South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-02-24
THE TEMPTATION MADGE
FIRMLY PUT DOW

THE 1EMIlAilON hAb1E
Firmly PUT DOWN
Mrs Cosgrove looked at me
shrewdly. as T. with a hesitancy
born of my own unwilhngness TO
breach the subject, questioned her
concerning the possibility OF accom-
modating Bess Dean in he- home for
the remaining two weeks of the
girls vacation.
The sweet faced. kindly sister OF
Robert Savarin has grown very near
10 me during the summer days in
which 7 have been q paying guest In
her home. and know that she gem
timely likes me also. IL is a feeling,
which with her as with me, goes
+ back 10 the days when / first saw her
and. by a lucky accident, saved the
artists collection of pictures from
the rapacious hands Of the woman
who pretended 10 be his wife Rob-
ert Savarin's return 20 sanity dated
from this time also. and-illogically
feminine-Mrs. Cosgrove always has
given me a great deal OF credit for
the lifting of the shadow from her
! idoIized brothers mind.
I I flushed a bit beneath her scru-
tiny. and she. with the directness 1
have found in the mountain people,
the freedom which our close associa-
Z ton has engendered. put her hand
upon my shoulder.
1T isn't a question Of what I can
+ do. my dear child" she said. ''but OF
what you wish. I can make room
/ Cor her easily. if Robert doesn't OBJ
/ iect. and he wouldn't. Of course, TO
any guest of yours. But" she hes
} itated-"am I right in thinking that
YOU are only asking this because you
think you must be courteous to her
for some reason, and that in reality
you do not wish her u be here?
For if that is the case I viii tell
her that 1 haven't a solitary place
TO put her Just say the word
satisfactory Arrangements
How tempted 1 was TO Say the
word" I did not realize myself until
afterward. But not to Mrs. Cos
grove, dear and motherly as she was
could I reveal the reason for my
reluctance to have Bess Dean be-
u
mountain family. And the remem-
brance of the mockery in the girls
eyes as she asked me if I perhaps
considered her too disturbing an ele-
ment braced me % answer my
hostess generous appeal with an ap-
lpoarance of sincerity.
TITS awfully good Of you to be so
considerate of me-" 1 said breezily,
but, really. if you possibly can put
her up I shall be very glad. You
see, she and [ taught together for a
year, and l am indebted to her for
a great kindness to a dear friend OF
mine. ! should he exceedingly dis
appointed if you could not find room
for her"
But / can" she said promptly.
7 As a usual thing I don't take peo-
pie in the farm house. but one of my
bungalows will be empty today. so
I'll put the twins out there and give
your friend a room in the house.
She might be afraid if she were
alone in the cabin at night"
1 reflected that 1 yet had to see
the thing Of which Bess Dean would
be afraid, but aloud I only thanked
Mrs Cosgrove heartily for her
I thoughtfulness and went back to the
seat beneath the big tree where
Dicky was bending with exaggerated
attention over Bess Dean.
"Everythings all set" called
cheerily as I came near them. I do
not often indulge in Dicky's slang
phrases. but I wished TO omit moth
ing which would emphasize or en-
bellish my role of delighted hostess.
Mrs. Cosgrove can give you a room
in the farmhouse. so, Diclky, sup
pose YOU run Miss Dean over to the
hotel and get her luggage"
"COme Along. Madge''
Bess Dean rose promptly TO her
feet. her lips smiling. but her eyes
I narrowing a bit, a trick ] remem-
bered when she was not quite
pleased.