The Washington times., 1921-04-02
and a Poor One.

"You look glorious. Pat" said
Sidney Hutchinson, ten minutes
later when she came rosy and
cheerful into the studio. to find him
with Beatrice and the Partridges,
father and son, lettering over the
teacups. you've had tea? l
should hope SO! It's almost six.
What have you been doing?"
'Blackmailing" Patricia answer
ed gayly. "It's lots Of funv'
Miss Throckmorton came in. and
she asked me to luncheon, at her
house, tomorrow" Beatrice said
with a new shyness. of manner that
Patricia thought rather charming.
They're to talk about the kerr
mess"
I'm in that" said Tommy Part
ridge.
miss Palmer is in it, too" Pat
tricia said calmly, with an inform
ing glance for the gratified Bea-
trice. My dear child" she added
do you realize what time 1t is?
The car must have been waiting
an hour. Sidney, what do you
mean by keeping your models SO
long?"
VAGUE DISQUIET.
"Oh, we got talking" Sidney
answered carelessly. His eyes met
the wide-open blue eyes OF the
Sensatone heiress. Something in
their exchanged smile gave Pa
tricia a seconds vague disquiet.
She was rather silent during the
drive home; silence unnoticed
by Beatrice, who was chattering
joyously of the portrait, the ker-
mess and the luncheon tomorrow.
At Beatrice's own door the girl
turned suddenly. and Patricia was
surprised to feel the young hand
on her shoulder. and to see that
the blue, happy eyes were wet.
Patricia" she said in a half
whisper. 1t was the first time she
had used the name, the first time
she had softened. Il wish l
were more like you! Do you-do
you suppose / ever will be? He
thinks you are the most wonder
full woman in the world! He t6ld
me so. j don't want don't hope
he will ever think that Of me!
But-but l believe he does like
mew
Suddenly. half-laughing. and yet
with ghstening lashes, she tight
ened her young, lean arms about
Patricia's neck and buried her face.
Over the tawny head Patricia stared
blankly into space.
On the December Sunday morn
ing that followed the closing OF
kermess week all Deerbridge gath
cred at the Country Club for a late
breakfast. 1t was a clear, cold
morning, the blue sky was high,
and untouched even by whisp Of
cloud.
Sunlight poured over the bare
golf links. and shone dazzingly in
through the gay chintz curtains
that outlined the high windows of
the breakfast room. Despite the
sunshine, an enormous wood fire
was blazing and cracking in the
tiled fireplace
Little tables had been scattered
all about the big room, but tho
girls and men were continually
deserting their chicken Maryland
and waffles to wander free, and to
stop here and there for joyous re-
miniscences and bursts of laughter.
Some of the older girls looked
pale. after last nights rouge and
reveling. but among the debutantcs
there was one who was glowing
with the ecstatic beauty of love
and happiness and nineteen years.
Beatrice Palmer had gotten to
bed at Ave o'clock that morning,
and had risen refreshed and ener~
getic at nine, to wander into Patri-
cia's room, with her Oriental robe
trailing behind her and her tawny
hair in a loosened coil on her shoul-
ders, to sit yawning and dreaming
and smiling while they reviewed
the whole wonderful experience
again and again.
There was confetti strewn on
Beatrice's rugs and the three sep
arate costumes she had worn at
the kermess were only n mass OF
stained and twisted and dirty
satin, embroidery and tins-L But
that was all part Of the fun Life
was all JOY to Beatrice now. The
Palmer heiress had oeen the SUR
prise and the success Of the whole
affair. She had been given a solo
dance, and. in a full skirt of Ar
menian pink, with embroidered
apron and kerchief she had danced
1t superbly.
SIDNEY CHANGED.
Even to Patricia she had seemed
to be newly charming. simple, un-
spoiled, and amusing. Happiness
had worked it's old miracle in the
girl.
On the opening night of the kcr-
mess there had been a dinner
party for twenty persons at the
Castle. and IL had been an amaz-
ing and successful dinner. And
after II they had bundled into cars
and rushed to the theater. where
Beatrice led the march with Harry
Page.
For four excited, wonderful
nights the programme had been
repeated, the laughter. the foot
lights, the music and costumes,
the makeup men with their black
cases. the compliments and ap-
plause and flowers.
But more than all these. as
Beatrice knew, and as Patricia
knew better than Beatrice. was
Sidney. Even the younger girl
was not more conscious Of the
words, the looks, little acts that
were exchanged between them,