The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-02-17
( 1,}2 pOMANCE @SA&21AN or THE9
 ';,I, GREATER
 LOVE
CHAPTER 7e

Did I wal1en you?" he asked. T tried to make no noise."
 No, indeed" the mother replied. T read until half hour ago, then tried to get to sleep. But I could not. Come in, dear, and sit here by me for few minutes"
 The son did her bidding, taking a chair by the bed.
 Ken, dear" Mrs. Lang began. T have been thinking all the evening of how good you are to me-in offering to send me away"
 Show your gratitudet by accepting. my offer he urged He tried not to let himself be as glad as he knew he was at the prospect of her de- parture.
 T will walt for a few days and see how you are getting on before make my final decision" the widow continued. ''rell me-what kind of an evening did you have? Was Vic- toria at home?'
 "Yes-and alone at first. So-she and I had a good talk. Unfortunately it was interrupted by her fathers coming in. But for that. I might not have been back home as early as this"
 Wasn't MT. Walsh agreeable7" Beatrice asked.
 He was drunk" was the blunt reply.
 Kenneth You should not say such things" the mother protested.
 Tt is true and l may as well say it." Kenneth affirmed.
 "It was mortifying for his daugh- ter" Mrs. Lang commented.
 Tt would be for most girls" Ken meth rejoined. But Victoria has lot of common sense and little sentl- mentality. So she was not upset by her fathers buster. Once she pro- tested bit and reminded him that she had often heard him talk like that before"
 she is funny girl" Kenneth ad- ded with a reminiscent laugh.
 In the dark Mrs. Lang was smil- ing happily. But her voice showed nothing of her inward satisfaction.
 q suppose he thought Victoria would be In bed" Kenneth remarked. And, now that I am back in Sax vile. she and I will have many op- portunities to see each other"
 Well" rising, q must be going to bed. I am dead tired. He had reach the Van Gloves and tell them that ed him.
 Kenneth. dear I have been think ing about it's getting too cold at Murray Bay later in the season. So if you are really feeling well enough for me to leave you-and if you really meant what you said about wanting to make me a present of the trip up there and back-I think I may write in the morning to the Van Cleeves and tell them that l will accept their kind invitation"
 it was Kenneth's turn to smile to himself in the dark.
 That's a good idea" he approved. T certainly did mean just what I said But--would it not be best to telegraph the Van Gloves in the morning? They asked you quite q while ago, you know. and you have kept them waiting for your answer. You will save time by telegraphing your acceptance.
 AS to my being well enough for you to leave mel am perfectly well again. l shall be so busy for the next few weeks that I could be with you very little if you were here"
 T suppose that is true" Beatrice Lang unused. T was thinking that perhaps it would be just as well for me to stop in New York on my way back and do my fall shopping and see a few friends"
 An excellent idea" Kenneth agreed. You might even decide that you would like to stay right on in New York for several months. You know how Saxville bores you in the winter"
 CHAPTER --
 Kenneth Lang went to his room in better humor than he had been in for the past 24 hours.
 His mother had consented to go away. Therefore, he could behave as he pleased
 Victoria did not seem to be in love with him. He had not believed that she was.
 Victoria had something on her mind. That was evident. And it was evident that she wished to make a confidant of Kenneth Lang. She trusted him, Perhaps that was why she had kissed him so impulsively this evening when he and she had agreed to have long talk together soon. Or-perhaps she had hoped that her father, just entering the room, would see the kiss and fancy that it meant more than it did.
 This last possibility was not a | pleasant one-yet Kenneth was all most certain that Victoria had some reason for wishing her parent to fancy that she and Kenneth were in | love with each other. Kenneth him self would be fool were he not to recognize that the parent would wei come him as son-i law.
 tata arfo which she needed Kenneth's cooper ation. And they were both to keep | James Walsh from suspecting the | truth.
 A Good Friend
 The truth probably concerned Sam Travers.
 Having reached this conclusion, he let his thoughts fly in the direction from which he had been trying to hold them all the evening.
 Ruth, As he whispered her name | he recalled how he had once told | himself that the word refreshing" expressed her effect on him. And he | was never to see her again-or, if he | did, it would be as mere strangeri |
 A man in love feels about wildly | for an excuse to communicate with | the object of his affections And as | Kenneth sought such an excuse now, he had brilliant and cheering idea, |
 It would be the decent thing for him to write Ruth Grant a bread and butter letter,
 But should such letter be writ ten to her or to her father?
 He answered this question prompt ly. He would write to each of them. He would write to thank Dr. Grant for his kindness and ask him to send him his bill at once.
 Another Inspiration To Ruth. he would repeat what ne