CHAPTER XX
As Lester came down-stairs after making his toilet he found his father in the
library reading.
"Hello, Lester," he said, looking up from his paper over the top of his glasses
and extending his hand. "Where do you come from?"
"Cleveland,"
replied his son, shaking hands heartily, and smiling.
"Robert tells me you've been to New York."
"Yes, I was there."
"How did you find my old friend Arnold?"
"Just about the same," returned Lester. "He doesn't look any older."
"I suppose not,"
said Archibald Kane genially, as if the report were a
compliment to his own hardy condition. "He's been a temperate man. A fine
old gentleman."
He led the way back to the sitting-room where they chatted over business
and home news until the chime of the clock in the hall warned the guests
up-stairs that dinner had been served.
Lester sat down in great comfort amid the splendors
of the great Louis
Quinze dining-room. He liked this homey home atmosphere—his mother
and father and his sisters—the old family friends. So he smiled and was
exceedingly genial.
Louise announced that the Leverings were going to give a dance on Tuesday,
and inquired whether he intended to go.
"You know I don't dance," he returned dryly. "Why should I go?"
"Don't dance? Won't dance, you mean. You're getting too lazy to move. If
Robert is willing to dance occasionally I think you might."
"Robert's got it on me in lightness,"
Lester replied, airily.
"And politeness," retorted Louise.
"Be that as it may," said Lester.
"Don't try to stir up a fight, Louise,"
observed Robert, sagely.
After dinner they adjourned to the library, and Robert talked with his
brother a little on business. There were some contracts coming up for
revision. He wanted to see what suggestions Lester had to make. Louise was
going
to a party, and the carriage was now announced. "So you are not
coming?" she asked, a trifle complainingly.
"Too tired," said Lester lightly. "Make my excuses to Mrs. Knowles."
"Letty Pace asked about you the other night,"
Louise called back from the
door.
"Kind," replied Lester. "I'm greatly obliged."
"She's a nice girl, Lester," put in his father, who was standing near the open
fire. "I only wish you would marry her and settle down. You'd have a good
wife in her."
"She's charming," testified Mrs. Kane.
"What is this?" asked Lester jocularly—"a conspiracy? You know I'm not
strong on the matrimonial business."
"And I well know it," replied his mother semi-seriously. "I wish you were."
Lester changed the subject. He really could not stand for this sort of thing
any more, he told himself. And as he thought
his mind wandered back to
Jennie and her peculiar "Oh no, no!" There was someone that appealed to
him. That was a type of womanhood worth while. Not sophisticated, not self-
seeking, not watched over and set like a man-trap in the path of men, but a
sweet little girl—sweet as a flower, who was without anybody, apparently, to
watch over her. That night in his room he composed a letter, which he dated
a week later, because he did not want to appear too urgent and because he
could not again leave Cincinnati for at least two weeks.
"MY DEAR JENNIE, Although it has been a week, and I have said nothing, I
have not forgotten you—believe me. Was the impression I gave of myself very
bad? I will make it better from now on, for I love you, little girl—I really do.
There is a flower on my table which reminds me of you very much—white,
delicate, beautiful. Your personality, lingering with me, is just that. You are
the essence of everything beautiful to me. It is in your power to strew flowers
in my path if you will.
"But what I want to say here is that I shall be in Cleveland on the 18th, and
I shall expect to see you. I arrive Thursday night, and I want you to meet me
in the ladies' parlor of the Dornton at noon Friday. Will you? You can lunch
with me.
"You see, I respect your suggestion that I should not call. (I will not—on
condition.) These separations are dangerous to good friendship. Write me
that you will. I throw myself on your generosity. But I can't take "no" for an
answer, not now.
"With a world of affection.
"LESTER KANE."
He sealed the letter and addressed it. "She's a remarkable girl in her way,"
he thought. "She really is."
