The Washington times., 1921-03-25
By Kathleen Norris.

By Kathleen Norris.
Author OF sMstAer,, sTHe Heart OF
Rachel "slsters~ ana Other
Famous Stories.
THEY looked serene content and
approval upon each other.
there was an exquisite nt-
tinsness in their relationship. Of
which both were conscious. rhs
tall, handsome, keen-eyod artist in
his garments Just suggestive of the
Picturesque. and the beautifully
groomed and dressed woman. with
her mysteriously lovely face, had
been made in one mold.
Their converse ton was like some
thing rehearsed. they thought alike
on almost every subject and SC.
riously of none. Books, theories,
music. and the peccadillos of their
friends. formed their meeting place
Patricia would say a clever thing Of
. painting. even II she quite dis
believed 1t, just for the Joy Sidney's
pleasure in the episram gave her
With laughter. with mutual ad-
miration. with gay hospitality be-
side the studio fire. and In the more
serious mood bentting formal din
ners. when Sidney, in his IRE
proachable evening clothes, was
target for all eyes. and Patricia's
beautiful arms and neck vera bare.
they met almost every day.
And once or twice q year they
spent q whole day together In the
woods, more in memory of the old
boy and girl times years ago than
because these gipsy expeditions
had anything to do with their pres
ent relationship. They had begun
this when Patricia was perhaps
seventeen. and when her father
added dignity. II not charm. to the
expeditions.
And in the first months Of lone
Illness after his death she had loved
these quiet Sundays. more than any
thing else in her life. After Sid
ney's return from Paris they had
fitfully revived them; today's free
dom was the nrst since Helena ar
rived.
"Did you have TO tell Helena"
Patricia smiled.
'sNo, she went OF with her
Rosses last night
"And that" the girl added with
her slow smile. els the beginning
of the end!'
'-The beginning Of the begin
ming" ne amended And - she
glanced at him, and saw the mar
rowed gaze fixed steadily upon her.
happy color flooded her face. His
big arms were rolded, his fne
mouth unsmiling: and for perhaps
fve minutes. while she finished
her breakfast. he watched her in
silence.
RADIANT GIRL.
Then they went out into the sun
ny streets, Just warming to q mel
low autumn day. Sidney. taking
possession Of her bag. caught her
small hand in hiA childishly. a.
they walked. Both were In rough
and shabby and comfortable tweed.
the man looking even more than
his unusual height In his belted
coat, loose knickerbockers. and
heavy, high-laoed boots. Patricia
was radiant under 4 white hat; her
short skirt showed her own trim.
high walking-shoes.
On the car. the ferry-boat and
the car again, they chartered with
A freedom that had somehow been
absent from their relationship of
late. Helena's coming. and the re-
sponsibility she brought him, and
Patricia's absorption in her new
position, had kept them apart. But
this was their old playground, they
had spent many dreaming sum
mer Sunday here, and every step
of the way seemed to carry Pa
tricia back to the old mood Of hap
piness and hope.
They were only . dozen miles
from Deerbridge now, yet this was
open country. The farmhouse
where they stopped for cream and
the essential coffee pot stood alone
on the edge of a wood, and they
had climbed only half mile be-
yond IT when there was no human
sound except their own voices to
break the heavenly autumn calm.
Yellow and scarlet leaves drifted
slowly down through the warm
and fragrant air. the ground be-
meath their feet was strewn with
glory. In the woods there was an
aromatic, q balsamic tonic In the
little currents Of breeze that
drifted to and fro. the sky was
high and blue, and crossed by the
sails of tiny clouds.
They. heard woodpecker. and
triumphant notes from the barn
yard. far below. The sounds came
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