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Younger Set By ROBERT W. CHAMBERS, Author .of "The Fiihiini Chance." Etc Copyright, 1907, by niAursiiiur fHM.r.iii.u uiAi-iftiin, Chap. J Itctunilns (rum Manila. Cmitnlii Selwyn. fm inerly of the army. I welcomed home by his sister. Sinn Gerard. her wealthy UBbaiul Austin, anil their numerous child ren. "I Infer," observed Selwyn blandly, "that your father and mother arc not at home. Perhaps I'd better stop in later." "But you are going to stay here, aren't you?" exclaimed Drlna In dis may. "Don't you expect to tell us sto ries? Don't you expect to stay here "HI, forrard!" and live with us and put on your uni form for us and show us your swords and pistols? Don't you?" "We have waited such a very long time for you to do this," added Billy. "If you'll come up to the nursery we'll have a drag hunt for you," plead ed Drlna. "Everybody Is out of the house, and we can make as much noise as we please! Will you?" "Haven't you any governesses or nurses or something?" asked Selwyn, finding himself already on the stair way and still being dragged upward. "Our governess is away," said Billy triumphantly, "and our nurses can do nothing with us." "I don't doubt It," murmured Sel wyn, "but where are they?" "Somebody must have locked them In the schoolroom," observed Billy carelessly. "Come on, Uncle Philip. We'll have a first class drag hunt be fore wo unlock the schoolroom and let them out." Before Selwyn understood precisely what was happening he found hlm Belf the center of a circle of madly racing children and dogs. When there was no more breath left In the children and when the iloga lay about, grinning and lolling, Drina ap proached him, bland and disheveled. "That circus," she explained, "was for your entertainment. Now will yon please do something for ours?" "What nni I to tell you about our missionaries in Sulu?" said Selwyn. "In the first place," began Drina, "you aro to lie down flat on the floor and creep about and show us bow the Moros wriggle through the grass to bolo our sentinels." "I don't want to get down on the floor," he said feebly. "Is It neces sary?" But they had discovered that he could be bullied, and they had It their own way, and presently Selwyn lay prone upon the nursery floor Im personating a ladrone while pleasant shivers chased themselves over Drlnn, whom he was stalking. And it was while all were passion ately Intent upon the pleasing and snakelike progress of their uncle that a young girl In furs, ascending the stairs two at a time, peeped perfunc torily into the nursery as she passed the hallway and halted amazed. Selwyn, sitting up rumpled and cross legged on the floor, after having bo locd Drina to everybody's exquisite satisfaction, looked around at the sud den rustle of skirts to catch a glimpse of a vanishing figure, a glimmer of ruddy hair and the white curve of a youthful 'face half hurled In n muff. Mortified, lie got to his feet, glanced out Into the hallway and began adjust ing his attire. "So, you don't!" he said mildly. "I decline to perform again. If you want any more wriggling you must accom plish It yourselves. Drina, has your governess by any unfortunate ehanco er red hair?" j "No," said the child, "and won't you please crawl across the Hoor and bolo me Just ouco more?"' "Bolo me!" insisted Billy. "I haven't been mangled yet!" "Let Billy assassinate somebody himself. And, by the way, Drlna, are there any maids or nurses or servants mm Looked uround ut the rustle of tklrts. n this remarkable house who occa-1 wnnuy wear copper tinted hair andi jbci iox lursr W iW 1 6 Robert W. Chambers "No. Eileen does. Won't you please wriggle" "Who is Eileen?" "Eileen? Why don't you know who Eileen is?" "No, I don't," began Captain Selwyn, when a delighted shout from the chil dren swung bim toward the door again. His sister, Mrs. Gerard, stood there lu carriage gown and sables, ra diant with surprise. "Phil! You! Exactly like you. Phil lp, to come strolling In from the antip odesdear fellow!" recovering from the fraternal embrace and holding both lapels of his coat In her gloved hands. "Six years!" she said again nnd again, tenderly reproachful. "Al exandrine was a baby of six Drlna, i child, do you remember ray brother I do you remember your Uncle Philip? i She doesn't remember. You can't ex pect her to recollect. She Is only ' twelve, Phil" "1 remember one thing," observed Drlna serenely. Brother and sister turned toward her In pride and delight, nnd the child went on: "My Aunt Allxc; I remember her. She was so pretty," concluded Drlna, nodding thoughtfully In the ef fort to remember more. "Uncle Phil ip, where Is she now?" But her uncle seemed to have lost his voice as well as his color, und Mrs. Gerard's glftved fingers tightened on the lapels of his coat. "I never dreamed," she began "the child bas never spoken of of her from that time to this! I never dream ed she could remember" "I don't understand what you are talking about, mother," said Drina, but her pretty mother caught her by the shoulders, striving to speak light ly. "Where in the world Is Bridget, child? Where Is Katie? And what is all this I bear from Dawson?