Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-26
The ITINERANT LOVER
What May Happen to Any Man
Who, Like the Sailor, Has a
Sweetheart in Every Port

noyance and uneasiness to the Dowager Lady
Faraday! 1t was the business instinct in her that
prompted her annoyance at time and oppor-
tunites lost in useless dalliance When her
eldest son reassured her on his brothers score
she only shook her becapped. evangelical head
and prophesied that some day Charles would
md himself seriously involved. After the young
man. however. had been involved in a whole
series OF more than usually undesirable es-
capades she began to lose patience and spoke
seriously to him about his shortcomings.
Il consider 1t lamentable." she told him,
that young man of your age seriously de-
vote himself to an endless series of fiirtations.
often entirely out Of your own class Of life Some
day. Charles, you will burn your fingers, and
righteously-"you will have to bear the brunt
of the burning. Only yesterday was ashamed"
she wiped her eyes-"when my very old friend.
Cecilia Caversham. came to me about her own
girl. That you should triAe with the affections
of Cecilia's child"
She looked panied.
= II consider myself the victim of tempera-
, oment." he murmured deprecatingly.
"Victim!'" Lady Faraday snapped. "vic-
tim indeed! Victim of a fddestick! 1t was Ce-
elias own girl who 'victimized.' Every one
Is talking about It. And 1t would have been
very satisfactory arrangement for you, now that
! come to speak Of 1t. But, instead, the poor
dear child" she applied the Handkerchief
again.
Charles lifted his fine eyebrows in his usual
charming distress.
II had really no idea" he began.
"Nonsense!" said Lady Faraday. with
your experience you ought to know how sus-
ceptible girls of that age are. And then it's
not only nice girls like Cecilia's but-but-I
really am ashamed. When 1 only remember
the dreadful husband Of that terrible little mu-
sic hall person who came the other day to
swear, at you"
Charles was adjusting tie critically at
the pier glass. Its slate color almost exactly
matched his fine eyes, His mothers anger rose.
ut must end!" his mother declared firmly.
Il insist upon It, Charles. 1t is absurd that
young man of your ability should have the al
lowance you have settled upon him and pass
his life in utter idleness. I shall speak to
Derek about it,
"Derek will not interfere" said Charles
complacently. He knew his brother.
What are your plans for next week?"
asked Lady Faraday. changing her tactics
I'm going to st. Medbury." he answered.
ito stay with Mrs Simmonds- Smith"
with whom?" said his mother almost in a
shrek. II never even heard the name before!
Some impossible person. suppose. whom you
have picked up somewhere"
''She picked me up" he explained.
Don't split hairs" said Lady Faraday I'M
patiently. rs she young? Is she pretty?"
Neither one the other" he answered
truthfully.
y. don't believe you!" said Lady Faraday
sAiGT(. II suppose she is dreadful. made
up. @odia~be young person" in meretricious
age, Lady Faraday proclaimed her own so years
by uncompromising caps and gray hair-"and
you will get into some fresh entanglements
And why for goodness sake, st. Medbury?"
at has cathedral" he remarked
"Dont talk nonsense to me about cathe-
drals." said Lady Faraday angrily II shall
write to your Uncle Rupert. think, and ask
him to get you into the diplomatic service. Or
or-fnd seat for you to contest. or-or-"
but I should go In for neither. mother"
said Charles escaping.
Mrs. Simmonds- Smith was a very merry
widow. indeed, Of almost middle age. vergtng
on portlness, and with only pardonable
soupcon Of the makeup and would young
element with which Lady Faraday had ac-
credited her. Before she settled in St Med
bury she had possessed somewhat of an timer
ant temperament, and when she discerned its
like in Charles Faraday she took to the scape-
grace once.
She had met him in Switzerland one sum-
mer--before the of portlfness and makeup.
which had only just dawned-and he had
formed very agreeable part Of her holiday.
They travelled. walked, talked. and climbed to-
gether, and. both being experts at the same
game and pleasuraby recognizing the fact they
played together. quite assiduously and charm
ingly. Neither kindled fire. only tho pleasant
ly temporary sembance of one, so neither was
really burned.
"You must come down and stay with me in
St. Medbury," she said to him.
He was we'll born boy, and looked It, and
he was also quite amazingly handsome. She
would not mind dangling him before her pro-
vincial neighbors
There Is a cathedral she added, "and
quite lot Of pretty girls"
It was a year or two before he remembered
the invitation again and the giver Of It; then
having an empty week two before him. and
soHis mothers temper being unusually touchy. he
wrote an insinuatingly reproachful reminder
to Mrs Simmonds- s-Smith and betook himself to
st. Medbury.
my little niece" said Mrs Simmonds- Smith
playfully. as she gave him tea in her rather
overbedecked drawing room, "is staying with
me. Now'-she shook at him an arch fore
fnger-"she Is little girl-a dear little girl
just from school. and you must behave very.
very nicely. My dear Mr.. Faraday. remember
you, assure you"
He thought he also remembered her. before
this portliness that really distressed him. when
the admonitory forefnger had been taper
thing of beauty. but he only smiled with charm
ing depreciation.
never have the bona fde thing nowadays, do
we?"
"But that is just" said Mrs Simmonds-
Smith, what you must not do. know your
alteration" Che made mental note that fat
women should not be arcb), land you are not
to adore my little Berta. She really IL ingenue.
you know-an interesting mixture Of ingenu-
business and unusual maturity for her age.
Schoolgirl innoncence." said Mrs Simmonds-
Smith with the air Of an analyst "and southern
impetuosity. My poor brother married ST.
Gillian"
She said it compassionately as If with a
hgurative headshake at the idea of the impetu-
osity OF Sicilian women in general. Faraday
thought there might be possibilities in Mrs.
Simmonds- s-smith niece. The susceptible organ
that he fondy called his heart was at that mo-
ment unoccuped.