The Washington times., 1923-01-14

the French windows. He heard
the church clock strike two. 1t
pleased his sense of the dramatic
to return home, after seven years,
at this uncanny hour between mid
night and cock-crow! Dear little
Penelope, how she would rejoice
at sight of him how she would
laugh and swoon and sob and beg
him never again to leave her! AT
the thought Of what she must have
suffered, thinking him dead, the
wanderer buried his head on his
arms, leaning with full abandon Of
remorse against the French
windows which burst open and
flung him in q sprawling and I'M
dignifed attitude across the TIRES
hold of home at last.
Somewhat disconnected. Leys
picked himself up, and tried to
grOpe his way across the dining
room to the electric light switch,
but his passage was perpetually
blocked and tripped BY objects Of
which he had not the dimmest
recollection. Peevishly he made
up his mind TO complain to-
Penelope IN the morning. tt was
unWifely Of her to have altered
single what-n0t, even If she be-
lieved him dead. He found the
switch at last, and flooded the
room with sudden light.
Wedding presents The room
was full Of them tables, floor,
chairs, sideboard, all piled high.
It was no good pretending even
to himself that they were not we'd
ding presents that special type 81
clock and soup tureen and salt cell
lar, salad bowl and fish slicer,
could not be anything else.
Surely his son Teddy WINS not Of
an age to marry yet? The boy
WAS barely nine when his father
had been reported Missing
seven years ago.
AT that precise moment the
door opened, and Teddy entered.
Hello, pater, he said cheerily,
you've grown d beard.
Hugh Legs WAS deeply moved.
nv son!n he said, and tOttered
towards him. Teddy shut his eyes
and stiffened.
81 thought it might be you, he
continued, a minute, or two later,
when the embrace was over.
wonder old Argus didn't bark. 4
LAS matter Of fact, Argus, hear
ing his masters step, had leapt
up once joyfully, and then col
lapged of heart failure j.
So you are not dead, after oil ~
went on the self-possessed young
gentle. ian in silk paja1nas. Well,
WelI--never mind, we will see what
can be done. Tell us all about ii. 2
He cleared himself a place on
the table among the wedding
presents, and percled himself
there, coo1ly swinging his legs; and
obviously prepared to be bored for
the next hour or two. His father
could not forbear thinking that a
little more emotion might have
been shown. He could not even
excuse Teddy's attitude on the
grounds that sixteen years old was
an awkward age" Young Teddy
was so nnanifestly easy and grace
full. His aplonlb would have done
credit to. the diplomatic service. If
anyone was at an awkward age III
was Hugh Legs himself, aged
fOrty-fouF, and with good deal
Of gray in his hair and beard.
Tell me this first, " he faltered;
how has your mother endured
it,"
"'Oh, she was bit fed up at
first, but she consoled herself
knitting comforts for the troops.
You remember that old jumper
she was at just before you left?
shes back at that again now;
| don't suppose it will ever be fin
ishea at the rate she unpicks. And
then the suitors began to arrive
pretty woman, the mater! That
fluffy, helpless style appeals to
men, you know. We always had
the house full Of them, and now
but never mind, fire away. Why
the devil did you never write or
anything"
Because I wanted to be free"
broke out Hugh Legs fiercely. ri
was always as restless as hell.
Your mother made me stay at home
too much. She imagined that a
man of ny temperament could be
held by a herbaceous border.
Once woman ike Penelope loves
you, it's like being stuck in glue
pot. (" For a. moment he had for
gotten that Teddy was not the right
recipient for these condolences.
He leic'.ed out savagely at a
majolica jardiniere at his feet,
broke it. His son looked appre-
hensive.
Flush, | say, do shut up; the
mater will hear you and come
down, and / specially don't want
her to-"
"Why?" demanded his parent.
'I'll tell you why later. | sup
pose," said the willy Teddy,
"that you must have seen a great
many interesting things on your
travels"
Off went Hugh Legs at
tremendous pace. 1t could all be
told again to Penelope, of course,
and at his club; but on Teddy fell
that first fine rapture of narrative
which pours from every returned