- It can't bo possible that you have been fox hunting all over the house again! Your nurses know perfectly well that you are not to hunt anywhere except In your own nursery. Such a house hold, Phil! Everybody Incompetent, including me; everything topsy turvy, and all five dogs perfectly possessed to He on that pink rug intho music room. Have they been there today, Drlna, while you were practicing?" "Yes, and there are some new spots, mother. I'm very sorry." "Take the children away!" said Mrs. Gerard to the nurses. She bent over, kWslug each culprit as the file passed out. "What do you think of them? You never before saw the three young est. You saw Drina when you went east, and Billy was a few months old. What do you thing of them? Honestly, Phil." "All to the good, Ninette; very orna mental. Drina nnd that Josephine Uld are real beauties. I er take to Billy tremendously. He told mo that he'd locked up his nurses. I ought to have Interfered. It was really my fault, you see." "And you didn't make him let them out? You are not going to be very good morally for my young. Tell me, rhil, have you seen Austin?" "I went to the trust company, hut he was attending a directors' confab. How Is he? He's prosperous anyhow. I observe," with a humorous glance around the elaborate hallway which they were traversing. "Don't dare laugh at us!" smiled his sister. "I wish we were back in Tenth street. But so' many children came Billy, Josephine. Wluthrop and Tina and the Tenth street house wasn't half big enough, and n dreadful specula tive builder built this house and per suaded Austin to buy It. You're going to stay here?" "No; I'm at the Holland." "Of course you're to live with us. You've resigned from the service, haven't you?" He looked nt her sharply, but did not reply. A curious flash of telepathy passed between them. She hesitated; then: "You once promised Austin and mo that you would stay with us." "But, Nina" "No, no, no! Walt," pressing an elec tric button. "Watson, Captain Selwyn's luggage Is to he brought hero Immedi ately from the Holland! Immediate ly!" And to Selwyn: "Austin will not ho at homo before half past 0. Come up with me now nnd seo your quar ters, a perfectly charming place for you, with your own smoking room nnd dressing closet and hath. Walt, we'll take tho elevator as long as we have one." cm..,.. - L . . I ouimiii; luoicBiiug, yei toucuca uy tho undisguised sincerity of his wel- i tnracTTSo-Buffered himself" to bo led Into tho elevator a dainty whlto and rose rococo affair,. His sister adjusted a tiny lever; the car moved smoothly , upward and presently stopped, and they emerged upon a wldo landing. "Here," said Nina, throwing open a j door. "Isn't this comfortable? Is thero ' anything you don't fancy about It? If ! thero Is, tell mo frankly." "Llttlo 6lster," he said, Imprisoning both her hands, "it Is a paradise, but , I don't Intend to cotno here and squat eu my relatives, and I won'tl" "PulllpI You aro common!" ' "Oh, 1 know you and Austin think you want mo." "Phil!" -All right, dear. I'll It's awfully generous of you so PH. pay. you a visit for a little while. You aro very, kind, Ninette." He sat partly turned from her, staring at the sunny window. Presently he slid his hand back along the bed covers until It touched and tightened over hers. And In silence she raised It to her Hps. They remained so for awhile, be stIB partly turned from her, his perplexed and narrowing gaze fixed on the win dow, she pressing his clinched hand to her Hps, thoughtful und silent. "Before Austin comes," he said at length, "let's get the thing over and burled as long as It will stay burled." "Allxc Is here," she said gently. "Did you know It?" He nodded. "Yon know, of course, that she's married Jack Buthvcn?" He nodded again. "Arc you on leave, Phil, or have you really resigned?" "Hesigned." "I knew It," she sighed. He said: "As 1 did not defend the suit I couldn't remain In the service. There's too much said about us any wayabout us who ore appointed from civil life. And then to have that hap pen!" "Pbll. do you still care for her?" "1 urn sorry for her." After n painful silence his sister said, "Could you tell me how It began, Pbll?" "now It began? 