The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-06-19

| WOriO, SalQ hOelI. LOuVe seen ali
! the places of great beauty and light.
You remember you told me that your
father had once said, when you were
little girl, that there were only two
kinds Of people who really mattered in
the world. One kind was wheat and
the other kind emeralds. You're wheat,
Selma"
i "And you're emerald" said Selma.
/ quickly.
The general was interested but un-
compromising. He glanced now at
the watch on his wrist and gave a
| little exclamation "But the dinnerl
Our hostess Madame Storm 1t is very
fine to run away but one must come
back. Our SO beautiful hostess" He
mad sprung to his feet.
"She is beautiful, isn't she?" said
Selma.
"No," Roelf replied, abruptly. 1.-THE
mouth. is smaller than the eyes. When
the mouth is smaller than the eyes
there is no real beauty. Now Dallas
here,
"Yes me-" scoffed Dallas, all agrin.
! There's grand mouth for you. II
large mouth is your notion Of beauty
then 1 must look like Helen Of Troy to
| you, Roelf."
You do" said Roelf simply.
| Inside Dirk something was saying,
over and over, You're nothing but a
rubber stamp, Dirk DeJong. You're
nothing but rubber stamp" Over
and over.
''These dinners'' exclaimed the gen.
eral. 81 do not wish to seem ungra-
cious, but these dinners! Much rather
would l remain here -on this quiet
and beautiful farm"
At the porch steps he turned, brought
| his heels together with sharp smack,
bent from the waist picked up Selina's
rough work-worn hand and kissed it.
And then, as she smiled little, I'M
certainly. her left hand at her breast,
her cheeks pink, Roelf, too, kissed her
hand tenderly.
"Why," said Selma; and laughed
soft tremulous little laugh, "Why, I've
never had my hand kissed before"
She stood on the porch steps and
waved at them as they were whirled
swiftly away, the four of them. A
slight straight little figure in the plain
white blouse and the skirt spattered
with the soil of the farm.
You'll come out again?" she had
said to Dallas. And Dallas had said
yes, but that she leaving soon for
poriS tO StuGy md work
when came back you'll let me do
your portraits"
/ my portrait! !" Selma had exclaimed,
wonderingly.
Now as the four were whirled back
to Chicago over the asphalted Halsted
road they were relaxed, little tired.
They yielded to the narcotic of spring
that was in the air.
Roelf Pool took off his hat. In the
cruel spring sunshine you saw that the
black hair was sprinkled with gray.
| "On days like this refuse to believe
that I'm forty-five. Dallas, tell me
I'm not forty-five."
You're not forty-five," said Dallas
in her leisurely caressing voice.
.
over frankly and clasped her strong
white one. when you say it like that,
Dallas, it sounds true"
1T is true" said Dallas.
They dropped Dallas first at the
shabby old Ontario street studio, then
Dirk at his smart little apartment, and
went on.
Dirk turned his key in the lock.
Salxi, the Japanese houseman, Slid
silently into the hall making little hiss
ing noises of greeting. On the correct
little console in the hall there was
correct little pile of letters and invita-
lions. He went through the Italian
living room and into his bedroom. The
Jap followed him. Dirk's correct eve
ming clothes (made by Peel the English
tailor of Michigan boulevard) were laid
correctly on his bed-trousers, vest,
Shirt coat; fine, immaculate.
Messages, Saki?"
'Missy Stlom telephone"
"Oh. Leave any message?"
mo. Say sc call gain"
"All right, Saki" He waved him
away and out of the room. The man
went, and closed the door softly be-
hind him as correct Jap servant
should. Dirk took off his coat, his
vest, and threw them on chair near
the bed. He stood at the bedside look
ing down at his Peel clothes, at the
glossy shirtfront that never bulged. A
bath, he thought, DULY, automatically.
Then, quite suddenly, he flung himself
on the fine silk-covered bed, face down.
and lay there, his head in his arms,
very still. He was lying there half an
hour later when he heard the tele-
phones shrill insistence and Saki's
gentle deferential rap at the bedroom
door.
1.-THE END.1
/ Geese on Guard
| Wild rpeSa are extremely wary and