helene, he thought swiftly,
built up a universe about herself in which
all women had cause for jealousy Gene
We've, on the other hand fancied herrelf an
enfant terrible
Not at all" he said heartily. Il only
hope you're enjoying this quiet smoke az
well as I am" This was , trihe wicked
Genevieve's smoking. be more than sus-
pected- was somewhat heroic. Necessary for
her pose bat IN itself dntasteful As II 10
confirm his theory. she let her cisaret die
out, sesturng with it gracefully a. abe
talked
Wen, I'm glad to have a chance TO dis
cuss things little with you If you don't
mind. OF course, you know, / get dresdfuIly
on mothers nerves. Just she bssitated.
then plunged" just she does on mine
Austen, who was determined to be shocked
at nothing. gave her a comprehendins moi
1t isn't that mother minds being kissed
when the lights are low. as it were. But
she would die before she'd admit IT. Now
/" The wave of Genevieve's cissret was
expressive.
In fact" she went on. u made UP my
mind when l was quite little that l would
be kissed when got to be lady. And / an.
A good deal"
Austen laughed.
Il like your candor- he said.
That" said Genevieve. is just what
mother can't abide"
Il wonder" He looked al her doubtfuny
Fact" said Genevieve. settling more com
fortably in her chair 1t isn't at all Whist
admit that bothers her. It's that admit
It. OF course" she brought out with final
ity. mother is OF the past generation
Uncle Austen smiled at her.
Just what do you mean" he asked
when you say that"
%, OF course" Genevieve spolog1zed- Il
don't just mean that she's fifty. You're fifty
aren't your
Forty he admitted.
Well" She tried another cigaret. I'm
not silly enough TO think that fifty is old, or
anything like that. What / mean is that
mother is crystallized into her form. You
say you're forty-nine. But l can talk -
you Now mother is sure that anything I
say or think that she can't recall that some
one else-some one OF the right sort said
or thought sometime in her own set must
not be said or thought by me. shook her
to her foundations the other day by throw
ing out that monogsmy is no longer smart.