Show I The DiM y a L w t. t j nn t 1 By BT TEMPLE ALEY O C PENN TENN PUBLISHING COMPANY COMPANY 1 till lr 2 2 My dear deor child Mrs Follette said sold have hove lunch with me Mary has baked fresh bread brad and well we'll have it with your our berries and some Dutch cheese and cream Id love it it Jane said I hoped you'd ask osk me Ve We are going coing at four to Delafield Simms for the week week- end I shall have to be fashionable for forty eight hours and I hate ha Ie It Mrs l Follette smiled indulgently Of course you ou dont don't mean it And dont don't try to be fashionable Just be b yourself It Is only people who have never boon been anybody who try tr to make themselves es like others I Well tell said Jane Im afraid 1 Ive I've never been anybody Mrs Fol Toi lette Im I'm just little Jane Barnes Darnes IIer Her air was dejected I the matter matler with you I Jane Mrs Follette demanded Jane clasped her hands together Oh I want my mother I want my mother tier Her voice was low but there was a poignant note In it It Old Mary came out with the th tray and when she had gone Mrs Follette said Now tell teU me w what's hats troubling you ou Im afraid Of of what Oh of Mr Townes Towne's big house and and I I think Im I'm a little bit afraid of him too Mrs Follette Why should you ou be afraid Of the things hell he'll expect of me The things Ill I'll expect of myself I 1 cant can't explain It I just just feel frel it tt Mrs Follette pouring Ice cold Ice cold milk from a silver sliver pitcher pilcher said It Is a case of nerves my dear You dont don't know how lucky you are Am I lucky wistfully Of course you are lucky But Dut all girls feel as you do Jane when the wedding day Isn't far for oft off They wonder and wonder Its It's the new newness ness ness the the Laying flesh and spirit in his hands Jane quoted with quick drawn breath I shouldn't put It quite like that Mrs Follette said with some se severity se- se severity verity we didn't talk like that thaI when I was a girl gir you Jane asked Well I know you were a darling Mrs Follette And you were pretty Theres There's that portrait of oj you in the library in pink I 1 looked well in pink said Mrs Follette thoughtfully but the best picture that was ever done of me meis meis meis is a miniature that Evans has She buttered another slice of bread She had no fear of growing fat She was fat tat but she was also stately and one neutralized neutralised the other To think of Mrs Follette as thin would have been to rob her of her duchess role June Jane had not seen the miniature She asked if iI she might Ill get It said sold Mrs Follette and rose Jane protested Cant I do It No my dear I know right where when whereto to put my hand on it il it She went into the cool and shad shadowy shadowy hall and started up the stairs and it was from the shadows that thai Jane heard her call There was something faint taint and ag agitated agitated stated in the cry and Jane flew on winged feet leet Mrs Follette was holding on to the stair rail swaying a little I 1 cant can't go any higher she panted Ill sit here my dear while you get pet my medicine Its It's in my room on the dresser Jane passed her on the stairs and was back again in a moment with the medicine a 8 spoon and a 8 glass of water With her arm around the theelder theelder theelder elder woman she held her until the color returned to her checks cheeks How foolish said Mrs Follette at last sitting up I almost faint ed cd I was afraid of lolling falling down the stairs Let me help you to your room Jane said and you ou can lie on the couch couch and and be quitt quiet quiet- I 1 dont don't want to be quiet but Ill I'll lie tie on the couch couch if if you'll sit there and talk to me So with Jane supporting her Mr Mrs Follette went up the rest res I of the I tight Right and across the hall hall and and was made comfortable on a couch at the foot of her bed Jane loved the stairs up-stairs rooms at Castle Manor Especially in sum sum- summer mer Mrs Follette followed the southern fashion of taking up win win- winter Winter winter ter rugs and winter curtains and amt substituting sheer muslins and leav leaving tag ing a II delightful bareness of waxed floor Perhaps I 1 can tell you where to 10 find Ond the miniature Mrs Follette said ald as Jane fanned her it is in to Evans' Evans desk set back under the row f f pigeonholes You cant can't miss it It and I 1 want to see it It Jane crossed the hall to Evans Evans' oom It faced south and was big nd nit square It II had the same sam stud stud- d 1 bareness that made mad the rest of 01 he house beautiful There was a bed bd and dresser many mall m i looks Joks deep drep window seats w wit i t n velvet cushions cu Evans Evans' desk was in an alcove by br I e 1 w Vl t kt Sherwood It was a mahogany milho nY desk of tile the secretary type and there was nothing about it to drain the color from Janes Jane's J cheeks checks to send nd her hand to her h r heart Above the desk however Ir where his eyes e e could rest upon it II whenever he raised them from tits Ills writing was an tin old lantern June J un knew it II at nt onre once It was ryas an ancient ships ship's lantern that she and Baldy Bald had used through all the jours years a n from sonic some sea