The Crux

o bad to be t

ers neve

o bad to be

's swans w

irs with several eager youths gathered as close as might be about her,

. Dykeman's arm, came fl

d you come? Why didn't you l

rlor, took his hat away from him, p

u! But there's to be one vacant-next week. I'll see that there i

nd then she perched herself on the arm of a chair and gazed upon him with affectionate

er girlhood's dream had a clear complexion, a bright eye

t seemed, and a good deal heavier, well dressed in a rat

like a hen with her head cut off, to wait on me." The simile was not unjus

id. "I'll go and bring you so

had a good feed on the diner. Never mind about the room-I don't know how long I can stay-and I left my grip at the Allen House anyway. How well you're look

irst name she would never have noticed it. Now that he asked

e, I always ca

erfully replied, leaning forward, elbows o

do it. Your Dr. Bellair must have been a powerful promoter to get you all out here. I wouldn't have t

s of the two girls, had come to the door and stood there regarding him w

e known you since you were a scallawag in

," he said with exaggerated politeness. "Won't you be

l go back," and went back fo

he asked with approving interest. "If there's

itted, and became rather glum, in spite of Mr

me interrupt! On with the dance! Let joy be unconfined! And if she must"-he looked at Vivian,

Orella, "we'd much

time," said he, and crooked his elb

t one dance and was visibly waiting for her in the hall, the girl hesitated; but Susie said, "Go on, giv

esent; yet something seemed vaguely wrong. He danced well, but more actively than she admired, an

ally departed for his hotel, glad when Susie had at l

out things in her mind and account to herself for

en she had looked forward to that moment, and felt in anticipation a vivid joy. She had thought of i

friends in the house, and resented it; yet in her own mind a faint comparison would obtrude itself between his manners and those of Jimmie Saunders or Mr. Greer, for instance. The y

fell asleep saying over to herself, "He has come

, practically turning out Mr. Gibbs in order to accommodate him. Morton protested, talked of business and

ed and waited on, and he enjoyed it hugely, treating his aunt with a

n her returned brother. She was so young when he left, and he had teased her so unmercifully in those days, that her early memories of him were rather mixed in sentiment, a

t more, and they were so much more polite! Morton petted, patronized and teased her, and she took it al

lavished upon him the affection of her unused motherhood, and he seemed

eral walk and conversation, Mrs

ing a light over her neighbor's transom, she dropped in for a little chat.

eh? Nice c

y a heavier-weight specialist. She laid it do

t kiss him

said Grandma. "I th

it?" the doctor s

the world, that I know

le, then-h

ut foolishness-plain foolishness. Goo

hat boy never was taught anything to protect him. What did Rella know? Or for that matter, what do any

late to learn. I've learned a lot out of you and your books, Jane Bellair. Inter

gravely, "no, I could

open," Mrs. Pettigrew concluded. "

girl," the d

that's your business; I'll

der. Through the peep-hole in the swing door to the kitchen, Je

p. They were rather painfully unattractive, but seemed likely to stay where no young and pretty damsel could be counted on for a year. Morton joked with perse

he said, "but the cook is all to the good

tigrew pointedly replied. "Mrs. Jones is a first-cl

must go out and make her acquaintance. I alwa

etermined look, and Master Theophile was hastened at his work till his

from what he remembered-the young, frightened, slender girl he had k

nd womanhood more marked. Girls he had known of various sorts, women old and young had been kind to him, for Morton had the rough good looks and fluent ma

uiet evenings together, under the soft lamplight on Miss Elder's beloved "center table

rivalry was by no means wanting. Both the girls had their full share of masculine attention in that

lowed her about, seeking every occasion to be a

anything of you," he said. "Come o

she answered. "It seems to me that I

! It isn't the first time, either; in my business you work like-like anything

hat kind of work?

with her cook, and Susie was at the theatre with Jimmie Saunders. Fordham Greer had asked Vivian, as had Morton also, but she declined both on the ground that she didn't like that kind of play. Mrs. Pettigre

re," said Morton, "and I'

rtably adjacent to the fireplace,

pursued. "Yes, I like it. There's lots of change-and

h it? Is there any outlook f

good salesman. I'm no slouch myself, when I feel in the mood. But it's easy come,

the girl meditatively, "but the work i

es he seized the edge of the small sofa and dragged it a littl

That ikon was now jarringly displaced by this insistent presence, and she could not satisfy herself yet as to whether the change pleased or displeased her.

ak like that! You see I've been knocking around here for all this time, and I haven'

ry things she most disliked, his too free manner, his coarsened complexion, a certain look about the eyes, suddenly assumed a new interest as proofs

ply-"and Aunt Rella spoiled me-." He lo

ted. "I was ungrateful-I can see it now. But it did

ize with this fee

re he doesn't care a hang for anything. Seeing you again makes a lo

young enough, Morton. You can do anyt

u'll he

help you-if I

so, in the presence of this pure-eyed girl, a sense of shame for his previous habits.

, clearing his throat; she met him more than half way

u're going to do differently now! Susie

turned upon

shall be very prou

lovely look of hope and courage

id and straightened his

with deep concern in her voice, "What's th

hope," said

solicitude-"you know you have go

ed. "It's nothing at all-be all right in a jiffy

aid his aunt, anxiously. "She'll know if it'

ith real annoyance. "If there's anythi

h!" cried Viv

e least offended. Indeed, I had rather surmised that that was your a

ld lady from her doorway.

ined, "and he won't let Au

e out as suddenly

lunteered. "Three or four drops on a piece of sugar

, disgustedly. "It isn't any k

dy persisted, producing a little bottle and urging it upon Morton. "Just

sympathetic, but Morton put his

rying to doctor me, I'll cl

aunt, who popped in again at this moment, dragging Dr

funny," said Miss Elder, breathlessly, "but here he is. Now, Dr. Hale, here's a foolish boy

briefly at Mort

Elder; and, if you'll excuse me, does

ined. "I'm in imminent danger of hot baths, cold presses, mustard plas

e door and fled

Dr. Hale remarked drily. "You can bring water to t

ight have a game of whist," Mrs. Petti

e least," and Dr. Hale was about to

play; do be good. I've got to see old Mrs. Graham yet; she r

tionable pleasure of Dr. Hale as a partner. He was an expert, used to freq

efly between hands what she should have remembered an

more he criticised, the more determined she grew to profit by all this advice; but her mind would wander now and then to Morton, to his young life so largely w

p on your partner's thirteen

se color and lifted a

e; my mind wa

te it to return?"

the girl at last was glad to have him go

n the small office at the opposite corner. Presently she saw a familiar figure slip in there, and

id Mrs. P