The Washington times., 1921-04-07
BY Kathleen Norris.
Author Of 'MOther,1 ''The Heart Of
Rachel" .Sisters" and Other
r. Famous Stories.

AUtnOh VI "uOtnSIs VI
Rachel" "Sisters" and Other
,r Famous Stories.
THE familiar winter warmth
and closeness and odof OF
Mrs. Rogers' house seemed to
steady Patricia's confused senses.
Here was the old atmosphere, the
coal fires, the fussy furnishings, the
women murmuring over their fancy
work. 1t had been the girls home
for five years; she was tranquillized
by it's very sordiness. She mounted
quickly to her own room, and began
to pack.
There was little to do. She could
often pause and sit thinking
thinking-thinking. her eyes fixed
blindly on space. her breast rising
occasionally on a great signing
breath. Beneath her the warm. do
mestic life of the boarding house
flowed on: outside the window a few
vagrant snowfiakes huttered down
through the bare maple boughs-
Helena-Sidney's wife! And Sid
ncy loving Beatrice! The old order
of things was changed forever now.
That he had held this relationship,
however, indifferently. toward Hc-
lena, and that he could love Beatrice
so madly, already had hurt him in
Patricia's estimation, though she
did not realize 1t yet But she felt
Shocked and sore and weary; she
was conscious of a deep spiritual
exhaustion; she longed for the SIM
\ plicities of life, for truth. and peace,
and care-free laughter again.
What were they all to do next?
Helena would be gone out of their
lives forever, in a few hours. But
Sidney. Would he really seek his
freedom, and wait for his tawny-
haired, passionate, young goddess
and her millions? And Beatrice.
Patricia suddenly decided that the
love-sick Beatrice would join her
brother on his trip around the world
MERELY SPECULATION.
And perhaps they would meet
Sidney in New York next year
'if Dan ever forgives him. she
interrupted herself with a doubtful
shake Of the head. And Patricia's
self. She knew that she would be
asked to keep the lonely mother
company. So that in April. when
she had thought to be married to
Sidney in New York, she would ind
herself at the once-abhorred castle,
reading aloud the letters of Dan and
Beatrice Palmer.
I "As early as we can, we'll go to
the farm!- Patricia conclued. for
herself and her old employer. For
she loved this spot under any cir
eumstances, loved its clean grass
and spreading oaks and mild-eyed
. cattle, and just now 1t seemed a
real haven to her troubled spirit
Long, lazy days of reading and
Stramping and dreaming, long nights
of sleep, and an utter and sublime
Indifference to the code of Pomeroys
and Pages, that was what she
needed! "And mean,- her thoughts
ran on, 'Dan will have time to get
over his first rage at Sid, and may
consent to let them marry! And II
not, Sid will go to New York some
day, and be the greatest of the por-
trait painters, and women will flock
to his teas, and wonder what the
tragedy was in the great Hutchin-
sons life.' She shut the lid Of her
mantled room. "But it Is a funny
world" she summarized.
There was a knock at the door.
Mrs. Throckmorton at thsr,tele-
phone. please. to speak to Miss
Chesebrough.
The girl wegt downstairs to tho
Pat" said her aunt's voice
anxiously, you've not forgotten
that we all leave for Mountain
head at 1:30, have you? It's after
IL now. 1 called to make sure that
you and the Palmers are to be on
that train"
ITS frightfully stormy, Aunt
Anniew
my dear, all the more fun"
"Well, Mr.. Palmer and I are COM
ing. But Beatrice had a bad head
ache at breakfast and she may"
"But you two are!" interrupted
Mrs. Throckmorton-
~Oh, positively, Aunt Annter
~The things all went last night"
said her aunt in a relieved tone.
BLANKETS and food and everything.
There'll be six of you youngsters
besides myself and Mrs. Talbot.
Cecil wired the station master to
meet us and get fires started! My
dear. you'd laugh at Roberta -
she's taken quite a fancy to your
Mr. P-you know who I meani And
that reminds mo of the real rea-
son that tekophoned When
Tfciy Ralston went to the station
to reserve our c4laarA an hour ago,
he saw Miss Palmer with Sidney
They didn't see him"
AT the statfonr' Pafx4cfA asked.
AT the station What do yoQ
suppose they were there for7"
"They may have been buying our
tickets" Patricia suggested. "or
they both may have decided to come
to your house party, and have time
TO make reservations. They were
riding together"
mo, they didn't get tickets for
Mountainhead," Mrs. Throckmor-
4