Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 194, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1911 — REGINA’S DEN [ARTICLE]

REGINA’S DEN

By JANE OSBORN

(Copyright, IBM. by AMociafd Liurag PrtoJ

The Blisses were gathered In thpir coxy living room for one of their long, cheerful evenings together. There were four of them—Richard, Tom, Maud and Reglha. Richard, the head of the family, looked scarcely more than a boy himself, but there was his pretty wife, Maud, sitting at his side darning very small white socks. At the other end of the table sprawled Richard’s young brother Tdtn, with a look of uncomfortable determination, over a book whose contents he was not absorbing with any too great ease. Regina, Richard’s sister, who taught school and longed to be literary, had withdrawn to a far end of the room where by the light of two shaded candles she was trying to write. Tom grated his teeth. For Just a moment he was perilously near saying something that gentle, little Maud didn’t allow on these pleasant family evenings. Instead he slammed his book together and came out with a loud, “Rats!” that made Regina pause forcibly in her writing and sent her muse flying, “it just makes my blood boil,” Tom went on, "Jo be stuck with a subject like Latin. The dean says I can’t get my degree If I don’t pass the examination this time.” “Say, Sis,” he said presently, appealing to Regina, “have you seen that tutor of mine? He’s a corker — captain of the crew when he was In college, played first base on the team. He’s the best set up fellow I ever saw r anywhere.” “I don’t see that that has anything to do with bis being a good Latin tutor,” said Regina. “No, I haven’t seen him. Does he come to the house?” , „ ■" “Yes, -®v©ry afternoon. He’ll becoming for the next two weeks, till that beastly old exam comes off. He’ll get me through If anyone could." Regina went back to her writing. Presently Maud looked over at her. “Regina,” she said sweetly, “have you seen Baby’s new tooth today? It’s just as white and nice—l meant to show it to you ” Regina’s patience had been tried to the limit. “Well, of all the places to try to write!” she exclaimed. “I thought you all knew I didn’t want to be talked to. Nbw this settles it I’ll just have to have a den. I've been thinking of it a long time and now I’m settled. Pll rig up s place in the attic where I can be quiet. It’s a perfect shame the way we all herd together—just stick down here as if we 41d Q ’t have an original idea in our heads.” “Why, Regina,” said Maud tearfully, “I thought you liked being with us. We’ve always been so fond of each other till now.” Here there was a little sob. “Oh, to think I have driven you to the attic!” "Don’t be silly,” said Regina. T can’t poke off in my bed-room, so I’m Just going to rig up a place in the attic. Why, I almost think I can write something worth while if I can get off by myself.” In spite of tearful protests on the part of Maud and jests on tha part of her two brothers Regina was installed in her sanctum In the attic. Here, with a desk and a lounge, a bookcase filled with her favorite books and the walls covered with her favorite prints and photographs Regina had a place that was to be all her 6wn. One evening after Regina had retired to this sanctum with a freshly filled fountain pen and her brain full of ideas, her voice was heard in the upstairs hall calling her brother Tom, in none too gentle accents. Tom left his books in the living room below and went two steps at a time to see what his sister wanted. He followed her into the attic and there by the light of the shaded desk lamp he saw the reason for his hasty summons. Regina pointed to a group of cigarette ends, and a box of overturned matches that lay on the blotter at the end of her desk. Tom, In spite of his six feet of dauntless manhood, crumpled before his sister. “I’m awfully sorry, sister,” he said, "but to tell you the truth Harry Titus, that tutor of mine, and I have no other place to go. You know what It Is down In .the living room with Maud and the baby coming in and out It was Just my luck to forget to clear up the cigarettes after him, though.” ’Tve suspected It for a week," said Regina sternly. "I find matches In the rose jar and ashes In the pen tray, and look,” she said, drawing forth a bundle of her manuscript covered with Latin words written In a masculine hand. “If that Mr. Titus did that please see that be doesn’t repeat the offense. Didn’t he know that this was my den?” Tom promised faithfully never again to Invade the sanctity of his sister’s den and returned to his bookk. But the next day when the athletlo tutor refused to give his lessen in the hubbub of Maud’s little \ living room Tom was forced to break hla promise. As Regina didn’t get home from school till four and' the lesson was over at half-past three Tom felt that be would have no trouble In covering his guilt Accordingly the lesson was given as usual (n Regina’s den. Just as they were about to end

