| Show IM n i deliberate MISS JOAN by JEAN A SMYTHE M l M i H M 44 l 4 I M W copyright 1915 by the mcclure newspaper syndicate peter dodd paced the floor of his studio his chestnut hair upstanding from the riot of his rest restless lees fingers A Jap japanese anere servant entered softly and laid a pine log on the fire As mito mith passed a table he flicked aside a little dust moving als as ho he did so a big white box tied with blue ribbons suddenly the portiere was whirled impetuously aside andi and a woman entered the room there was a glimpse of mitos frightened astounded face as aa the curtain swung back peter she said w with ith a catch caich la in her voice peter dodds lower jaw dropped ludicrously it if anyone had asked him to wager his life as to the last woman in the world who would rush impetuously into his studio at the close of this march day or aej any day lid he would have confidently staked his existence on that one woman joan henshawe yet tet here she was joan henshawe older by seven yeorg since he had laba looked on her fair air exulting in her statuesque beauty hating her for her cool serenity loving her always bitterly joan stood there a lovely color invading her cool cheeks checks she wore black and white and by contrast her eyes were very blue and her hair very shining dont you remember me peter she asked of course I 1 do joan henshawe I 1 was surprised to see you all here of all places did you come alone by thiv time he had shaken ert hands conventionally and pushed forward a deep fireside chair then he pressed a button for mito tea mito he ordered and you may light the lamps in the soft glow of lamplight peter poured the tea and passed mitos crisp japanese cakes you came here at once to see me you are not in trouble P he hesitated because joans sudden appearance pe arance there was the most significant ant thing in the world to peter dodd it meant that some great experience per peri fence ence had bad sent her to him tor for help because joan the sweet imperturbable one had never flone an impulsive thing in her well ordered deliberate life 1 I am very glad to see you he said bald simply and then sat staring into the fire joan tose rose and moved about the room pausing now and then to study a picture or touch a bit ot of bria brac finally she stood at the teakwood table looking down at the box of chocolates and the tha box of violets this is my birthday peter she said at last yes I 1 know it said peter are these tor for me MOT she asked peter straightened and stared at her yes he said at last 1 I send them 1 I never do you know not now agreed joan 1 I missed them what have you done with others peter for answer peter strode across the room to a carved chest and flung f I 1 ung open the lid within were a dozen boxes many of them bearing the imprint of oriental sweetmeat shops some contained curios joan caught glimpses of bits of ivory toys those are all my birthday gifts since you went away she asked peter nodded 1 I bought em and pretended I 1 sent em but it was all a ghastly farce this Is my cupboard of skeletons here belong these others he took the two boxes f from born the table and tossed them into the chest joan as promptly took ih them out she opened the purple box and pinned the fragrant violets on her breast then she knelt down and hastily fished out the remaining boxes on the table and closed the empty chest it would make a good linen chest s she he said musingly peter dodd came and planted his clenched fists on tho the table he looked at her across the unsent unseat birthday offerings fe rings what Is the game joan he asked uncle gregory told me today that yo you u were in new york had been for six months I 1 know th there ere was a note in her voice he had never dever heard 1 I know you were here you come to see me she accused him peter lifted his haggard eyes and so BO and so I 1 came after y you ou peter she flung out passionately you came cacie after me ile he was coming around the table yes because I 1 wanted to see you oh peter I 1 missed you so and the deliberate joan henshawe burled buried her shining head on peters shoulder and hid her sweet shamed face from his adoring eyes |
