The Argosy, Vol. 83 No. 1 — page 130: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

120 you are simply trying to make me jealous. You’d better be careful. I may be fearful when I’m roused.” “That’s true. Do forget the unfortu- nate slip and we'll give all our attention to you. I really want to know how you happen to be in town.” So Chard told her about the excellent opening with Mr. Manning and how well the work was going, and Miss Parker was so genuinely interested and so friendly and kind that he went on and told her about his mother and father and Mollie, his sister. In return, Miss Parker explained that she lived alone with her faithful serving woman, but that with so many friends in town and a telephone right on the table beside her it wasn’t a bit lonely, it was really almost a whirl at times. And there was always her brother’s family to take comfort with. It seemed her brother was the Parker who ran the bank. This led to business and panics and politics and militarism, the kind of talk they had at the table at home. It gave him the feeling of being back among his own kind once more. Promptly at five-fifteen, Chard rose. “It’s been perfectly fine, Miss Parker, Id like you to know—” He hesitated, helplessly. How could he tell her what she had done for him, how she had mysteriously pulled him into his own world, with its own standards, again; that he’d stick to them now if he died of lonesomeness; that he wasn’t going to be cheap any more? But the little gray silk lady looked up into his face, and suddenly he saw that he didn’t need to tell her; that she knew it al- ready. Could she have been thinking of just this thing when she took her sporting chance and let him come? “Miss Parker, I’m ready to ,bite the dust!” “Oh, no! It’s not nourishing!” She hurried him away from the subject. “Stay to supper with me instead. There’s going to be strawberry shortcake.”’ Gratefully, he caught her light tone. THE ARGOSY. “Shortcake! I’d almost perish for a piece; but what about your engagement?” “I'd like you to meet it. It’s coming in the gate.” She looked out with such affectionate pride shining in her face that Chard turned quickly to see what caused it. And when he saw, he realized the completeness of his habilitation. Up the path was coming a young girl, the daintiest possible kind of a girl, in a white dress, all billowy with ruffles and a yellow sash! “Susie, this is my friend, Chard Willis, who is taking supper with us. Mr. Willfs, my niece, Susie Parker.” Susie put a friendly little hand in his. She wasn’t a very big person. Chard could look down on her curly, auburn- brown head quite easily. Her eyes were gray and honest when she raised them to his and her nose bore three adorable little freckles on its ab- breviated bridge. Her mouth had merry, up-turning corners. It was wholesome and sweet, and Chard could scarcely take his eyes away from it when she talked. She talked a good deal. It was evident that she was on delightfully intimate terms with the little lady at the head of the table, and she admitted Chard simply and cordially into her circle. “T should think, Aunt Angie, that Mr. Willis might like to come to the lawn party Saturday. He’d meet ever so many people. And you wouldn’t feel like a stranger long, Mr. Willis, because any one that Aunt Angie introduces—well, you can just imagine!” A wonderful social vista opened out be- fore Chard’s eyes. ~ It seemed as though they had just be- gun to talk when it struck eight. “Susie,” said Miss Angie, “‘those yellow roses that your mother is so fond of are in bloom. I would be glad if you would pick them for her. Then Mr. Willis can take you home.”’ Chard looked wistfully after the white ruffles, going obediently down to the bushes. CORMICLOOOLK (C@