1 don't know that either. When Bannard's command took the field I went with the Bcouts. Allxc remained In Manila. Kuthven was there for Fane, Harmon & Co. Thafs how It began, I suppose, and It's a rotten climate for morals, and that's how it began." "Only that?" "We had had differences. Ifs been one misunderstanding after another. If you mean was I mixed op with another woman no! She knew that" "She was very young, Phil." He nodded. "I don't blame her." "Couldn't anything have been done?" "If it could, neither she nor I did it or knew how to do It, I suppose. It went wrong from the beginning. It was founded on froth. She had been engaged to Harmon, and she threw him over for Boots Lansing. Then I came along. Boots behaved like a thoroughbred. That is all there Is to it inexperience, romance, trouble. She couldn't stand me, she couldn't stand the life, the climate, the Inconven iences, the absence of what she was accustomed to. She was dead tired of it all. I can understand that And wo went under, that's all fighting each other heart and soul to the end. Is she happy with Ruthven? I never knew him and never cared to. I sup pose they go about in town among the yellow set Do they?" "Yes. I've met Allxe once or twice. She was perfectly composed, formal, but unembarrassed. She bas shifted her milieu somewhat It began with the influx of Buthvcn's friends from the 'yellow' section of the younger married set the Orchils, Fanes, Min sters and Dclmour-Carnes. By the way, I'm dipping into the younger set myself tonight on Eileen's account I brought her out Thursday, and I'm giving a dinner for ber tonight" "Who's Etfeen?" he asked. "Eileen? Why, don't you why, of course you don't know yet that I've taken Eileen for my own. Eileen is Molly Erroll's daughter, and the courts appointed Austin and me guardians for her and for her brother Gerald." "Oh!" "Now Is It clear to you?" "Yes," he said, thinking of the trag edy which had left the child so utter ly alone in the world save for her brother and a distant kinship by mar riage with the Gcrards. For awhilo he sat brooding, arms loosely folded, immersed once more in his own troubles. "It seems a shame," he said, "that a family like ours, whose name has al ways spelled decency, should find them selves entangled in the very things their race has always bated and managed to avoid. And through me too." "But no disgrace touches you, dear," she said tremulously. "1'vo been all over that, too," he said, with quiet bitterness. "You are part ly right; nobody cares in this town. Even though I did not defend the suit, nobody cares. And there's no'disgraee. I suppose. If nobody cares enough even to condone. Divorce Is no longer no ticed; it is a matter of ordinary occur rence, a matter of routine in some sets. Who cares except decent folk? And they only think it's a pity and wouldn't do It themselves. If Allxe found that she cared for Ruthven I don't blame her. Laws and statutes can't govern such matters. If she found sho no longer cared for me, I could not blame her. But two peoplo mismated have only one chance in this world to live their tragedy through with dignity. That Is absolutely all llfo holds for them; beyond that, out side of that dead line, treachery to self and race and civilization! That Is my conclusion nfter a year's experi ence In bcl!." He rose and began to paco the floor, Angers worrying bis mustache. "Law? Can a law which I"db not accept let mo looae'to risk It all again with another woman?" She said slowly, her hands folded in her lap: "It is well you've como to mo at last. You've been turning round and round in that wheeled cage until you think you'vo made enormous prog ress, nnd you haven't. Dear, listen to me. What you honestly believe to bo unselfish and high minded adher ence to principle is nothing but tho circling reasoning of a hurt mind an intelligence still numbed from shock, a mental and physical llfo forced by sheer courage Into mechanical routine. I tell you your llfo Is not finished. It is not yet begun! You need now du ties, new faces, nov scenes, new prob lems. You nhall have them. Dear, be lieve me, few men as young as you, m attractive, as human, as lovable, as affectionate as you, willfully ruin their lives because of a hurt pride which they mistake for conscience. Yon will understand that when you become con valescent Now kiss me and tell me you're much obliged, for 1 hear Aus- tln'n vnlon on fhn ntnlra." "Well, we've burled ltnow," breath ed Selwyn. "You're nil right. Nino, from your own standpoint and I'm not going to make a stalking nuisance of myself. No fear, little sister. Hel lo" turning swiftly "here's that pre posterous husband of yours." They exchanged a firm hand clasp, Austin Gerard, big, smooth shaven, hu morously Inclined toward the ruddy heaviness of successful middle age; Selwyn, lean, bronzed, erect and direct in all the powerful symmetry and per fect health of a man within sight of maturity. "Nina's good enough to want me for a few days" began Selwyn, but his big brother-in-law laughed scornfully: "A few days! We've got you nowl" And to his wife: "Nina, I suppose I'm duo to lean over those Infernal kids be fore I can have a minute with your brother. Are they in