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finery； and Hannah had not every week the heart to insist。 Even when； on an
occasional Saturday night the girl somewhat consciously and defiantly flung
down the money on the dining…room table she pretended not to notice it。 But
Janet； who was earning six dollars as a stenographer in the office of the
Chippering Mill； regularly gave half of hers。
The girls could have made more money as operatives； but strangely enough in the
Bumpus family social hopes were not yet extinct。
Sharply； rudely； the cold stillness of the winter mornings was broken by
agitating waves of sound； penetrating the souls of sleepers。 Janet would stir；
her mind still lingering on some dream； soon to fade into the inexpressible； in
which she had been near to the fulfilment of a heart's desire。 Each morning；
as the clamour grew louder； there was an interval of bewilderment； of
revulsion； until the realization came of mill bells swinging in high cupolas
above the river；one rousing another。 She could even distinguish the bells：
the deep…toned； penetrating one belonged to the Patuxent Mill； over on the west
side； while the Arundel had a high； ominous reverberation like a fire bell。
When at last the clangings had ceased she would lie listening to the overtones
throbbing in the air； high and low； high and low； lie shrinking； awaiting the
second summons that never failed to terrify； the siren of the Chippering Mill；…
…to her the cry of an insistent； hungry monster demanding its daily food； the
symbol of a stern； ugly； and unrelenting necessity。
Beside her in the bed she could feel the soft body of her younger sister
cuddling up to her in fright。 In such rare moments as this her heart melted
towards Lise； and she would fling a protecting arm about her。 A sense of
Lise's need of protection invaded her； a sharp conviction； like a pang； that
Lise was destined to wander： Janet was never so conscious of the feeling as in
this dark hour； though it came to her at other times； when they were not
quarreling。 Quarreling seemed to be the normal reaction between them。
It was Janet； presently； who would get up； shivering； close the window； and
light the gas； revealing the room which the two girls shared together。 Against
the middle of one wall was the bed； opposite this a travel…dented walnut bureau
with a marble top； with an oval mirror into which were stuck numerous magazine
portraits of the masculine and feminine talent adorning the American stage； a
preponderance of the music hall variety。 There were pictures of other artists
whom the recondite would have recognized as 〃movie〃 stars； amazing yet veridic
stories of whose wealth Lise read in the daily press： all possessed limousines…
…an infallible proof； to Lise； of the measure of artistic greatness。 Between
one of these movie millionaires and an ex…legitimate lady who now found
vaudeville profitable was wedged the likeness of a popular idol whose
connection with the footlights would doubtless be contingent upon a triumphant
acquittal at the hands of a jury of her countrymen； and whose trial for murder；
in Chicago； was chronicled daily in thousands of newspapers and followed by
Lise with breathless interest and sympathy。 She was wont to stare at this lady
while dressing and exclaim：
〃Say； I hope they put it all over that district attorney！〃
To such sentiments； though deeply felt by her sister； Janet remained cold；
though she was； as will be seen； capable of enthusiasms。 Lise was a truer
daughter of her time and country in that she had the national contempt for law；
was imbued with the American hero…worship of criminals that caused the
bombardment of Cora Wellman's jail with candy； fruit and flowers and
impassioned letters。 Janet recalled there had been others before Mrs。 Wellman；
caught within the meshes of the law； who had incited in her sister a similar
partisanship。
It was Lise who had given the note of ornamentation to the bedroom。 Against
the cheap faded lilac and gold wall…paper were tacked photo…engravings that had
taken the younger sister's fancy： a young man and woman； clad in scanty bathing
suits； seated side by side in a careening sail boat；the work of a popular
illustrator whose manly and womanly 〃types〃 had become national ideals。
There were other drawings； if not all by the same hand； at least by the same
school； one； sketched in bold strokes； of a dinner party in a stately
neo…classic dining…room； the table laden with flowers and silver；
the bare…throated women with jewels。 A more critical eye than Lise's；
gazing upon this portrayal of the Valhalla of success； might have detected in
the young men； immaculate in evening dress； a certain effort to feel at home；
to converse naturally； which their square jaws and square shoulders belied。
This was no doubt the fault of the artist's models； who had failed to live up
to the part。 At any rate； the sight of these young gods of leisure； the
contemplation of the stolid butler and plush footmen in the background never
failed to make Lise's heart beat faster。
On the marble of the bureau amidst a litter of toilet articles； and bought by
Lise for a quarter at the Bagatelle bargain counter； was an oval photograph
frame from which the silver wash had begun to rub off； and the band of purple
velvet inside the metal had whitened。 The frame always contained the current
object of Lise's affections； though the exhibitsas Janet saidwere subject
to change without notice。 The Adonis who now reigned had black hair cut in the
prevailing Hampton fashion； very long in front and hanging down over his eyes
like a Scottish terrier's； very long behind； too； but ending suddenly； shaved
in a careful curve at the neck and around the ears。 It had almost the
appearance of a Japanese wig。 The manly beauty of Mr。 Max Wylie was of the
lantern…jawed order； and in his photograph he conveyed the astonished and
pained air of one who has been suddenly seized by an invisible officer of the
law from behind。 This effect； one presently perceived； was due to the high；
stiff collar； the 〃Torture Brand；〃 Janet called it； when she and her sister
were engaged in one of their frequent controversies about life in general： the
obvious retort to this remark； which Lise never failed to make； was that Janet
could boast of no beaux at all。
It is only fair to add that the photograph scarcely did Mr。 Wylie justice。 In
real life he did not wear the collar； he was free and easy in his manners； sure
of his powers of conquest。 As Lise observed； he had made a home…run with her
at Slattery's Riverside Park。 〃Sadie Hartmann was sure sore when I tangoed off
with him；〃 she would observe reminiscently 。。。。
It was Lise's habit to slight her morning toilet； to linger until the last
minute in bed； which she left in reluctant haste to stand before the bureau
frantically combing out kinks of the brown hair falling over her shoulders
before jamming it down across her forehead in the latest mode。 Thus occupied；
she revealed a certain petulant beauty。 Like the majority of shop…girls； she
was small； but her figure was good； her skin white； her discontented mouth gave
her the touch of piquancy apt to play