, 1921-09-24
coptrtaht. "a. b Ths whesler Ne.s,psr~ sy-ale.i.

and then ask him 70 tea the next. They
I'D not live on their ncrveS or on their
feelings. but on their very rich fathers.
on whom they drew heavily for gowns.
hunters. and pianos. OH which last they
could play p.ssably well themselves
Trsvers. II was believed. was sent-
mentally content thai Edith Sargent
had been born n girl. ard spoke of her
as Mixs Sargent. and not as Edith
Sargent as the other men did. Van
Bibber considered this a very danger
GUS sign.
Mss Edith Sargent was getting out
OF her brougham as Van Bibber drew
up In his hanson. She greeted him
brightly with a nod. and told him that
she was half frozen. and tat he was
Just in time for some tea. We ws,ted
until she gave some directions to the
footmsp for the evening and then
walked up the steps beside her.
You've V me from writing you n
note" h said. Il wanted TO sae vou
about getting up a coaching-party for
tho zane on Thanksgiving Day. Do
you think sts too Iate.'
Van Bibber observed her covertiy.
but she did not seem to be conscious OF
anything beyond what she WAS saying.
and regarded him frankly and without
embarrassment. He decided that she
had not received the letter. and felt a
temporary sense or relief.
1t is rather late" he said: most Of
the coaches are cnga yed so FAR ahead.
you know: but we might be able 10 get
a private one"
They walked into the d~rawing-roon
together. and she threw her sable boa
and mum on the divan and went 10 tire
FIRE to warm her fingers.
Bibber was regarding her so ~intentiy
that she stopped and looked up at him
curicusly. Whom could we ask. - she
repeated. and added. after a pause.
You're not listening 70 what I'm say
ing"
They continued looking at each other
for a short moment. and than tire girl
with a sudden exclamation OF irteilI-
gence. walked baci, INTO the library be-
yonc. returning with an tnvc,opa In
her hand. Van Bibber saw that re
address upon it was typewriter.
Here's that letter you and Travers
sent me" she said. She put 1t in his
hand and left him standing gazing
to the open fire and stretched her fin
gers out before II. As he continued
silent. she turned and looked over her
shoulder at him, ard then. as she
caught his look Of embarrassment
laughed easily at the sight OF It.. Don't
you think" she said, its about time
you two became accustomed to the fact
that you have grown up?'
Van Bibber gazed at her b;ankly and
shook HIS head. "Travers told you." he
said, ruefully.
rTrayers old me-" she repeated with
disdain- You both told me. l do hope
: I've In f.rff-nNe~l -, . t~-. -s@.
you two and your games and foolish
nesses. There's no one else who would
do anything so silly" She laughed a
triumphant. mocking laugh. You and
your Siaysie Lindsey and gold lockets
you're a pretty trio, aren't you? Ard
you thought you were going to have
such a fine joke on me. Oh, you're Sc
clever, you two: you're SO deep and
subtle. How long have you ceased
wearing velvet suits and red sashes?'
That's all right" said Van Bibber,
sulkily. but I want you to know I've
had trouble enough about this thing
and It's all T~ravcrs'-"
There is some other game. perhaps
she said. nodding her head at him, "tha;
you play better than this"
"Oh. I'm going" said Van Bibber. He
stopped at the door and shook his high
hat at her impressively. IF you have
any egard for your young frienc
Travers.' he said. you'd better send
him word to keep out OF my way for a
week or two."
wait II have some tea" she called
after him. but Van Bibber pulled oper
the front door, and as he did so heard
an echo of mocking. laughter and some.
thing that sounded Like give my love
to Naysie Iindsev.s
There was still one other girl to see
and Van Bibber Kicked v;ciotsiy at thc
snow at the thought OF it as he strcd
hurriediy towards her house He
wished that he might find her out: bu'
she was in, the man said, and she her.
self said that she was G 'ad to see HIM
Miss Norries was a peculiarly beauti.
full girl. who almost succeeded in Living
in a way that was worthy OF her face
IL she did not dc so. it was not through
lack OF effort on her WI part. And ye
TO others there seen q to be no effort,
people said of her hat she had bee,
born fine and good. and could not b;
otherwise had she tried. ut Is only ".
poor souls who know what Temptation
is" they said. that deserve cred I fol
overcoming It. Grace Norries -alway.
does the right thing because she doesn'
know there is any other thing TO do"
But Miss Norries had her wi diff
culties. She had ono said to Van Bib
Der. '-The trouble is hat there are sc
many standards. even among ones bes
friends. among the people that you re
spect most. that IT makes it hard I,
keep to ones own
To which Van Bibber had replied
fippantly: You ave no right to com
l plain. All you have TO do when yot
get up in the morning is to look in tn.
glass and say. Today I must live up I;