The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-08-24

jim broke down Into bitter sob
bing.
CHAPTER VIII
Talien,yre called nj Mr.. sturges-'
office on the Monday after kathy's
wedding.
Jiii heard his voice outside the door
before he opened II. but abe did not
glance up from her work. tho her
heart beats auickened a little. and
she was conscious OF the warm color
that flew to her face
Tallentyre was not alone: sho Jill
never raised her eyes. she knew as
plainly as II she had looked that
there was woman---a young woman
with him.
They passed on Into Mr. sturgess
private room, and the door was shut.
Jili stopped writing; she had made at
least dozen mistakes during the
few seconds II had taken Talientyre
10 cross the office; she screwed the
sheet Of paper impatlently in her
hand.
There was . family lingering
smell OF expensive scent In the OF
/, ficc--two Of the clerks on the other
side OF tho room were talking 10.
gether In an undcrtone. and chuck.
Ing.
JIM looked across at them--she
was longing 10 ask who the woman
with Taileniyrc wrs. but shc was
afraid TO.
II seemed an eternity to jill be
FORE tina, inner door rcopened and
Tallcntyrc came out again: she
heard him speaking: heard him ask
In his lazy voice
I'm sorry--shaii pick you DIP
anywhere later" and the sharp 30.
prano that answered him
oh. don't bother: / may be ever
so long"
They went out together. and pres
entity Tailentyre came back alone.
jan knew that he looked at her an he
passed. but she would not meet his
eyes; she wondered why II was that
she felt 80 angry.
one OF the clerks came across 90
her; he laid some letters on her desk
TO be typed: she piucked up her cour.
age and asked him who the lady was
who had Just gone out: she saw his
smile widen little as be answered.
That's Mrs. Machen -
Mrs Machen.' jill echoed the
name with a little catch In her brcat IN
--Hiiiyard's sissDi Ka,hy's new
sister-in Law. She wished now that
she had looked at her. wished that
she had seen what sort OF a woman
u was with whom she would present.
ly have TO make friends. for. OF
course. when Kathy came back from
Paris. she would wish her brother
and sister to be introduced to her
new relatives. 20
Really she said inferessediy.
Was Il really Mrs. Machenr-
The young man looked amused.
what do you know about herr
he asked Why are you so inter.
ested7-
JIM laughed.
MY sister married her brother
last Saturday. she said with
touch Of pride. He stared
"Your-sisfery" he did not believe
her. she could see.
There was n little pause. Wei.
I'm blessed" he said. He went back
10 his desk. and told the other clerks.
and they all looked across at jill In
terestedly.
She smiled 70 herself AZ she went
on with her work: soon Mr.. ssurgess'
office would know her no more; soon
there would no longer be any need
for her to hammer a typewriter TIL
her head ached. no need TO pinch and
screw and scrape.
Good morning. said Tailensyre's
voice at her elbow.
jim had been 30 enRrossed with
her thoughts that she had not heard
his step. she raised startled eyes.
Good morning" she said
She knew that the clerks were lie.
tening with all their ears: she hoped
Tallentyre would not say anything
she would mind th-m hearing.
What he said was
II expected to meet you at your
listers wedding on Saturday
Jill flushed crimson; she FELT horn
bly, mortified: she raised her head
with little touch OF dignity.
Il couldn't go-my--my brother
was too III TO be left" She hoped
that he would not guess ghe was
telling him a lie: she wondered why
re thought she had kept away. I'VE
can never leave him when Re Is H."
she added desperately.
II Sec" his grave eyes searched
Ter face: he stood hesitatfug for a
moment besidc her, then he turned
and walked away.
Jill heard him 20 achingiy: n
seemed impossible now that she could
ever hope to live In the same sphere
OF life as this man: at that moment
IL came home TO her with drcary con.
fction that no matter how hard she
tried or how eagerly she longed to
get out Of this monotonous rut, she
would never be able to do 70. 1t was
the desire Of the moth for the star;
u would be far more sensible 10
give up her ambition--to force her.
self to contentment.
But when she went out TO lunch.
she found TaIlentyre waiting outside
for her.
II thought you were never com.
ing" he said. where shall we go7"
lie had fallen into step beside her
as a matter OF course.
II generally have a bun and a
glass OF milk" said Jill. She tried