The Washington times., 1921-03-21
By Kathleen Norris.
Author Of ''Mother," "The Heart Of
Rachel" "Sisters" and Other
Famous Stories. -hr -.

Author Of .@Mother,- '',rhe Heart Of
Rachel. "Sisters" and Other
Famous Stories. ar
FINALLY. there was the artist
himself, the lazy. charming,
- strangely cultured and yet
strangely barbariC person who mad
drawn these others together. he
was almost forty now, but there
mop above his handsome and most
interesting face, and the smile ne
lave Patricia. as he brought MS
cup of tea and set beside her was
a boys happy smile.
He was a painter, a musician,
critic of literature, COOK, OF
gypsy at will, and equally happy in
any role. His astonishing indepen-
dence delighted even while II
rather alarmed Patricia. Like all
their world. she admired him, but
she set him in a place apart.
He was the son of Spanish
father and an American mother;
upon the death of the former, years
before, had been left to make ms
diving as he might, through the
goodness OF an uncle, In Deer
bridge, while his mother ana IN
fent sister departed for the Eas''
Patricia's friendship for him
dated from her tenth year, when
the young man had chanced to
board at the hotel that sheltered
1.-The old colonel and his exquisite
little motherless girl. The Chesc-
broughs had liked him and had pc
friended him in these earlier days
as he never forgot.
Patricia had stepped at once into
LII nI nlf
his confidante and his adviser. and
until the arrival of his sister, two
or three months ago now. she had
been hostess at, these Thursday
teas that all her world so much
enjoyed.
MONEY LAST SUBJECT.
This was the atmosphere she
loved: the dimly lighted studio. the
end Of an autumn day, the lazy
woodfre dying in the big fireplace,
the background of odd bits OF pot
terry, richly colored draperies'
bare understand, and the north
window that showed an oblong OF
apricot sky. Everything but the
pleasure Of being here seemed to
slip from her tired soul and body,
and she sank back, content to be
silent, content to listen and TO
dream.
Sidney was poor. of course. But
in what an enviable and simple
fashion he made poverty romantic.
Dinner tables everywhere listened
and laughed when Sidney explained
his maneuvering with landlord,
tailor and florist. He earned little
sums and money was the last SUD-
ject to interest him.
To Patricia poverty was always
hateful, sordid, and unmanagesble.
She could not owe money; the fact
of doing so seemed to paralyze her
moral senses. She had not the
genius that makes excusable hap
hazard meals, home- made gowns,
mismatched bowls, and plates. She
paid $40 week for the privilege OF
living in a clean and odorous and
commonplace boarding house, she
wore Aunt Annie's old hats and the
discarded garments of her younger
cousins. These had an undeniable
air on Patricia, but she hated every
thread Of them none the less.
Seven years ago she had been
orphaned at twenty, the beauty and
the beggar OF the allied families.
They had all been kind to her, in
their various ways. She had spent
two years as Aunty Louise Pages
unpaid companion, a year travelling
with Aunt Mary Chambers, while
little Bettys eyes were being. treated
by specialists in Germany. several
months with the Pomeroys during
quiet winter of mourning, vaca-
tions here. there, and everywhere.
RATHER BEG FROM STRANGERS.
She was welcomed at all their
homes, and really needed and want
ed at none And rs the years went
by, she knew that she Interested
them less; she knew that uncles
is Pat. now?" and that answering