seagoing going ancestor ani It ii was the lantern she hud hod curried carried that thit night she had found 1 I in a the UH fog tog I Susie her return from frum she sIll had nut nit boon been I able uble to find lad It ft 1 t had complained la Sophy must have taken It home with her But Sophy Soph had not taken It It II was here her And Jane knew with a n certainty that swept all 1111 doubts why You ure ore a lantern Jane Jine held high She found the miniature lre and une cat car ned fled it 11 back to Mrs Bbs Toilette Follette roll cite I 1 told you you yim were pretty mid and you ou have never gotten over it She had regained her radiance Mrs Follette reflected complacent far rr L r hU r if VI hI II niI r y y c-y I I 1 hope it II wont won't rain Edith said ly Iy that girls were like that Moods of the moment Even in her own o day duy She spoke of it II to Evans that night Jane June had lunch with me She was very tired and depressed I told her not to worry Its It's natural she shoud feel the responsibility of o the future Marriage Is a serious obligation obliga lion Marriage is more than that Mother Molher What do you mean Oh its it's a great adventure The greatest adventure If a woman loved me Id I'd want her to fly to mt me meon meon on on wings There'd be no fear of the future if Jane loved Towne But Dut she does docs love him She wouldn't marry him for his money No she wouldn't with a R touch of weariness It Is one of the things I cant can't make clear to myself And AndI I 1 think Id I'd rather not talk about it Mother They were In Mrs Follette's room She had told her son about her heart attack and he had been anxious But Dut she bhe had been quite herself herse after afler and had made light of it I shall have Hallam over in the hI morning he had Insisted and she he had acquiesced I l dont don't nerd need him but If it it will make you feel better Letter CHAPTER Ci XV Lucy was still to Eloise Harper the stenographer of Frederick Towns Out of place of course in ill inthis inthis this fine fule country house with its for for- formal formal mal gardens its great stables its retinue of servants What do you do with your yourselves selves she he asked her hostess a as she came down ready for lor dinner in m revealing repealing apricot draperies and found Lucy crisp in white organdie with a band of black velvet around her throat Do Lucys Lucy's smile was Ingenuous ous We are very busy Del and 1 I. I We feed the pigs Pigs Eloise stared She had assumed that a girl of Lucys Lucy's type would affect an elaborate attitude ol of leisure And here she was instead fashionably energetic They fed the pigs it seemed ac actually lUally Of course not the big ones But the little ones have their bot bob botties ties There are ten and arid their moth mother er cr died You should see Del and me He lie carries the bottle in tin a met mN metal metal al holder holder- round round-Lucy's Lucy's Lucys hand de described scribed the shape shape and and when the they ate ale him coming they all squeal ana anc anait's anait's its it's adorable II dora ble y Lui-y Luc ys y's s air was demure She wu wan W very ver tappy t appy Sh Sh was wall a woman ui td J strung strong aunt Already she line hail had in m 7 1 11 d iJ y i anything an he h had ever Cr known In In III h s drifting days da s 's of bachelorhood Aft cr rr dinner she told Eloise Ill show you jou ou Dels Del's is roses They me are quite marvellous mar I 1 think his col collection lection will be bo beyond bl ond anything in inthis Inthis this port part of the I coining coming up said They The are arc Lucys Lucy's Itle s loses costs but she says nays 1 I am to 10 do the work w But why hy not have a II gardener Eloise demanded Oh we hove hll But 1 I should hate hale halIn to In have hue our garden n a mere mat flint matter ter of of mechanics Del Dol hn hits hils sonic Home splendid Ideas We ore are going to Ui wile for fur the Ihl flower shows Prizes and nil ill that 1 Hi Kill Kill-Id id purred like a R pussy ent I 1 II name come nil 1111 my fist rost IS the theLi Li Iti Lucy Logan LOI Edith locking 1 arms with June Jane u tl 1111 1 Inter III ter no as they strolled under uncia a luing hung trellis towards the th fountain font surd said Lucys Lucya ranking making n a aman man of o tam him because she loves Inv's him hint And I 1 would have laughed nt ul him him himBe We Be would have bored each elleh other to They will never nevI be bored bared Jane Janc J till decided derided with their roses little U We pigs They had reached the fountain 11 It wits was an nn old fashioned old one otic with thin streams of water spouting up UI from the bill of n bronzed crane There Then I 11 were goldfish In the pool and a big green frog leaped from a lily Illy had pud Beyond the fountain the wisteria roofed a path of pale Pille light A pea pla peacock peacock cock walked slowly towards them its long tall tail sweeping the ground in burnished beauty Think of this said Jane and Lucys Lucy's days s 's at the And yet Edith pondered she told me If he had not had n II penny penn she would have been happy with wilh him I believe it With Wilh u II cottage one pig and a n rosebush rose they would find bliss It Is like lile that with wilh them The two women sot sat down clown