the lesson Maud’s frantic voice was heard on the stairs. "Thomas, Thomas. Bliss, come here at once! Don't let that Mr. Titus out!” And then as the two men ran to the door to see what was the trouble Maud continued her cries. “Don’t let him out I say! They’ve got measles at the college dormitory and he has come from there and he’ll give It to baby. I just found it out.” Mr. Titus didn’t deny the fact that there was a case of measles at the dormitory and that he lived there. He hadn’t dreamed, however, that he was in any way dangerous. But Maud was stubborn and after she had got Tom out of the attic room turned the key on the tutor to make sure that he didn’t escape. Then rhe dispatched Tom to the health bureau to get someone to come and fumigate the offensive tutor before she would let him pass through the hall to the front door. Before many minutes tihd passed Regina x came id from school, let herself in the front door and, impatient to be at her writing, passed up to her attic den. As she pushed back the door and stepped into her room she almost fell upon the astonished Mr. Titus. Hp had been sprawling on her couch, reading her favorite poems, resting his head on her cushions. For a moment they stood looking at each other. “You see, I am dangerous." he bebegan.’ “No I don’t,” said Regina, feeling added resentment at the unusual looks of the intruder. “Aren’t you afraid of me?” he asked pleadingly. Regina raised her brows haughtily, and it was not until this presumptuous Mr. Titus had actually urged her to be seated in her own sanctum and had seated himself at her side that he was able to explain to her the cause of the disturbance. It was Regina’s turn to be apologetic thou. “It’s a shame for Tom to drag you up to this crazy attic.” she said; “it’s just a fad of mine.” After this under the magnitude of the tutor’s manner Regina forgot t£at she had ever objected to his lntru- 1 sion.and wondered why Tom had never introduced him to her. *"I have wanted to meet you, Miss Bliss,” the tutor told her. ‘ln fact it has been something of a hardship not beln~ able to know you.” In a few more minutes Regina was busy over her tea table, and as the tutor’s eyes met hers as she passed him his cup of tea, she caught herself blushing foolishly. It was not till /after the light of day had begun to fade, and Regina had lighted the shaded lamp on her desk that they heard footsteps on the sjairs below. “I think they have come to let you out, now,” she said as she started to the door. But the tutor slipped behind her and held it closed. "Don’t open it till you promise one thing,” he begged as he put his hand over hers on the door knob. “I want to come here and see you often. Right here —away from everybody but you. You will let me, won’t you?” Regina whispered “yes,” and then laughed as she opened the door. There was Tom, breathless and excited. “They don’t have to fumigate you at all,” he gasped. “The man at the board of health said you couldn’t carry It. Oh, hellb, sister. I guess you know Mr. Titus by now.” It was about a month later. Tom had taken his finals in Latin and had passed with credit to himself and his tutor. Now he had come up to see his sister in her den. There was a large jar of roses on the desk, a halt a dozen new books, a few prints on the wall that a more suspicious eye than Tom’s would have recognized as new.

Suddenly he caught sight of some papers on the desk. "That looks like Titus’ writing,” he said. “He must hawe scribbled over everything.” He looked up to see Regina blushing with her eyes cast down. She quickly folded the papers in her hand. "Tom, dear," she said coming towards him and putting her arms up around his broad shoulders. . “Tom, 1 want-to ask .you. to forgive me for being so cross about your bringing your tutor up here. I’ve wanted to ask you to forgive me. I am really glad you did bring him. You see he liked it, and —well, you see he came so often after you showed him the waythat—” Tom looked densely and helplessly at his sister, who stood before him with tears glistening in her eyes. "That we are going to be engaged, and I want to thank you.”