Show The DIM LANTERN By TEMPLE BAILEY O 0 PENN PUBLISHING COMPANY sERVICE CHAPTER XIII XIII xHI Continued 1 19 19 I know But oh But Oh I cant can't analyze analyze ana ana- it Edith I love you you you-no no end More than than anything anything Cut But I wont won't ask you to marry me Do you know how bow selfish you are Baldy I know how wise I am She made an Impatient gesture Youre not thinking of me in the least You are thinking of your pride He caught her hand in his I Iam Iam Iam am thinking of my pride Do you suppose it is easy for me to let Jane take Jane take money from him To feel that there is no man in our family who can pay the bills I am proud And Im I'm glad of it Edith Edith- I want you to be glad that I wont won't take take alms alms Her wise eyes studied him for a moment You blessed boy You blessed poet poet she sighed I am proud of you but my heart aches aches- for myself lIe He caught her almost roughly in his arms and in a moment released her Im right dearest No youre you're not right If H we married mar ried pled wed we'd sail to Italy and have a avilla avilla avilla villa by the sea And you would paint masterpieces Do you think my money counts beside your talent talent talent tal tal- ent Well I dont My dear let me prove my talent first As things are now I couldn't pay our passage to the other side You could My money would be yours yours your your talent mine A fair ex- ex change He lie stuck obstinately to his point of view I wont won't tie you to any promise until Ive I've proved myself And well we'll lose all these shining years We wont won't lose a moment Im I'm going to work for you lIe He was she perceived on the heights But Dut she knew the wears weariness ness of the climb Coming out of the garden in the late afternoon they were aware of other arrivals at the Inn Adelaide and Uncle Fred by all the gods said Edith as they peered Into the dining room dining room from the dimness of the hall hail Oh dont don't let them see us Adelaide's such a bromide They crept out found Baldys Baldy's car cai carand carand and sped towards the city I should say Baldy proclaimed sternly that for a man who is engaged a athing athing athing thing like that Is unspeakable Oh Uncle Fred and Adelaide said Edith easily she probably asked him And she was plaintive A plaintive woman always gets her herway way Adelaide had been plaintive And she had hinted for the ride Why not an afternoon ride Ricky I It would rest you Sorry But Im I'm tied up I haven't seen you for ages Ricky I know old girl Ive I've had a thousand things Ive missed Ive missed you It wasn't easy for Frederick to Ignore ignore ig Ig- nore none that Adelaide was an attractive attractive tive tine woman Oh well I 1 can get away at four Well We'll have tea at the old Inn Heavenly Ricky I have a new blue hat You could always wear blue He decided that he might as well make things pleasant There was a shock in store for her Of course cours hed he'd have to tell her about Jane So Adelaide In the new blue hat hat hat- with a wrap that matched with matched with that tha porcelain white and pink of her complexion com com- with with her soft voice and appealing appealing appealing ap ap- ap- ap pealing manner had Frederick fo for three whole hours to herself She told him all the spicy gossip Frederick like most men ostensibly bly Wy scorned scandal but lent a willing will ing ear What Eloise had said what wha Benny Denny had said what all ail the world worl was saying about Dels Del's marriage And they were married here today to to- day I didn't dream It until Eloise Elois called me up just before lunch Edith had told her Edith was here Yes and young Barnes She stopped there and poured the tea She did It gracefully but Fredericks Fredericks Frederick's Fredericks Fred ericks erick's thoughts swept back to Jane behind her battlements of sliver silver Four lumps Ricky Um Urn A penny Par far r your thoughts n nr t worth a penny Ade aide laide Lots c elf lemon iemon please And no cakes I 1 Am m trying to keep my lovely figure 1 Oh why w worry rry I lUke like big men nice of you Marthas Martha's little sponge cakes were light as a feather Adelaide broke one and ate daintily Then she said flows Hows little Jane Barnes Darnes Frederick was immediately self sell conscious still in Chicago Sister better Much When Is she coming back Jane JaneT As soon as Mrs can be home In a few Yo weeks I 1 hope Adelaide drank a cup of tea ai ai- ai- ai most at a draught She was aware of an impending disclosure When the blow biow came she took it without the flicker dicker of an eyelash I 1 am going to marry Jane Barnes lames Adelaide The engagement Isn't to be announced until she returns re- re turns urns to Washington But 1 I want my friends to know She put her elbows elbow on the table clasped her hands and rested her herbin chin bin on them looking at him with steady teady eyes So that's the end of oft it it t Ricky The end of what Our friendship Why should it be bet Oh do you think that your little