The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-10-06

forward to seeing Sterling Jenner
again with unaffected interest. And,
anyway. 1 wouldn't think for a mo
ment Of dislocating your-plans.'
Mrs. Parsons glanced sharply at her
sister, but the girls face was as bland
ana vacant as that Of a sheep.
Mrs. Parsons was absolutely correct
when she said that the time had been
when Alice would have leaped with
heart and body, too, at the sound OF
Sterling Ssnner's coming. because at
that time Jenner not only told her that
Calico, Copernicus, and all the rest Of
the astronomers were wrong and that
she. Alice. was the true center OF the
universal system. but she knew that
at the time at least. he thought some
thing Of the sort. She was the center,
the great attracting power around
which he revolved. She not only took
certain stock in his protestations. but
she trusted him to the extent Of her
womanhood- There had been months
OF agony and hiding on her part and
Of deferment and excuses on hls-and
then when under the mantle Of her lies
she had ventured home again It was
10 loosen the girdle OF her honor had
found some one else as the subject for
his love experiments ana the new CEN
ter to his universal but shifting sys-
tenn OF attraction. In her retirement
Alice Greer had learned many bitter
things, but none so bitter as was her
discovery that Jenner's new lodestone
was her own sister.
Alice doubted at first II Isabel was
traitorous both 90 her sister and to her
husband, but as time went on with OBJ
portG@Ities fCf watching, the double
bitterness was borne in on her that
there was not only faithlessness, but
that with it absolutely cruelty went
hard in hand
Mrs. Parsons drove over with her
sister to meet the guests at the rail-
road depot and with affectionate en-
phHsis kept Alice by her side when
greeting the arrivals. So it was that
she saw Jenner flush as he took
Alice's hand.
Believe me-" said the man, II
should not have come had l known
you were here-unless 1 had secured
yoIr permission"
Jenner spoke very quietly. but Mrs.
Parsons overheard him and she deter
miTed to watch closely to see II any
effort were made to put new life into
dead ashes. But she might as well
hand in an attempt 10 snapshot a
bandi n an attempt to snapshot a
smile, as 10 surprise any teI!-taiis act
or word on her sisters part In her
guest for signs Mrs. Parsons even
went so far as TO risk comment by
her pronounced attentions to Jenne-.
but there came no sign from Alice
50 one night, It being then just II 80.
she went into Alice's room-for
slsterly goodnight chat-anG in the
course Of 1t said casually but desper-
ately:
why are you so markedly cold to
Mr.. Jenner2 People will notice the
difference between your attitude now
and that OF last year. Don't you
really care for him any moTe?"
Alice Greer turned from the dress
ing table where she was brushing her
nair-and half turning so that she
looked at her sister through the veil
of 1t. SAID: zone has 10 be careful
about attitudes. you know. in these
days of the Pharisee abroad and sis
ttrly watchfulness at home
Mrs. Parsons priclSed up ner ears
do you mean that Mr.. Jenner
shares In your caution2' she asked.
"Oh. Isabel replied Alice, throwing
back her hair. really l could not be-
tray Mr.. Jenner's conhdence--ev even If 1
had it."
Two bright red spots sIowed in Mrs
Parsons cheeks.
Even though he betrayed"
'.Tha. will 10. Isabel" said Alice.
Don't use the muck-rake and don't
try 10 tangie me UP N confessions.
Just take II for granted that my brain
may be shallow. but my heart is as