Natalie Sumner Lincoln

“ Parsons acknowledged to herself if to no one else—she was chary of spoken praise. Kitty had not only an accurate knowledge of social life in Washington, having enjoyed belleship since her first “tea dance” at Rauscher’s which one of her aunt’s old friends had given in her honor, but possessed unbounded tact and a kindly heart. Her aunt, Miss Susan Baird, had seen to it that she was well educated and thoroughly grounded in French and German. Having a natural gift for languages, Kitty had put her early training to good account in her war work as a translator and code expert. ”

“ That house of hers is sort of ghastly—”
“For any one who suffers from nerves,” she put in, and he flushed at the irony of her tone, “Kitty has plenty of courage. I—” she smiled. “I am inclined to think that Kitty has inherited some of her aunt’s prejudices—”
“She couldn’t inherit any likes—that abominable aunt of hers hated everybody.” Wallace spoke with such bitter feeling that Mrs. Parsons restrained a smile with difficulty.
“Poor Kitty,” her tone was full of sympathy. “I am glad she has Ted Rodgers to lean on.”
Wallace flushed angrily. “He’s the one who has made all the trouble,” he began. ”

“ Wallace moved a trifle and shaded his face with his hand. “I’ve just come from ‘Rose Hill.’”
“And how is Kitty? Did you see her?” Mrs. Parsons spoke with such rapidity that her questions ran together.
“No.” Wallace compressed his lips. “She sent down word that she begged to be excused.”
“Oh!” Mrs. Parsons lowered her embroidery and regarded her companion. He looked wretchedly ill, and the haggard lines were deeper than ever. For a man of his height and breadth of shoulder, he seemed to have shrunken, for his clothes appeared to hang upon him. ”