The Washington herald., 1921-09-11

He took the chair, and as she resumed
her own, which left her face In shadow while
the light from her desk lamp fell full on him.
she took him in in a brief but intent scrutiny
to which he had the air Of eagerly lending
himself.
His hair was curly and dark brown. Indeed,
his eyes and complexion and hair seemed
much the same shade. His shining eyes,
now glancIng past her out Of the window.
had tho long distance" look seen In the
eyes Of sailors and plainsmen. His clothes,
shs observed. were very weIl made, but OBJ
yiously new. and he wore them with a certain
self-consciousness. He had unbuttoned hia.
heavy overooat and once or twice the fingers
Of his right hand caught and pulled away
from his throat the stir linen collar with its
correct points at exactly the right angle over
his soft oolored and handsome tie. Though
his clothes were 80 admirably made, he was
not yet at home in them. Subconsciously but
clearly she visualtzed him in cowboy outfit,
In his proper environment in the far west.
and wondered what had brought him so far
from his proper setting.
Slowly and smiingly she shook her head
Il don't remember" she confessed. and,
somewhat to her own surprise. she heard
herself adding. though I feel more and more
strongly that ought to-"
His eager eyes had returned to her face a.
soon as she began to speak.
Yes" he said In his pleasant baritone
voice. you ought to. But I guess twenty
years have made lot of changes. I'm Dick"
he added simply.
At the name she started, leaned forward,
and looked at him again Then. as II a spring
In her had been touched. two great tears
hlled her eyes and rolled down her cheeks.
She could not speak. but both her hands
went out to him. He caught them and held
them firmly. resting his own hands on the
small sliding shelf pulled out from the side
Of her desk.
why. Dick-cousin Dicki- she stam-
mersd at last. Il can't believe It We all
thought you were deadi"
your stepfather didn't He knew where
was up to the time Of his death eight years
ago He staked me twice, you know" HIS
shining eyes were on her face.
mo. didn't know Father-of course,
always think Of him as my own father-never
spoke Of you. But knew he never stopped
regretting that you-that you
THAT ran away7-
Dick filled in the pause with brisk assur-
ancs. well, I thought had to- he went
on. more slowly. and guess was right.
He'd have done everything in the world for
me. but "-he hesitated-" your mother never
liked me. you know. was only fourteen.
but caught on to that all right Before
had been there two months saw that she
didn't like having me around, and that she
was taking it out on your father. and that It
was worrying him. You don't mind my being
so blunt about It. hope, for that's the truth
Sol cleared out"
III know" Their clasped hands parted.
and they settled back in their chairs, regard
ing each other smilingly. A moments silence
fell between them as each recalled the tragic
year in the past when William Hutton's dead
brothers only son had come to them. a penni;
less orphan. to be welcomed by his uncle and
his uncles stepdaushter. Dorothea, and
there was no question about ito have his
presence hercely resented by his aunt.
Dorothea's mother had not intended to be
deliberately unkind to the lonely Lad. but she
had passionately disliked him. For one rea.
son. she felt a fierce. unconquerable jealousy
Of her husbands interest in the boy She
knew the mans thought Hero was the son
Of his dead brother. bis onF brother, hsge