on un the marble coping eo of the fountain The peacock trailed by them Its Jewels all ablaze under the sun Adelaide In her burnished hed tulle tall slender graceful as n willow was swinging along beneath the trel Irel lis us The peacock had turned and walked beside her hr What a pic plc picture ture tore Baldy could make muke of that Edith said sold The rhe Proud Lady Do you know Janes Jane's voice was also lowered when 1 I look at her I feel that tha t it is she who should marry your uncle Edith Edilh was frank I should hould hate her And do so would he in a u month She's artificial and you ou are so adorably natural Jane Adelaide had reached the circle of light that surrounded the foun tain The men have come and have gone up to dress the she said All except your uncle Edith lie He telephoned that he ho cant can't get here until after dinner He lie has hils tin an im int- important conference lie Ik said sold he might be late Benny Denny came Clime of course Yes and Eloise is happy He Ile had brought her all the town gossip That's why I left I hate hale gossip Edith knew that pose No one could ouid talk more devastatingly than Adelaide of her neighbors neighbor's affairs But Dut she did it subtly with an nn ef effect feet of ot charity I am nm very fond of her was her way of prefacing a ruthless revelation I thought your brother would be down Adelaide looked at Jane poised on the rim of the fountain like a blue but butterfly butterfly but he hI wasn't with the rest Baldy cant can't be te here until tomor tomor- tomorrow tomorrow row noon He Ill had to be in the of office flee fice What arc are you going to do with wilh yourself in the meantime Edith Adelaide was in a mood to make J W l VI jo v. I I I comfortable herself June In tn bil hd billowing lowing 10 heavenly 11 blue blu with rose rib nb boris bona floating looting nt lit her girdle glydle ails us youth And it wit tu het 1111 i duet hud had attracted acted To loan 10 win win- The three Iree women walked I II d- d the house together As they i. i cant in 11 1 out from frum under the tile arbor thy 11 wen uI 1 tt aware of black block clouds across the horizon I hope it II won W III t I train train rain Edith Edilh said Lucy Luey Is to 10 serve e dinner on the terrace Adelaide was Wn Irritable 1 u II a I it 11 she ate Therell There'll be bugs bu s ml thing June Jane lilted like the tho Idea of an nn out out of- of door dinner She thought t the IIII maids In their pink limn linon were 10 like nisi lI ruse blown across the IIII lawn was a R great over o the Ih table roue rose lilt How I guy guyt ay it t is Js slip she sold said Id I 1 hope the Uw rain nun wont won't spoil it When they U reached the Ule pil lured piazza no one tine was there The lIIl wind windas was waa blowing from frum the bank of clouds went In ho to toll get gt ll n a start RIa If And so no Jane J nod Adelaide were left alone Adelaide silt sat In n big chair with aIth n bark back like a n spreading fun fan thc he was statuesque und nod knew know it but she sho would have nt at the exchanged mo mu moment ment every classic line lino for the ef t effect f feet that June gave of unpremeditated grace and beauty The child had flung lung a n cushion on the marble step and had dropped down upon it The fhe wind caught up lip her rums rum's so that slit she sh seemed to float in a II cloud She laughed and tucked lucked her whirl whirling Ing draperies about her lr I 1 love the wind dont don't you ou Adelaide did not love the wind It rumpled her hair She felt spite spitefully idly fully ready to hurt Jane It Is n o pity she said after n pause that lUcky cant can't dine with us us Jane agreed Mr Towne always seems to bt ho a very busy person Adelaide tarried a n little gauze Ian fan with lacquered gold gold sticks When she he spoke Bhe she kept her eyes eYB upon the th Ih ran inn Ito Do you always call him Mr Towne Of course But nut not when youre you're alone Jane flushed Yes Ys 1 I do Why not But Dut my dear It Is so very for for- forma mal ma And you are going to 10 marry him lie He said that he had told you Hicky tells me everything We Weare arc are very old friends you know InlOw Jane said sold noting nothing There was Indeed nothing to say She was not in the least jealous jea lous of Adelaide Adela Iele She wondered of course why Towne should have tin vo overlooked this lovely lady to choose rhoose a n shabby child But Bill Buthe he had chosen the child and that thai settled It as DB tar far as us Mrs Laramore was concerned But Dut It did not settle It for Ade Adr laude aide 10 I 1 think it is distinctly ing mg for or you to cull call him Mr Towne Poor You mustn't mu hold himat him himat at arms' arms length I Why not Well none of the rest of oJ us I have hove said Adelaide deliberately Jane looked up at ot her The rest re 1 of 01 you What do you mean Mrs Laramore La no more Oh the women that Ricky has loved lightly lIy The winds fluttered the ribbons ol of Janes Jane's J frock fluttered her The peacock pea cock on the lawn la uttered a n discordant note Jane lone was aware of a kinship between Adelaide and the burnished bird She spoke of the peacock What Whal a disagreeable voice he tit henas nas Adelaide stared Who The Ile peacock said June Jane do 0 in J |