The Washington times., 1937-01-23

ring a great favor. May we ex-
pect you?"
II hope it won't be a burden"
said Norwood, offering his hand.
Shortly after five. that after
non, Sonia breezed in: a pleasing
picture of radiant vitality, self-con-
fidence, and ubanity.
She paused a moment, inside the
door, and considered Dean Har-
court with such look of filial ten
derness that he raised his hand to
her in a welcoming salute, and
regarded her with smiling interest
as she approached his chair.
"Sonia-nobody has any bust
ness to be as happy as you are.
What has happened to you?"
II had a message from Dean
Harcourt, asking me to come and
see him. Isn't that enough?" Do
tell me what it's all about!"
1T is something you can do for
me. On Thursday evening we are
to have a few guests here. 1t is a
custom of the house-these Thurs
day evening affairs. Most of the
people who come here are in need
OF companionship. Usually they
are strangers to one another. And
it is not always too easy Toto"
mo" assisted Sonia, laughing,
II should think it would be-"
And I need youths Thursday
evening"
Thanks! III be delighted!"
"Well-don't be too sure about
that. Sometimes we contrive to
gather up an oddly assorted lot.
This time, as it happens, we are
to have a motherless child Of 8.
I particularly want to devote most
of my attention to this little girls
father. And wondered if"
You know perfectly well, Dean
Harcourt," she said, that I should
be happy doing anything for you"
very good, my friend. I must
let you go now. There are many
waiting, and dare not detain
them while 1 talk with woman
as little in need of assistance as
you are. Get alone with you!"
She tarried at the door, seem
ing to have something on her
mind; turned toward him, smiled,
waited.
"Sonia!" called the dean,
would you oblige me by showing
the next caller in?"
She swiftly recrossed the room,
taking her modiSh little black
toque as she come, and patting
her rumpled hair.
DO you always read peoples
thoughtS?" she asked, at the door
of the dressing room.
"Just their better Ones" the
dean replied gently.
An uncommonly attractive girl,
in her early twenties, arose when
Sonia appeared in the doorway
of the reception parlor.
"Is there anything you would
like me to tell the dean about
you?"
Tell him Phyllis is here"
Sonia, arriving early as she had
promised. learned from Mrs. Gran
dali, the housekeeper, who showed
her to an upstairs parlor, that
there were to be no other women
present.
Conscious of her specific errand
there to extend hospitality to the
Norwood child, she considered her
self a member Of the deans
menage rather than his guest, and
found the sensation decidedly
pleasant. The whole place stood
for her as a refuge and sanctuary.
Mr.. Talbot appeared in the door
way and was presented. Mr.. Tai
bot was stocky, florid, round Of
face and sparse of hair, genial but
not effuSiVe. He hoped Miss Du-
quesne would not be so absorbed
by her duty that the rest of them
would have no chance to talk to
her. 1t was jolly good of her to
come, and the dean would appre-
ciate it nightly.
Sonia liked him, liked the tender
note that crept into his voice when
he spoke of the dean. 1t instantly
made them kin.
There was a pleasant confusion
in the hall downstairs as of arriv-
ing guests. Mr.. Talbot excused
himself. Mrs Crandall told Sonia
she might wait where she was, re-
turning presently with the antici-
pated child. a slim, serious. dark.
eyed little creature who, upon in
terrogation, unshyly replied that
her name was Celeste.
ITO Be COntinued)
copyright, 1897, BY Lloyd C. Douglas.
Distributed by King FsatursA
syndieAtN. In0.)