The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-07
CHAPTER XIV

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 TyHE days passed swiftly at Hearts Desire. Sonny had accepted the
 demonstrations of his aunt's affec tion more peaceably than Joan had ex. pected and it seemed to her that the yisit was. going along very nicely. AS Mrs. Love was acquainted with many
 E Rupertss friends she spent consider | able time visiting them. Joan was quite glad to have these absences for she was able to get ahead with her work without the interruptions that seemed inevitable when Mrs. Love en- tered a room. ~ t.f .- Rosanna however did not approve of these visits which, as rule, took place during the hours that Rupert was en- gagged with. his farm work or meetings. She had Econfided in Joan, despite her evident desffe to. prevent it, that these visits were made by Mrs. Love not from any liking, for the society of the peo- ple whom she visited snd whom Ros- anna assured Joan she laughed at, but as, a means of collecting any gossip about Rupert with whom she was mad ly, jealously in love.
 As Joan worked on the cretonne hangings which were giving the rooms such summery touch she felt decidedly restless. She was all alone for when Rupert mad announced that he would be late on account of a Grange meeting, Mrs. Love accepted an invitation to spend the evening with some of the neighbors. She had never had chance to tell Rupert of her meeting with Rags" nor of the strange lights. For a moment she wished she dare go down to the village and have talk with Alice Lang. That, of course. was absolutely out of the question, nor could she in- vite Alice to Hearts Desire.
 The quietness of the house oppressed her. The clock struck eight From the open window came the fragrance of horeysuckle. The loneliness was al- most more than she could bear. Then gritting he teeth she told herself that it was her own wish to cut herself adrift from her friends and that if she could not endure it forever she must stand It for the next few months because she had promised Rupert she would stay.
 As sEe tried to match two pieces of cretonne she suddenly heard a whistle she knew well. Glancing at the clock she saw it was only few minutes past eight. What had happened? A little flush of excitement mounted Joan's cheeks and her loneliness was forgot ten. She heard footsteps on the path. Then the hall door was opened and minute later Rupert stood in the door way.
 Well, Cinderella" he said, smiling don't you think you've done enough work for one day?" and Rupert crossed the room towards where Joan was sit ting.
 "Oh, this isn't work" she retorted. 'This is pure pleasure. Don't you think they are pretty?" she asked as she held out the little ruffles of gay cre- tonne for his inspection.
 Guess they are," answered Runert. Then noticing the little tired lines about her eyes, he took the sewing from her hands, and putting it to one side said, You're going to stop right now. lou know, Miss Fairweather, never meant you to work till you were worn out. 1 know the house looks very fine with all these curtains and things, but you've simply got to stop this everlasting sew ing. l won't allow it.'
 "Oh, I'm really not a bit tired" answered Joan, T like sewing and" she paused and the color mounted in Ter cheeks.
 Noting her embarrassment Rupert said. 'Fm going to have look at