Sioux County pioneer., 1922-04-13

came TO ner cheeks and new light
In her eyes. She listened, standing
motionless, until the whir of the cleo
trio bell stirred her into life..
Hurrledly she crossed the room to
her mirror, and patted with shaking
fingers the already smooth waves Of
her pale yellow hair. From the lace
at her throat she tore the blue bow
hastily, substituting q pink one-only
to replace 1t almost at once with the
blue. Her gown at back and waist
and sleeves she touched tentatively
with her still shaking fingers; when
plainly nothing else could be done to
make perfection more perfect, she
turned and waited, her expectant eyes
on the closed door leading from her
chamber to the hall.
Two, three, five minutes passed.
The subdued confusion of an entrance
and the sound of voices had floated
up from the hall below, but all was
silent now. Three more minutes Kate
Denny waited. Surprise, doubt, and a
frightened questioning came In turn
to her eyes; then resolution, as she
softly crossed the room and opened
the door. -.s
A light laugh foated up the STAIR
way, and a deeper note answered.
The girl drew back, half closing the
door.
Then 1t was true. He had come,
and she had not been summoned to go
down. Edith was there, however
that light laugh had been hers.
So 1t was to be the old story over
again. If Edith wanted it, she must
have It, whether 1t were a. jam tart
or the exclusive attention Of an eve
ming caller. 4
Always it had been like that; and
always she, Kate, had taken the sub
ordinate place, together with the
smaller tart.
Resolutely Kate Denny opened the
door wider and took one step into the
hall.
Well, why not? That was John
Kennison down there. He had come
to see her.
Irresolutely the girl still stood de-
batting the matter, when the twang Of
violin string came from the room
below and seemed to end all hesita-
tion. With swift steps and heightened
color, Kate Denny trlpped down the
stairs and entered the brightly lighted
living-room. John Kennison rose at
once, an almost boyish eagerness in
his glance. Edith Denny turned
slowly. Her eyes carried q barely
perceptible annoyance.
Oh, here's Kate" she said. "You're
just in time, Kate, to turn the music"
John Kennison played first violin in
a large city orchestra. He stood now
close to the piano, his instrument in
his hand, and his eyes longingly fixed
on Kate Denny.
"lt's concerto. was going to try
1t bit," he began eagerly. "You
know, brought the piano score last
week. You said you'd"
'Yes, it's right here, Mr.. Kennison,""
Interrupted Edith, brightly. sand
we'd love to play 1t with you. Come,
Kate"
For one brief instant Kate almost
rebelled. John Kennison had asked
her to practice that score, and she
had practiced it for hours at time
until 1t was at her finger tips; yet she
was expected to stanH patiently by
and turn the leaves for Edith.
"But, Edith" hesitated Kate, "don't
you think 1t would be better If -"
Nonsense! of course you can turn
the music, Kate" laughed her sister,
airily. "Don't be so timid! Come"
1t was not success playing of
that concerto. From start to finish it
was an agitated scramble on the part
Of each player to find and keep step
with the other. At the conclusion
Edith laughed hysterically, Kate bit
her lips in open confusion, and John
kennison reached for his handkerchief
to wipe the perspiration from his face
A moment later Edith suggested
that they try popular love song to
which she knew the accompaniment !;
and with fervent eyes, do, If you
please!' the man raised his violin to
position.
For half In hour then Kate sat in
q corner and listened to ragtime, and
to the brilliant sallies Of her sister
Edith, who was entertaining John Ken
nlson. 4 little later, cake was brought
in-cake that Edith said she had
made; and at the words Kate thought
of the kitchen that morning with
Edith, dainty in a fresh frock, stand
ing at the shelf, stirring gingerly at a
concoctfon, not one Ingredient of which
had been put In without minute in
structions from tile elder sister. (.
After the cake had been eaten and
duly praised, there was more music,
then John Kennlson rose to 60 home.
He said good-by, and looked at Kate
lovingly; but before she could answer.
Edith interposed a merry question I;
and It was Edith who went with him
to the door, and who asked him to
come again. tsS ?s ,f
In her own room that night Kate
Denny confronted the thing squarely.
RNhind not if4nfh 1hn Saids 9sSS ia