Miss Pat at Artemis Lodge | Page 5

knocked.
Margaret, in a long cloak and with her dark hair crowned with a simple
wreath of ivy leaves, was looking more charming than ever, and
although she was fain to linger a moment to take in the beautified
studio, they hurried her off to Elinor's room, where Mrs. Spicer was
waiting to hook the last reluctant hook in Elinor's filmy gown.

There was another shower of excited embraces, questions and
comments rained down and it was only the arrival of the Hiram Todd's
that saved Margaret from pouring out all her store of information about
herself in one reckless flood and thereby wasting half of the
entertainment for the dinner table.
Mrs. Hiram Todd fully justified Elinor's approbation, for in the
incredibly short time since she had left Rockham and gone with the
lanky Hiram to the national capital, she had shed the slightly rustic
manner of her former days and had become, in appearance at least, a
well-dressed, attractive, sensible looking girl such as you may see in
the comfortable homes of the large cities.
But although Patricia was surprised at the change which Marian had
effected in her own manners and garments in the brief fortnight of
married life, her astonishment grew as she gazed on Hiram.
No one, seeing the happy Hiram for the first time, could have believed
that a few short months ago he had been the lank and ungrammatical
individual whose gift of a patent rocker struck consternation to the
members of the House Committee on that fateful donation night at the
Social House when the ninety-nine wooden chairs had been presented
by the guests of the evening. The memory of that trying moment, the
picture of his later efforts in pursuit of grammar under her own tuition,
faded from Patricia's mind as she looked at him. She recalled only the
successful geologist, the man of science whose collection had gained
him recognition in high places, and she held out her hand with cordial
sincerity.
"How splendidly you're looking, Hiram," she said, almost with
admiration in her tone. "City life must agree with you
tremendously----"
Bruce's chuckle halted her speech, but Hiram nodded heartily.
"That's about the size of it," he said with one of his grins. "But it took a
smarter one than me--I to get at it. I was in town a lot since Mr. Hayden
got me in touch with the big guns at the capital, and I didn't turn a hair,

as far as clothes was concerned. My, my, what a dummy I was. But the
minute Marian landed in the dining-room of the hotel, she knew what
was what. She's just built me all over on stylish lines, you see," he
ended with simple candor that was very pleasant to hear. "And the
funny part of it is that I don't feel foolish in them, either. I like this
striped white vest a heap better'n the plain ones, and I'm dinged if I ain't
amazing comfortable in this stiff, starchy dress shirt."
Marian had the good sense to enjoy Hiram's frankness and she smiled
on him affectionately. "We're both glad we came to town," she said
with a glance at her own fluffy net dress, "but we'll be glad, too, to get
back to the folks again. Town's plenty of fun, but it takes one's
ambition. Hiram's simply lost without the woods and hills and I'm
going to be pretty well satisfied with Rockham, once I get back."
Margaret Howes took a great fancy to both of them, and she plied
Hiram with many questions as to his geological pursuits, bringing out
all the best in him, while Marian, pleased with the respect this pretty,
intelligent girl showed to her husband, glowed and beamed on her,
growing entirely at ease and even loquacious under the stimulating
warmth of Margaret's interest. By the time that dinner was served they
were all in the most friendly humor possible and ready to enjoy the
least excuse for laughter.
Another pleasant surprise came as they were settling themselves at the
table. The elevator clanged its downward flight and a moment after the
door flung open to admit Patricia's twin Ted, with his chum Tom
Hughes, both very much delighted to find such a merry company and
fully equipped with appetites to do justice to the feast.
Bruce received them with something like contrition in his cheerful face.
"Great Scott, I forgot you two!" he gasped, wringing their hands with
great cordiality. "Hope you haven't been wandering about in this frosty
burg too long?"
Tom shook himself out of his overcoat with a silent grin, but Ted was
not so considerate.

"See here, Elinor," he complained, turning to his sister at the head of
the table. "That husband of yours needs a lecture. He made a