Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1904-09-17
,ey've got to learn by living"


l Lord. yes" said Hayward. witbou,
a trace of bitterness in his voice
chats the only school Young things
will concentrate on a supreme passion.
They don't know the solid comfort in
scheme of life that is all things TO
| all men-especiaiy to all women"
| Except one. Nell doesn't come into
that scheme, of course"
| "Nell?" inquiringly.
Naturally | spoke of Nell Grifis
| Heyward," with an icy little tinkle in
her voice.
| Hayward laughed good-naturedly.
But why? l never philosophical for
ner benefit. | always thought her a
doll with a sawdust heart begging
your pardon"
| My pardon?' Kitty stared at him
IN amazed indignation For the first
| time her glance went down the room
| that showed no trace of a woman s
| presence
| Where is she?" she asked
| Who? Oh. Mrs Hayward AT ono
of her eternal card parties. probabIv >,
hltty's eyes had sobered Again
tney swept the long, dusty, tobacco
| scented room that showed no woman 5
| touch anywhere. And it had come to
| thiSi
ohe thought of the foolish little ouar-
| rel that had separated her from Hev-
ward. Remembered the wild wav the
| flowers on the wall had danced when
she read. over and over. that her. old
friend, Nell Griffis, was going to marry
Lewis Heyward-the man to whom she
mad been engaged not six months be-
| fore
one mad believed things would come
rIsht between them down to the very
oay the flowers swayed on the wall
and, believing, had dreamed. as women
VIII while time lasts. Because of the
little dreams sweetness she had mt
an ocean between herself and Howard
| and kept it there.
haven't kept up with Mrs. Hey
ware! Heyward's voice was cheer
iu. IL seemed to sway to her as from
distance. "She chases the butterfly.
DID 1t ever occur to you, Kitty. that
hymnal beatitudes are not always what
they're cracked up to be?"
Kitty got to her feet. She was very
indignant, and very disappointed. Not
| so much with Hayward as with her
self. For three years. although at
times she wanted to shrek out at her
bondage, she had wandered, trying to
| forget an idol clay to his chin.
She held out her hand in farewell
| and the light went out of Heyward's
| face.
women do not love perfect men. He
was still an idol. Clay. probably. but
lonely. to all appearances deserted and
she had quarreled with him foolishly.
Il thought you were happy" she
said. as she dropped back into her
chair wanted you to be-" The
pathos in her voice reached him.
He went to her uncertainty. Child"
he said, those big fires you spoke of
burn down to cold looking ashes that
have live embers under them. Child"
But she shrank from him.
He went back to his chair and sat
down. leaning back as though tired.
When Mrs. Hayward came in with a
silken swish of skirts few moments
later she didn't notice Kitty's detection
or that Hayward was just about as
cheerful as a funeral director-she was
not an observing woman.
She fell on Kitty affectionately. I've
been 20 the train" she said. 1--WE
searched the streets, and stopped at the
hotels If | had not met an old hack
man | know who is burdened with a
conscience | would not have found you.
Why didn't you bring her TO me MIR.
Hayward? Lewis" to a mans figure
lDnnnH In ha
better come here and meet Kitty be-
fore she vanishes into the air. She
ran away just before our wedding. Mr..
Hayward. And she's been prowling
about over there ever since. What
made you stay so long? Didn't you
get very lonely, Kitty"
Il thought-thought--" Kitty's voice
sank and stopped. How they all stared,
And the deadly faintness that She felt
that long gone day when the flowers
reeled on the wall was overtasinr her.
That day her Lewis Hayward was en-
gagged or wasn't-she couldn't tell with
her senses swaying so.
81 thought" she stammered again.
and huns frightened appeal at Hey
ward.
A sudden light shone in on his dense
soul. He put a steady hand on her
shoulder, lightly. "I'n just have to
make a clean breast OF it he said. re-
assuringly. she came in here and
found me reading a telegram from
some fellows that meant to dine with
me tonight, Mrs. Hayward She
thought it was her message to YOU;
that she was in your house She's
a great one to jump at conclusions. I
should have told her at once, of
course"
81 see" said Mrs. Hayward. She
sent her mind back nimbly. and smiled
broadly. II seeI"
You DON'T" said Kitty, thrillingly
conscious of the pressure of those fin
gers on her Misunderstanding, tight
ening fingers-'you DON'T" Suddenly
she laughed a low, sweet bubbling
laugh of content that Hayward echoed
with deeDer notes "Rut Nell we {"