The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-17

She paused for q moment on the
narrow landing 60 light a lamp
hanging from n bent nail In the
wall; someone called TO her from the
front ROOM
lis that you. Jin,-
res. DEAR are YOU very
hungry do you want your teaf'
She pushed open the door and en-.
tered. shutting ~ again behind her.
The room was small aud twlnt:
the red glow OF dying fire pierced
the grayness like a watchfui eye;
jim went across 20 Il aud stirred
the Goals into a blaze.
Isn't kathy homo YETI
mo. The rather sulien
voice sounded weary and displrited:
Jnl tossed her hat down onto a
chair and went across TO the couch
IN the window.
A youth lay there. propped up
with many pillows: a handsome
youth he was. with masses OF thick
brown hair. and features almost
woman in their beauty. but the
figure beneath the covering rug was
shrunken and deformed--the hands.
stretched 40 heipicssiy on II. were
white and dclicately transparent
jim bent and kissed him.
Il did not mean 10 stay out 40
iate--but Il was such lovely AFTER.
noos. You'll be able 10
come with me next Sunday. Don
We shall have the chair by then"
~shali wer- lie did not seem In
terestcd. he yawncd. Cant We have
tea7-
She moved away At once: she put
the kettle on the fire. she IL .
small lamp and brought Il to the
center OF the tabl<: she wheeled the
boys couch into TN freight The
couch was the best piece OF furni.
;ure In tho room. II had taken jill
six months to pay for it--six months
during which she went daily with.
out her lunch. and walked the three
miles 10 the office
she laid the cloth. ana began 10
cut some Nread and butter; she
talked away checrfuliy all the time
There was such a funny Saliva.
tionls, st the corner OF Linda road.
l stopped to listen to him He KEEP,
on inviting US all to come and ave
a dip In Jordan He seemed very
much In earnest about Il. too" abe
added.
Don did not answer: his eyes were
fixed dreamily on the fire. where's
Kathyr' he asked suddenly.
A..
Il don't know-bus ! think she
was going 20 meet Mr. Hiliyard."
she said at last.
shes 4 fool them said Don
bluntly.
jill shrugged her shoulders.
"oh, don't know: she has such
little fun In her llfe--you can't
blame her for taking anything that
comes along"
Hes no good. why won't
he ever come here II he really
means anything, A man she
picked up In the street -
jul interrupted eagerly.
oh. Don, not so bad m that
Her face was flushed and distressed.
she met him on . bus-ii
was pouring rain, and he offered 10
share his umbrella with hcr--you
know that's how II was-'
Don grunted. his voice was . Gu
rious contrast TO the refinement Of
his face: he spoke gruffiy--almost
commonly.
Anyway he's no gooA or he'd
tell US AL about himself and his
people" he maintained obstinaiciy.
'Kathy always was fool
JiIi bit her LIP.
"A, any rate" she said after .
moment: Il should do just the
same as she's done II I had the
chance. I envy heri envy her
most awfuliy for having someone
to make a fuss over her--to TO
look eat her as II she's the most
wonderful woman In the world /.
and he does. you know he does
Don. no matter what you may say
He--he simply adores her. 10
there
She went over 10 the window ard
looked down the street; II was grad.
uaiiy getting dark now. lights were
twinkllng In some Of the houses op.
posItc: In the distance she could
hear the discorda music OF the
Salvation Army band
She thought again Of the tall man
with the eycEiass whom she had
seen standing on the ~dga OF the
crowd; she wondered II there were
any woman In the world whom he
adorcd as Ralph Hiilyard adored
kaihy. II there was any woman
whose heart beat faster when sh.
saw bin coming up the street with
his slow lazy walk.
She stiflcd a little agh.
The kettles boiling over said
Dom
She flew hack 70 the fire; she
made the tea and poured II out: she
was just sitting down TO the table
when the downstairs door opened
and shut again
''Kathy" she said quickly.
She pushed back her chair and
wont out onto the landing: she
leaned over the shsky baiusfers.
looking into the narrow passage be.
low.
A girl was coming up the stairs;
girl whose hair CLEANED golden
In the yellow light OF the cheap
hanging lamp on the bent nail:
girl with the same exquisite fea.
lures rs the Invalid boy in the
front room: n girl whose eyes shone
with q quiet happiness which made
jim catch her breath with a sort
Of longing envy. as she went eager.
iy towards her.
"TJow late yott arA Kathv.