Jane is going to let you philander I shant shan't want to philander If U that's the way you put It it So you think youre you're in love in-love love with her I know I am am the red came up in n his cheeks but he stuck to it U manfully Its different from anything any ever thing thing ever that Ive I've felt before They all say that dont don't they every time timeT Dont be so so cynical She shrugged her shoulders Im I I r 1 Edith told me me not Well I shall miss you Ricky dear That was all just that plaintive note But Adelaide's was always effective Jane was home again Judy was better Philomel sang The world was a lovely place Oh Oh but its it's good to be back Jane was telling Baldy at t break break- fast The windows were wide open the fragrance of lilacs streamed in In there were pink hyacinths on the ta ta- ble Its heavenly Baldy smiled at her The same sam old Jane She shook her head and the light ligh in her eyes wavered as if It some som breath of doubt fanned it it Not No quite The winter hasn't been easy Im I'm a thousand years older And with a wedding day ahead of you Yes Do you like it it Baldy He leaned back in his chair an and surveyed her Not a bit bit It if yo you want the truth truth truth-I I shall be jealous of Mr Frederick Towne Silly You know I 1 shall never neve love anybody more than you Baldy I She was perfectly unconscious o othe ot of I the revelation she was making buhe but bu buthe he knew knew and and was constrained t tsay to say Then you dont don't really love lov I him Oh I 1 do Hes He's much nicer thaI than tha I imagined he might be Oh well weil if you think you ar are going to be happy I 1 know I am am dearest dearest she blew a kiss from the tips of ot her fingers finger Baldy Daidy Im I'm going to have a great grea greathouse greathouse house with a B great garden garden and and invite in vite Judy and the babies every babies every summer Townes not marrying Judy and the babies babies' lies He's marrying you lie He wont won't want all ail of your poor relations relations rela hanging around Oh he will He lie has been simply dear I 1 feel as if U I can never do enough for him She was very much In earnest Baldy Baidy refrained from further criticism criticism cism lest iest he cloud the happiness of her home homecoming The thing was done They might as well make the best of ot it So he said Do you always call cail him Mr Towne Yes lie He scolds but I 1 cant can't say Frederick or Frederick or Fred lie He begs me to todo todo todo do it but it-but but I tell teil him to wait till were we're married and then Ill I'll say dear Most wives do that dont don't they I hope mine wont won't Why not I shall shail want my wife to Invent nam names s for me and If it she cant can't Ill I'll do it for her Jane opened her eyes wide Romance Ro Romance Romance mance with a big R Baldy Yes of cof lne I should want to tobe tobe tobe be king lover master master friend friend to the woman who cared for me That's the real thing Janey Is it But Dut rhe the di dl out loUo the subject up she drew another cup up of coffee for herself henel and asked finally Mally When is 11 s Evans Evant coming back ack Not for several days lie He will go goo goto goto to o Boston Doston when he finishes with New NewYork YorkI York I 1 see And hes he's much better I should say You wouldn't know himlie him He lie rose I must run on Were We're to o dine at Townes Towne's then Yes Just the five Ave of us It seems seams funny that I haven't met Cousin Annabel But she's able to take ake her place at the head of the table able Mr Towne tells me He lie told me too that she wants to meet me But I have a feeling that she wont won't approve of me Baldy Im I'm not fashionable fash fash- enable enough Why should you be fashionable You all are right as you are Am I IT Baldy I believe my stock has gone up with you It hasn't Janey You were always al at ways a darling But Dut I didn't want wanto to o spoil you As lf if you could she smiled wistfully I fully ully Sometimes I have a feeling Baldy that I should like life to go gon goon goon on n Just as It is Is Just you and me Baldy But Dut of course It U cant Of Of course it can if you wish It You fou mustn't marry Towne if It you have bave the least lave doubt I haven't any doubts So dont don't worry She stood up and kissed him ilm Briggs Driggs will come out for me and and we are all to see a play together together to to- gether afterward Edith told me me Baldy she had hold of the lapel of his coat how are things going with with Edith Do you mean am I in love with her I am Are you going to marry her God knows She looked up at him In surprise What makes you say it U that way Has she told you she didn't care She has told me that she does care But Dut do you think Janey that Im I'm going to take her money He lie patted her on the cheek and was off Jane picked a spray of princess princess- pine and stuck it in her blouse Oh what an adorable world lien Her world Could there be anything better bet ter than Frederick Towne