The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-27

CHAPTER OF
Rain continued to fall. AS the days
passed, news came from the sur
rounding neighborhood that rivers
were rising, and that, il the down
pour continued, serious damage
would be done to bridges and roads.
But we can't do anything to stop
it, can WEI" Victoria Walsh demand
ed with forced laugh.
She. had called up Kenneth at his
bank and asked why he had not been
to see her He explained that he
had been working hard during the
days, and that the weather had not
been such as to tempt him forth at
night.
He was too courteous to add that
he preferred to sit at home and read
and dream to going calling.
He was conscience smitten as he
appreciated that he had been so much
absorbed in his own thoughts that
he had neglected Victoria and her
affairs. Now, as he heard her voice,
he was sure that something was
wrong.
What are you doing topight?" she
demanded.
What do you want me to do?" he
asked.
(OIle up mere, IL you nave
ing better on hand" she replied.
Surely I will come" he agreed.
II shall be glad to-
He would be honestly glad to be
of service to her, he reflected. His
own hopeless love affair ought to
make him more sympathetic with her
in her sentimental tangle. But Trav-
ers was not the kind of man to pin
faith to-and Victoria. was growing
reckless and hard. Her father was
making a great mistake in, his treat
ment of her-yet nobody would dare
say as much to him.
Lang pondered this as he took the
trolley uptown. He compared his
own state with that of Sam Travers
He, Kenneth. loved a girl and was in
position to marry her-yet she had
said that she did not love him.
Travers, whose sweetheart loved
him to distraction, was not in a po-
sition to marry-if what Lang had
heard of his finances were true.
Moreover, James Walsh forbade the
match.
A Hopeless Affair.
This love affair was more hope
less than his own Kenneth unused.
For, since the receipt of Ruths let
ter his own prospects had not seemed
so black as they had before. There
was no step that he could take now.
But, later, when he was actually on
the ground--in Southold in charge
of the bank there--he might be able
to win the girl-if she was not actu-
ally in love with Hamilton.
But-by that time she might be
married to Hamiltonl
1t was the same old problem over
which Lang had gone again ana
again these. past few days, and ne
shook his head impatientiy.
AS he trudged through the, rain t.
the door of the Walsh home, Victoria
appeared on the threshold. The light
behind her threw herafine figure into
bold relief. ..
nCome in, Kent" she said, cordial
ly. Gee, l am glad to see you!"
whats up" he asked when he
had Invested himself of his raincoat
and rubbers and had followed her
into the small sitting room back of
the huge drawing room.
"Everything's up!" she replied.
laughing nervously. There's no use
mincing words at this stage"
what do you mean by this
stage"
Listen and l will tell you. Moth
ers coming home tomorrow night"
well, what If she is"
O O o
In a Quandary.
.Why silly. it means that she'll
watch me as a cat watches mouse,
and that if l dare to try to see Sam
she'll pounce upon me and hand me
o. er to dad"
'.Oh, no, it's not, as bad as that"
.nneth soothed. "Only last week
yOu told me your father was becom-
ing more lenient." $50
Yes, and I believed he was be-
cause he seemed more human. and
gave me paltry check for. 500. But,
you see, he came in the other night
and caught Sam here
We'll"
well might as well tell you all
about it. 1t was Polly's night out.
had forgotten that. And when l
told the fool girl that was expect