bed yet? All right rhil. We'll be down In a min ute. There's tea and things In the li brary. Moke Eileen give you some." Chapter & ANDS clasped behind his back, Selwyn stood In the center of the library, considering bis environ ment with the grave, ab sent air habitual to him when brooding. And ua be stood there a sound at the door aroused him, and he turned to confront a young girl In bat, veil and furs, who was leisurely advancing toward him, stripping the gloves from a pair of very white hands. "How do you do. Captain Selwyn?" she sold. "I am Eileen Erroll, and I am commissioned to give you some tea. Nina and Austin are in the nursery telling bedtime stories and hearing as sorted prayers. The children seem to be quite crazy about you. I congratu late you on your popularity." "Did you see me In the nurs ery on all fours?" Inquired Selwyn. recog nizing her bronze red hair. Unfeigned laughter was his a n s w-e r. He laughed, too. not very heartily. "My first glimpse of our legendary nurs ery warrior was certainly aston-1 ishlng," she said, I looking around at him with frank malice. Then, quickly: A youny jiri In hat "But you don't i and furs. mind. do you? It's all in the family, of course." "Of course," he agreed with good grace; "no use to pretend dignity here; ' you all sec through me in a few mo-1 ments." She bad given him his tea. Now' she 1 sat upright in her chair, smiling, dis trait, her bat casting a luminous i Bhadow across her eyes; the fluffy furs, i fallen from throat and shoulder, settled i loosely around her waist Glancing up from her short reverie I sho encountered his curious gaze. . "Tonight is to be my first dinner dance, you know," she said. Faint tints of excitement stained her white skin; the vivid scarlet contrast of her mouth was almost startling. "On Thursday I was introduced." she ex plained, "and now I'm to have the gay- ! est winter I ever dreamed of. ,And ; I'm going to leave you in a moment If Nina doesn't hurry and come. Do you mind?" "Of course I mind," he protested amiably, "but I suppose you wish to devote several hours to dressing." She nodded. "Such a dream of a gown! Nina's presentl You'll see It I hope Gerald will be hero to see it He promised. I hope you'll liko my broth- , er Gerald when you meet him. Now I must go." Then, rising and partly turning to collect her furs: "It's quite exciting to have you here. We will bo good friends, won't we? And I think I bad better stop my chat- I ter and go, because my cunning little 1 Alsatian maid is not very clever yet ' Goodby." She stretched out one of ber amaz ingly white hands across the table, giv ing hlra n friendly leave taking nnd welcome all in ono frank handshake, and left him standing there, tho fresh ' contact still cool In his palm. Nina camo In presently to find bint seated before tho fire, ono hand shad- ' Ing his eyes, and as ho prepared to i rise sho rested both arms on his shoul ders, 'forcing him Info hlschalr agalnl "So you have bewitched Eileen, too, i havo you?" sho said tenderly. "Isn't sho tho sweetest llttio thing?" "She's ah as tall as I am," ho said, blinking at tho fire. "Sho's only nineteen; pathetically un spoiled a perfect dear. Men aro go-1 lng to rave over her and not spoil her. Did you over sco such hair that , thick, ruddy, lustrous copper tint? And sometimes It's like gold nflro! And a skin llko snow and peaches! Sho's 1 sound to tho core. I'vo had her exor- i clscd and groomed and hardened and trained from tho very beginning overy Inch of her minutely cared for exactly like my own babies. I'vo done my i r .- "Sow I mutt go." best" she concluded, with n satisfied sigh, and dropped Into a chair besldi her brother. "1 should say," observed Selwyn, "that she's equipped for the slaughter of man." "Yes. but I am selecting the vic tim," replied his sister demurely. "Oh! Are you? Already?" "Tentatively," "Who?" "Sudhury Gray, I think, with Scott Innls lor uu understudy, perhaps the Draymore man us alternate I don't know; there's time." "Plenty," be said vaguely, staring Into the fire, where a log had collapsed Into Incandescent ashes. Bhe continued to talk about Eileen until she uotleed that hit mind was on other matters. His preoccupied stare enlightened ber. She said nothing for awhile. But he woke up when Austin came In and settled his big body in a chair. "Drlna. the little minx, called me back on some flimsy pretext," be said, relighting his cigar. "I forgot that time was going, and she was wily enough to keep me talking until Miss Palsely caught me at It and showed me out I tell you," turning on Sel wyn. "children are what make life worth wh"- He ceased abruptly at a gentle tap from his wife's foot and Selwyn looked up. Whether or not he divined the Inter ference, he said very quietly: "I'd rath er have bad children than anything In the world. They're about the best there Is In life. I