could give her Baldys Baldy's words rang in her ears ears ears- Do you think I am going to take her money Yet she was taking Frederick Townes Towne's money She wished it had hadnot hadnot hadnot not been necessary Each day It seemed to her that the thought burned deeper she was under obligations ob to her lover that could be repaid only by marriage And they were to be married in June Yet why should the thought burn She loved him Not perhaps as Baldy loved Edith But there were respect and admiration yes and when she was with him she felt his charm she was carried along on the whirling stream of his own adoration and tenderness She went back to her own little house and found a great box of roses waiting She spent an hour filling vases and bowls with them Old Sophy coming in from the kitchen kitch en said Looks lak dat Townes Towne's jes jes' fascinated with you Miss Janey Taney Arent the roses lovely Sophy Jane wanted to tell Sophy that Mr Towne would some day be her hus bus band But Dut she still deferred deterred the announcement of her engagement Ive told one or two people Frederick had said Whom Well a She's such an anold anold anold old frien trien And I told Annabel of course I dont don't see why you should care Jane i iI I think Im I'm afraid that when I 1 Igo Igo go into a shop someone will say Oh Ob she's she going caine to marry Frederick Towne and see how shabby sheIL she abe It Is You are never shabby That because I made myself two new dresses while I was a at Judy's Ju d dys dy's And this Is one of them You have the great art of looking lovely in the simplest U things ns But some day you are going to wear a frock that I have for you you lIe He told her tier about the silver and blue creation crea lion tion he bad bought In Chicago Now and then I take It out and look at it Ive I've put it in your room Jane and it Is waiting for you you She thought now of cf the blue and silver gown as Sophy said Miss Jane I done pressed that wite chiffon chiffon chit fon of yours twel it hardly hangs together to to- together gether Ill wear it once more Sophy Im I'm having a sewing woman next week With the old white chiffon she wore a golden rose or two two and and sat at Fredericks Frederick's right while on the theother theother other end of the great table Cousin Annabel weighed her In the balance Jane knew she was being weighed Cousin Annabel was so blue blooded that It showed in the veins of her hands and nose nose and and her hair was dressed with a gray transformation which quite overpowered her thin little face with its thin little nose As a matter of fact Cousin Annabel Annabel Anna Anne bel felt that Frederick had taken leave of his senses What could he see in this short short haired haired girl who girl who hadn't a Jewel except the one he had given her Jane wore Townes Towne's ring hidden on a ribbon around her neck Some Someday Someday Someday day Ill I'll let everybody see it it she had said but not now You act as if you were ashamed of It it Im not But Dut Cinderella must wait until the night of the ball It was while they were drinking their coffee in the room drawing-room that the storm came up It was one of those cyclonic winds that whip off oft the tops of the trees and blow the roofs from unsubstantial edifices The thunder was a ceaseless ceaseless ceaseless cease cease- less reverberation the lightning was pink and made the sky seem like ake a glistening inverted shell Cousin Annabel hated thunderstorms thunderstorms thunder thunder- storms and said so I think I shall go to my room Frederick You are not a bit safer up there than here Towne told herBut herBut herBut her But I feel safer Frederick She was very decided about it So she went up and Baldy and Edith wandered across the hall to the library where Edith Insisted they could observe other aspects of the storm Jane and her lover were left alone and presently Frederick was called to the telephone Im not sure that its it's safe sir in this storm Waldron warned Nonsense Waldron Towne said and stepped quickly across the polished polished pol pot shed floor Thus it happened that Jane sat by herself in the great drawing drawing- room of the Ice Palace while the Ule wind howled and the rain streamed down the window glass and all the evil things in the world seemed let I loo loose And she was afraid Not of the storm but of the great greathouse house bouse She was so BO small and it was so big lien Her own little cottage collage clasped her In its warm embrace This great mansion stood away from her her her-as as the sky stands away from the desert All the rest of her Life she would be going up and down those great stairs sitting in front of this great fireplace presiding at atthe atthe atthe the far end of Fredericks Frederick's great table ta ble dwarfed ble-dwarfed dwarfed by it all all losing personality personality per per- individuality bidding goodby good by forever to little Jane Barnes Darnes I becoming until death parted them the wife of Frederick Towne 10 TO UK UE I |