The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-01-05

,
 She will visit in Birmingham again -on Studio.
 no doubt as to the genuine gratitude back of the expression of it. You are very kind~
 Not a bitn Dr. Grant insisted. You don't-know how good it is for q busy man like me to have a chance to chat in the evening with another man. Not that 1 am not perfectly happy here with my girl. But every man likes to exchange views with a member of his own sex. I am so busy that I get little leisure for that during working hours. And I usually stay at home except when l am at work. So I've dropped out of social life. Yol've given me many pleasant hour since you came. I'll miss you when you go."
 A footstep on the threshold made both men turn. Ruth was just com ing from the house out upon the yeranda.
 Kenneth struggled to his feet. AS he did so. she uttered protest.
 Don't You must not get up so suddens You will hurt your arm or shoulder. Sit still"
 Lang laughed aloud like boy. "No-I don't have to sit still any longer" pr. Grant has given me per mission to come into supper with the rest of you tonight.'
 That will be rice"' she said. Then suddenly, she looked away.
 Much Better
 You are ever so much better-al- most well, then-aren't you?' she asked. q heard Father say some thing just now about your going away-didn't l, father?" turning to her parent
 perhaps you' did" Samuel Grant replied T was telling Mir Lang that I've enjoyed our talks and smokes together, and that I'll miss him when he goes.''
 q see.p The soft voice showed no emotion.k "He is gting soon-you mean?'
 T mean nothing of the kind" her father rejoined. Hes got to stay here ten days or two weeks yet l don't intend to, have my nice job messed up by his going away before it's perfectly safe"
 "Supper is ready" Ruth announced irrelevantly.
 But something in her tone told one nearer at least that her fathers answer had made her glad. CHAPTER XXIV.
 Kenneth Lang felt strangely ex- cited as he took his seat for the first time at Dr. Grants supper table. He had been in this house for weeks, yet he had not seen the family dining room. He glanced about him now with interest. Somehow the place where family eats seems characteristic of the owners.
 How quiet and pleasant all was, he reflected. He supposed that all the appointments were old-fashioned, but he liked them. He liked the blue and-white tea cloth covering the table and the blue e-and- white china set upon 1t. The platter of cold meat with the pile of three plates were in front of the host. In front of Ruth were ranged the iced-tea | pitcher and glasses. On either side of the table were dishes containing potato salad and hot biscuits. Mar tha was standing straight and tall by the table.
 The guest noticed that she took a fourth plate out into the kitchen after her employer and his daughter had placed upon it a portion of the various viands.
 Old fashioned and countryfied, of course, but the young man liked it all. He also liked hearing Dr.. Grant ask rather portentous grace. He felt especially grateful for what had been provided for him. In his own home grace was never said. He could not imagine his mother lowing her head to give thanks be- fore eating.
 Unimaginable Indeed, he could not imagine his mother here, anyway. The very idea was incongruous.
 Her presence would be discord- ant note in what seemed to him, in his present happy stage, a perfect harmony. Mrs. Kenneth Lang would be as much out of place here as | Victoria Walsh would be. He could | not put.it more strongly than that. "Is your tea all right?" Ruth asked | him. "And-would you rather have l had hot tea than cold?" q certainly would not rather have I hot tea" he insisted. And every | thing is delicious. I do not think,"- I with his boyish laugh-"that things | ever tasted better than they do this | evening"
 That's a sure sign that you're | gettin' we'll" Martha remarked, re- l turning to the dining room at this mo cment. And I guess, too, that per l l.sps my cookin' has got something 1 to do with it. I don't believe in 1 self-praise, but Dr.. and Ruthie all l ways seem to like what I make"
 Ruth smiled affectionately at the l speaker. and Dr. Grant nodded em- phatically.
 "Yes, Martha" he affirmed, you're
 a pnnd cook Rut don't get too set