The Washington times., 1921-04-12
By Kathleen Norris.
Author OF 'Mother." "The Heart of
Rachel.1 ~Sisters" and Other
Famous Stories.

Famous Stories.
- HE knew how swiftly all doors
would open to Mr.. and Mrs.
Daniel Smith Palmer. how
soon aunts and cousins would for
get everything but the millions, and
turn the machinery of their octra-
cism upon some other unfortunate
aspirant. And fifteen years from
now, perhaps, Christines daughter
and little Patricia Palmer would be
loftily discussing the absurdity Of
the Smith girls or the Brown girls
social audacities.
The half-formed thought of that
visionary daughter sent a thrill
through her being, and made her
heart stop. Dams wife-the mother
Of this strong. eager. passionate
mans children. For, of course, that
was her life. 1t mattered not where
she spent 1t or what pain and change
1t brought her.
The only thing that mattered now
was that she should hear. all day.
every day. that boyish and yet Gu
riously authoritative voice, and 10
free to advise, praise, blame and
share everything that he did.
The mere bracing association
with Dan had already had it's eff
feet upon Patricia. Dan, in his
almost violent interest in life, had
somewhat vitalized her own. He
had taken her, just in this last
month, to places Of whose existence
she had never dreamed before:
once to a wrestling match, once to
q mass meeting Of street car strik-
ers, once to a city hospital where
q girl her own age lay dying by her
own hand.
From a waitress in the little res
taurant into which they had gone
smiling for a meal he had wrested
the story of her life: from police
men on crossings, ushers at the
theater. dull-eyed boys who SLOUGH
ed forth to pump gasoline into the
car. Patricia began confidently to
expect entertainment when she was
with Dan.
Tonight. sitting opposite him be-
side the f1re, as the talk had for a
while dropped to silence. she had
indulged in q little dream: she had
seen another cabin somewhere in
the woods, years from now. and a
tiny girl with bright hair blown
up against her fathers big
shoulder, and a crib nearby, in
which a dark-eyed boy was asleep.
For years Patricia had thought
Of motherhood only with a delicate
distaste; 1t had seemed to have no
part in the intellectual beauty of
her relationship with Sidney.
But now, suddenly, the deeps Of
her being cried out for that holiest
and highest Joy. for sons and
daughters-not one, not two, but
a whole nurseryful of little bob
bing heads and little imperative
oh nj whnaa hVaa
she and Dan might pour some of
the overflowing richneso of their
own.
If he had shared her dream. he
gave her no sign. For he had
sprung to his feet abruptly, and
had said:
We'll, I'll go into the kitchen,
and when you're comfortable. call
me! Don't hurry. for I've got to
bring up enough wood for the
whole night"
IN A CHINESE ROBE.
robe, had opened the kitchen door
fifteen minutes later, and had been
driven by cold currents Of air hack
to her pillows and robes From
this retreat she had w<tched him
gravely as he brought in the wood.
And when the door was shut, and
he had busted himself with his
own cushions and blankets, she
had still secretly watched him
from under deceitfully lowered
lashes. But after a while he sat
down to watch the blaze, and then
the girl had actually fallen into a
peaceful sleep. not to waken for
many hours.
She dressed in the icy kitchen.
rhuddering at the touch of snow
water on her face, her shoulders
hunched and her fingers clasped
With the cramp of the bitter cold.
Shuddering, she went back to the
hearth. where the nre had sunk to
a pink gray ashes. and was feebly
trying to re-kindle it when Dan
suddenly sat up. His big arm, in
its black Japanese wrapper, was
helping her before he was fairly
awake.
"What are you trying to do?
Why didn't you wake me?' he pro-
tested. You're dressed. What time
is it. anywayT'
"Your watch says ninew Pa
tricia said, with chattering teeth,
as the glorious blaze roared up the
ceep chimney and she crouched
TO hold her fingers to the warmth.
ITS pretty dark, for nine
o'clock" Dan muttered, glancing
toward the windows.
"1ts dark, Dan, because we are
literally buried in snowr the girl
answered.
With startled look he went to
the door, which was pushed open
with some difficulty. Patricia went
to stand beside him, and in silence
they looked out upon a world of