Show i I n l n ij If-ij ff 70 o Q 2 it fil W V I rr 1 I i It was Claires Claire's la last t evening e at Mrs Ir T s. s When hen she came In to supper supper sup sup- per I Jane Browning Drowning was already alread at tho the table So that's your our architect said Jane in a tone tono that challenged Claire In Instantly Instantly In- In to defense Yes Mr Whitney the man 1 work for replied Claire determined to keep her good humor for she wanted anted to leave 10 evor every one at nt In friendly spirit Sorry your first o of him was under unfavorable circum circum- stances We e were both disheveled and grimy When wo met you OU nn and Mr Reaves on the street w wo e had come from rom my 01 new and palatial 1 apartment Wo Yo had hall worked there all da day getting things In shape So I gathered I saw you ou giving him the ke sweetly In Innocent innocent In- In key Janes Jane's smile was as she passed the su sugar nr bowl No It o It was he who was giving s1 mc me metho tho the ko key Claire said flushing with an annoyance she would not give wa way toOh toOh to Oh I R see e. e There Thero was a n little pause then thon Jane resumed In a pleasanter tone about It Hn- Hn I 1 sa say Claire tell me ell to him I should sa say NOT Why h ask such a athin athing athing thing thin Brownie I know country countr folks Jump to con conclusions If IC a man looks lookstwice lookstwice lookstwice twice at a girl or walks homo home with her from Crom church But I dl didn't nt think you ou city people were like that People said Brownie biting crisply crisply crisp crisp- l ly Into her hot cinnamon toast are pretty much the same ame everywhere o This In In- In looking formal young oun man befriends you ou gives you OU a Job takes you out finds you ou a n home furnishes It for or i t you you Dro Brownlo Claire parried Jane Jan returning Claires Claire's look unflinchingly Its It's ts t's true all Isn't It Didn't he hunt up neatly nearly those things for you ou Didn't his friends contribute contribute- But nut you rou dont don't understand Interrupted interrupted interrupted inter Inter- Claire realizing for the tho first time that whether you OU un understand or misunderstand a situation depends al altogether altogether altogether al- al together on the point of oC view Its It's from He was tr trying to help me out In a friendly wn way way helping helping me mo reduce eXpenses ex expenses expenses eX- eX so I can pa pay old Miss Cowan back Jack home and and and- and be more free ree and of the meled didn't didn't he say something o sort Claire come cone now own up Claire winced How different things sounded when some one said them disapprovingly dis dis- approvingly l Look here Brownie Claire began gan frankly frankl I dont don't like you to Insinuate things You know me You know Im I'm Imin Imn in n absolute e earnest rnest a about out making my t I living lI and doln doing m my best e every wa way It Isn't nt fair Call to make malic me feel Im I'm doing wrong rong Brownies Brownie's brown eyes ces softened and she patted Claires Claire's hand which held hed a little forkful of salad she he had suddenly lo lost loat t appetite for and returned to her plate after It had hall been half halt way to her tremulous mouth Come dear Im I'm warning you not scolding scolding- you ou I want to see you you ou get gel on I could help you ou If It you'd ou take my 10 advice But honest Claire Berton I believe belle youre you're looking more for or a love affair than for a business career Don be oen offended ed think It over And If yoi yot 0 n need ed cI a friend nn any time Im I'm Im I'm It Il Good Goo bre bye And Brownie hurried off oct to keep an t engagement Claire drank her tea slowly feeling vcr very much misunderstood She left the table and started upstairs upstairs upstairs up up- stairs to read a book Dillon had loaned her a her a stor story o of life liCe In the Paris artists artists' colon colony She humped bumped Into I John Reaves cS in an upper hallway hallwa He took his chunky pipe out of his mouth held his hand over Its bowl and said quickly Youre leaving leaving- us Yes said Claire simply And thank you ou Mr Ur Reaves for lor all the kind things thinS's youve you've done Good bye be Claire held out her hand Reaves nea took It Lets Lees make It t au revoir If It you 1 0 dont don't mind he said And And ana and it If the new thew way of or living living er cr er disappoints you come back hack wont won't you ou Au revoir then and and awl and good oo luck Next morning Claire saw only Mrs Ir Tho The o old III grenadier r smiled grimly as she took Claires Claire's board money none You oughtn't to go child chill If Ie I 1 told toM you wh why you'd only think me merce merce- nar nary Girls your our age never understand an old womans woman's wl wisdom Como back when you you need need u us What did it all these mean mean these people warning tier her Claire hated It And tonight tonight her ht her housewarming To be continued I |