agree with you. Austin." His sister, watching him askance, was relieved to see his troubled face become serene, though she divined the effort "Kids are the best." he repeated, smiling at her. "Falling them, for second choice I've taken to the labora tory. Some day I'll Invent something and astouish you, Nina." "We'll fit you up a corking labora tory," began Austin cordially. "There ls"- "You're very good. Perhaps you'll all be civil enough to move out of the house if I lived more room for bottles and retorts." "Of course Phil roust havo his labora tory," insisted Nina. "There's" loads of unused room in tbla big barn, only you don't mind being at the top of the house, do you. Phil?" "Yes, I do. 1 want to be in the drawing room or somewhere so that you all may enjoy the odors and get the benefit of premature explosions. Oh. come now, Austin, if you think I'm going to plant myself here on you" "Don't notice him, Austin," said Nina; "he only wishes to be implored. And by the same token you'd both better let me implore you to dress!" She rose and bent forward In the fire light to peer at the clock. "Goodness! Do you creatures think I'm going to give Eileen half an hour's start wltb ber maid and 1 carrying my twelve years' handicap too? No, Indeed! I'm decrepit but I'm going to die fighting. Austin, get upl You're horribly slow anyhow. Phil. Austin's man such as he Is will be at your disposal, and your luggage Is unpacked." In the hallway Selwyn and Austin encountered a radiant and bewildering vision awaiting them Eileen in all her glory. "Wonderful!" said Gerard, patting the vision's rounded bare arm as he hurried past. "Fine gown, fine girl! But I've got to dress, and so has Phil ip." He meaut well. "Do you like it. Captain Selwyn?" asked the girl, turning to confront hlra where ho had baited. "Gerard Isn't coming, and 1 thought perhaps you'd be Interested." The formal, half patronizing compli ment on his tongue's tip remained there unsaid, no stood silent touched by the faint underrlnglng wlstfulncss in the laughing voice that challenged his opinion, and something within him responded In time: "Your gown Is a beauty; such won derful lace. Of course anybody would know It came straight from Paris or from somo other celestial region." She colored cncbantlngly and, with pretty, frank Impulse, held out both ber bands to him. "You aro a dear. Captain Selwyn! It Is ray first real dinner gown, and I'm quite mad about It, and somehow I wanted tho family, to sharo my mad ness with nie. Nina will. She gave It to me, tho darling. Austin admires It too, of course, but ho doesn't notice such things very closely, and Gerald Isn't here. Thank you for letting me show It to you before I go down." Sho gave both his hands a friendly little shako and, glancing down at her skirt In blissful consciousness of Its perfection, stepped backward into her own room. Later, while ho stood at bis dresser constructing nu Immaculate knot In bis white tie, Nina knocked, "Hurry, Phil! Oh, may I come in? You ought to bo downstairs with us, you know. And It was very sweet of you to bo so nice to Eileen. Tho child had tears In ber eyes when I went in. Oh, Just a single diamond drop In each. Your sympathy and Interest am tt i think the child misses her father on an occasion such as this the beginning of life, the first step out Into' the world. Men do not understand what tt means to us. Gerald doesn't I'm sure. I've been watching her, and I know the shadow of that dreadful tragedy falls on her more often than Austin and I are aware of. You ore among your own people, anyhowl" s His own people! The Impatient ten derness of his 8181610 words had been sounding In his cars all through the evening. They rang out clear and In sistent amid the tumult of the dinner. He heard them In tho laughing confu sion of youthful voices. They stole into the delicate undertones of tho mu sic to mock blm. The rustling of silk and lace repeated them. The high heels of satin slippers echoed them In Irony. His own people! The scent of overheated flowers, the sudden warm breeze eddying from a capricious fan, tho mourning thrill of the violins, emphasized tho emphasis of the words. And they sounded sadder and more meaningless now to him. here In his own room, until the monotony of their recurrent mockery began to unnerve him. He turned on the electricity, shrank from It extinguished it And for a long time be sat there in the dark ness of early morning, his unfilled pipe ' clutched In hjs nerveless hand. v To hemlltllltlci Leads Our Line. If Yeu Want a TYPEWRITER Don't Buy Until You See at the Citizen Office The 'SECOR' Invention of J. B. SECOR, a former Honcsdaler. It ha all the Improvements tltat other machines have, and none of their defe:ts: andhasem bodied a number of New Ideas that no other machine has. 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