The Washington times., 1921-04-04
BY Kathleen Norris.
Author Of sMotAer," "The Heart Of
Rachel.- s'sister.," and Other
Famous Stories.


Racket" s'sister.," and Other =
Famous Stories.
~ ATRICIAs own group was
about her, but they found
her curiously silent and abb
sent-minded. She was beautiful as
always, gracious as always. but
in manner not herself.
Her chair was placed inconspic-
uously in the curve of great
window, and she studied the
gathering with a shadow in her
lovely eyes. Shey had accomplished
her end swiftly and completely.
Beatrice Palme> was in the heart
of the good times now, accepted.
admired, even followed-so tickle
is fashion! In eight weeks Pa
tricia had done for her what she
herself might not have accom-
plished In eight years.
Roger Chambers, Art Bruce, and
young Fred Bishop were all clus-
tering about her; this scarlet
checked young rider with the mil
lions might have any one Of them,
in another eight weeks!
Never before had Patricia Cheese
brough experienced jealousy. But
she felt 1t now, now when she saw
Annie Throckmorton stop for an
indulgent word with Beatrice,
where she heard Hattie Page
praising her to a consenting group.
For the first time she balanced
her own blood and position against
this other .woman's mere money,
and found her own claim wanting!
When Beatrice's pale blue eyes
found favor with Roger or Art or
Dat, sato N q n
cially established for life; after
how short and simple a labor!
But sitting here this morning, in
the good atmosphere of sunshine
and wood smoke and coffee and
laughter, her heart was lead. Bea-
trice might have won everything
else. but not Sidney
"Oh, my God" said Patricia to
herself, in desperate prayer. 1T Is
not fair!
Dan, too, standing at the fire
place, and deep in discussion with
the older Partridge as to the merits
of his Dexter cattle, was far from
sharing the general CAVITY OF the
assembly.
When his eyeys moved to his sis
ter, his whole face frightened, to
be sure, for 1t was Nike MIRAGE
to see Pansy in her right place. But
his glance would move from her to
Patricia, sitting gravely watching
the room from under the brim OF
her black hat, and when he found
her his heart would close In a
spasm Of sheer pain.
DAN IN LOVE.
So beautiful, SO adored, SO inac-
,at han n
at her, and yet her image was never
for an instant absent from his
thoughts. Whatever he did and
said, in these days, was done and
said in tho new dedication of his
life to the hopeless love OF her,
was dignified by the consciousness
that he had been marked apart for
the agony and ecstacy of love.
Nothing in his life had ever so
thoroughly absorbed him; love for
Patricia was his business, his re-
ligfon. his relaxation, his whole ex-
istence.
To see her fine hands now, lock-
ed idly before her on the table,
to see her unsmiling, level gaze
fixed on the man beside her. TO
watch the beautiful mouth as she
briefly answered him, and the rise
and fall OF her breast under the
thin silk blouse, was to cause him
self a sort of suffocation.
In few weeks. Dan mused.
Beatrice would announce her
choice. He knew who 1T would be,
, even though she and Sidney were
hardly glancing toward each other
today. The painter was more
than twice her age, bot Dan was
content. II he loved her, IL he
would give her the life for which
she longed. 1t was enough.
Better Sidney Hutchinson, to
whom her money would mean
much. than one of these younger
men who would never forget that
her father once kept the Cut-Rate
Pharmacy, down in Bridge street.
And when Beatrice was married.
then Patricia would go out of his
life. Superb, untouched, she would
endorse tho promised check, give
him her gloved hand. perhaps kiss
his mother in farewell
I beg your pardon" he SIAM
mered, coming suddenly out of his
dream. Tom Partridge smiled.
He was half in love with Patricia
himself.
Patricia was presently reused
from her musing by Sidney's voice;
he came and sat down opposite heR
at the table, which was now de-
serted except for herself.
"what are you doing now, PatT
~T hardly know" she smiled. Il
am so sleepy after last night that
rather think / shall get some
sleep this afternoon. Tonight there