The Washington times., 1923-08-18
A Delightful Narrative of Domestic
Life by Popular Magazine
! Writer.
By Charles G. Norris.

his sister. He was at q
loss to account for her
antipathy toward the girl he had
grown to love so dearly, who SEEM
ed to him the possessor of every
virtue in the world, woman the
very thought Of whom, as his wife.
should have delighted Lucy. Mary
was cultured. refined, broad in
sympathies, and had wonderful
mind. She had had unusual ex-
periences, she had travelled, she
was a woman of the world. Lucy
should have been proud to know
her, should have tried to cultivate
an intimacy with her for her own
sake, If not for Philips.
Lucy was at first inclined to
treat his enthusiasm for Miss Row
land with light airiness. She poked
aslittle fun at both himself and the
lady, and even went so far as to
dare an imitation. She affected an
outrageous representation of Mary's
superb carriage, struck an exag-
gerated attitude, and huskily de-
manded OF her brother which
aroong the pre-Raphaelite poets
was his ravorite. Wilbur shouted
his amusement, but Philip. was
offended. His sister had learnt
from childhood to respect the dark
red flush that sometimes flooded
his face, and she changed he:
method. She substituted milder
form of raillery, calling him
"Romeo" and "Lochinvar," and in
quired wnen they met, II the
course OF true love was running its
proverpial turbulent course. From
the letters Philip received from
Vacayille, he saw that his sister
had deliberately given his mother
d false impression Of Mary. He
had confided In no one his rever-
ence. his admiration, his love, not
even to his mother. But the drift
of his affections had been no secret
from his sister, and Lucy prompt
ly wrote home In detail. Mrs.
Baldwin's letters were couched in
cautious terms: Lucy had men,
toned the new interest that had
come into his life, she hoped
her son would consider well before
taking q step fraught with. grave
consequences. he had one un-
fortunate experience, she hoped he
would think long and carefully be.
fore he again became entangled
with somebody unsuited to him
and thus lay himself open to fresh
sorrow. She admonished him he
had no right to re-marry, and In
conclusion reminded him that he
was bis fathers son, implying
that where women were concerned
his judgment was not to be trusted
The Tale Bearer.
That Mary Rowland should be
looked at askance by his mother
and sister irritated Philip vastly.
Lucy was the tale-bearer, the per-
son who had poisoned his mothers
mind against the most wonderful
woman in the world His mother
and sister assumed that Mary was
only too eager to marry him.
Mary! whose finger-tip he was not
lit to kiss! He was country
pumpkin, and his mother and
Lucy were the mother and
sister of country pumpkin. Who
were they to sit in judgment of
Mary Rowland? Who were they
to speak of entangling alliances?
Resentment against his sister
burned hot. He found excellent
reasons for not dining with her
and Wilbur on Sunday nights.
The Book Shop.
The completion of the Lansings'
house and their early departure
AiOib the
mined evasion less apparent than
1t might otherwise have been.
He went to see them in their new
home, admired its hardwood floors
and the gray eucalyptus finish OF
doors and windows, the con.
venienuy arranged rooms, and the
two high marble mantels that
Wilbur had bought so cheaply at
an auction. and came away, sadly
realizing that his disenchantment
with Lucy had reached a point at
which his enthusiasm had been
forced, and she was aware of it.
When Mrs. Wilbur Lansing sent
out cards for her first AT Home"
and prepared to launch herself
and her husband formally into
the social waters of San Fran
cisco under the guiding auspices
and jealous rivalry of Mrs. Perry
Hoyt and old Mrs. Tom Car
michael. her brother found an ex-
cuse not to go.