The Crimson Patch

ain Meade shuffled the books and magazines on the sitting-room table, rearran

girl? She is so lonely and so sad! I just love her already. Think what she has suffered-and is still suff

ationship to that Madame Vanderpoel appears singular. She says the woman is her aunt, by marriage, yet she doesn't seem to care to call her so. I am deeply sorry for the girl, if her story is true, as it probably is, but I feel as if there is much that she i

rrow and spend the day with them there. I suppose she wants to do something in return for my looking after Virginie to-day. She spoke to me about it

have an engagement with Mrs. Quale to-morrow. Fortunately she suggested to me this evening that perhaps you would care to spend the morning with her and help her select some wall-papers for her house that is being rebuilt and decorated. And let me offer just this wee bit of advice

spect her of? What are yo

to trust, and mine tells me, just now, simply to be careful. That's all. Now call her up on the 'phone a

not be able to go, but Father had made another engagement for me," Patricia assured her, and there was a murmured reply ove

tand why. Madame Vanderpoel seems lovely, to me, and she appears to be so fond of Virginie. I'll take the hint, however. And it fits in very nicely with what you advised me to do, too. Oh, by the way, Da

looked worried. "That does certainly seem suspicious. I'll have to look in

or taking long walks or trolley-rides into the country. On these occasions Virginie would be almost clinging in her confidence in, and affection for, Patricia. Not the tiniest flaw would mar their intercourse, and Patricia would acknowledge herself more deeply interested than ever in this attractive girl. Then on the next day, perhaps for several days following, Virginie would seem

eeable in manner. Plainly, the girl's strange conduct tried her sorely, though she was always very sweet about it and ignored it whenever possible. Never again, since the first occasion, had she attempted to induce Patricia to accompany them anyw

house telephone to ask her to come across the hall and spend the rest of the day with her. She did this in considerable 59trepidation, for Virginie had

she replied cordially. "She has been quite lonely this afte

the connection cut. The action was very abrupt. And though she told herself she certainly must have been mistaken, she thought sh

amed a resolution. She would fathom this girl's singular conduct 60to-d

returned only monosyllabic answers, was restless and ill at ease. They were sitting together on the couch, each pretending to be deeply eng

what is the trouble? What have I done to offend or annoy you? You are

erself across the couch in a passion of wild and violent weeping. It was several momen

obbed. "I knew the time would come when I must explain-or lose

rds, could only squeeze he

went on wildly. "I love you-I love you-as I love no one

are telling me the truth." Her calm, soothing manner was having its effect

n never tell you, because they would concern others,-I know that you would promise me this, never to care whether my manner seems cold toward you; never to think unkind thoughts of me, no matter how I ma

lways! I'll never be annoyed any more, no matter how you act. I'll understand that it's

was sufficient response. The atmosphere having thus been cleared, Patrici

ous times, but you have never shown me any of your sketches. Have you any here with you, and if so, cou

the work, and I turn to it whenever I have an opportunity." She ran out of the room and hurried back with a batch of

stically. "I dabble a little in that sort of thing myself once in a while, but I'm not a great success. I do 64wish

an artist?" demanded Vi

of bugs and moths and caterpillars and butterflies, and all that sort of thing. And he can make the most beautiful sketches of them. Many's the day I've gone on a long butterfly hunt with him, and then have come home and watched him make sketches

re were caterpillars and moths and butterflies, executed with consummate skill and exquisitely c

The Silver Spot,' 'The Red Admiral,' 'Th

nswered Patricia. "You see, each one-but what's that? Some one knockin

little blouse for Virginie and have just come to a place w

over her head and stood in silence while Madame Vanderpoel made some necessary alterations. The lady herself strove to appear quite unobservant of the change and chatted on brightly while she completed her work. Patricia, bewildered and uncomfortable, also tried to appear as thou

taking them up, one by one, and asking Patricia some qu

me here in our rooms?" questioned 67Patricia, before s

er this interruption, but when she was herself again, the

m hungry and thirsty, too, and it's a good while till dinner-time." She telephoned he

e lit all over the place. Can I look at them?" Patricia laughingly gave her consent, and he turned them over, chuckling at their names. But he,

proached the table, glanced about helplessly a moment, then planted t

il I remove those things." Peter indifferently lifted the tray while she hastily collected the s

en telling how she had spent her day, and had just come

on earth didn't I warn you not to! I never dreamed you

as 69he nervously shuffled them over. W

groaned. "The Crimson Patc