The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-07-13

were SIlllluS, dfIO d1 OA SuuQEI
! she reached up her arms and put
/ them about his neck and sobbed as
if her heart would break.
And then, and not until then, little
Jane knew that Edith was not like
| one of the animals at the Zoo.
In James next letter to Judy she
told her how the evening with the
Townes had ended. And that she
had invited the Townes and Fol-
lettes for tea the next afternoon.
When she had written the last line,
Jane sat very still at her desk. She
was thinking of Evans. She hadn't
seen him for three days. Not since
the Sunday night she had gone to
the Townes. That night in the fog
had impressed her strangely. She
had felt for Evans something that
had nothing to do with admiration
for him nor respect nor charm. His
weakness had drawn her to him, as
a mother might be drawn to child.
His struggle was, she felt, some
thing which she must share. Not as
his wife! No That kind of love
was different. If only ne would let
her be his little sister, Jane.
He had not even called her up.
| When she had invited him and his
mother to tea with the Townes, Mrs.
Toilette had answered, and had ac-
cepted for both of them. Evans, she
said, was in Washington, and would
be out on the late train.
When he arrived ahead of the 9TH
ers on the afternoon of her tea,
Jane said, Where have you been?
Do you know it has been four days
since we've seen each other?',
Weren't you glad to get rid of
me? I've thought of you every min
Ute" He dropped into a seat beside
her.
She was gazing at him with lively
curiosity. How nice you look"
New suit. Like it?"
Eyes. And you act as if some
body had left you a million dol
lars"
wish he had. l bought this outfit
with first edition Alice in Wonder
land" he laughed and explained.
"I've been getting rid of some of
our rare books. / feel plutocratic
In consequence. Five hundred dol
lars, if you please, for that old Ho-
garth, with the scathing Ruskin in
scription. And I'm going to open
an office, Jane"
I'm Washington"
"On Connecticut Avenue. Same
building, same room, where I start
ed"
Evans, how splendidi'
eyes. You did it, Jane"
'I? Howl"
"The night of the fog. I never
realized before what walking-stick
I've been-leaning on you. Hence
forth you're the Lady of the Lantern.
1t won't be SO fatiguing."
He was smiling at her, and she
smiled back. Yet quite strangely
and inconsistently, she felt as if in
changing his attitude towards her,
he had robbed her of some privilege.
81 didn't mind being a walking
| stick"
"Well, ! minded. After this I'll
walk alone. And I'm going to work
hard, and play around a bit. viii
you have tea with me tomorrow,
Jane? AT the Willard? To celebrate
my first tottering steps,"
She agreed, eagerly. 'It will be
like old times"
| minus a lot, old lady"
That was the way he had talked
to her years ago. The plaintive note
was gone.
Take the three-thirty train and
I'll meet you. I'll pay for the taxi
with what's left of Alice
Don't be too extravagant.
Nothing is too good for you,
Jane. ] can't say it as / want to
say it, but you'll never know what
you seemed to me on Sunday as
you came through the mist"
His voice shook a little, but he
recovered himself in a moment.
Here come the Townes." He rose
as Edith entered with young Bald
win.
After that Evans followed Badly S
lead as a dispenser of hospitality.
The two of them passed cups, passed
thin bread and butter, passed little
cakes, passed lemon and cream and
sugar, flung conversational balls as
| light as feathers into the air, were,
as Badly would have expressed it,
"the life of the party"
Something must have gone to
Casabianca's head" Frederick
Towne remarked to Jane. "Have
you ever seen him like this?"
Years ago. He was tremendous
ly attractive"
do you find him attractive now?"
with a touch of annoyance.
'I find him-wonderful' tone
was defiant-"and I've known him
all my life.
"If you had known me all your
life would you call me wonderful?'
She looked at him from behind
her battlements of silver. How do
! know? People have to prove them
selves"
DR.. Hallam had driven Mrs. Fol-
lette over. He rarely did social
stunts, but he liked Jane. And he
had been interested enough in Ev-
ans to want to glimpse him in his
new role.
Strolling up to the tea-table, he
was aware at once of a situation
which might make for comedy. or