Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-25

SIT was your hope; hadn't any when you
came. and you and Lawrence tried to cheer
me up last night: by the way. when did
he go? I got a message from him, but
think I was almost in q stupor.
Mary was putting on her hat In front or
one of the long mirrors. and the fingers
which guided the hatpins were little un-
steady About midnight. l think" she
replied vaguely, with an indetinable change
of tone. which was not missed by the other
woman.
I'm afraid you and Lawrence don't get
on" she said timidly laying gsnti nile ha an,
tremendously-bu you-there was some
thing in your face last night
Mary had arranged her hat now. and her
veil fell lightly over her face, but 1t did
mirably" she said cheerfully: but we don't
always agree-that sounds like contradlc-
tion-doesnt it?
Most women are born matchmakers: Har-
riet had not escaped the faint; she walked
to the door with her arm around her friend
"Oh. Mary. l had hoped she muir
INJURED. I'm sure you're made for each
other-and Lawrence-no one quite under
"And you think should?" Mary retorted
lightly; my dear Harriet, l am the most
difficult person in the world to fathom. so
they tell me- and yet my character is as
shallow as plate-I simply love luxury
and comfort and happiness-just like every
one else. There aren't as many exceptions
as you think"
Harriet shook her head. looking after her
doubtfully, half hopefully, halt disap-
pointed
There was a half moon Of broad mac
adamized driveway under the porte
cochere and at the curve. where 1t turned
into the street Mary kissed her hand, and
Mrs. Cheever closed the door with tender
little sigh.
1t was chilly April morning: the rain
of the night before had left the smooth
streaming with water and a
light vapor floated in the distance. at the
end of the long vistas of the avenues while
overhead the broken clouds showed vivid
light in the morning sky. A Towering pear
thrust it's white branches. like spectral
arms. through the high iron fence of
garden at the corner. and the wind OF the
night had whitened the ground below with
its scattered petals. The streets were alive
with the throng Of laborers going to their
days work. tin pals in hand. and the
produce wagons were creak1ng along the
thoroughfare. Half the house doors were
still closed and the morning newspapers
lay fiuttering at the thresholds. Here and
there the inevitable negro stopped sweep
ing the front steps to shout converse
ton across at the driver OF some wagon.
who pulled up and blocked traffic to finish
the argument.
It was the first time that Mary had been
out so early. and the commonplace scenes
brought her back to the realities of life.
The nearness Of death in the Cheever house
had made these everyday matters seem
vague and unreal. She remembered-with
the startled feeling which comes to us at
such realizations-that these scenes would
have been the same If death had come,
that its presence scarcely breaks the thread
of continuous life around IT.: the world goes
on. passes us by. lying still there. and for
gets u.s. as a stream casting pebble aside
on its shores continues to babble on in the
sunshine. The mystery of death Is scarce
ly greater than the mystery Of life
Once more in her own room Mary had
Al thn f,sfi ~ hnF
poses A servant brought her breakfast
remembered the vtvidness Of her intention
to tell Harriet all. The pavement OF hell
has passed into an apothegm which must
be true II the old-fashioned hell OF the
philosopher exists, to be paved at ALL But
Mary consoled herself with the thought
that it would have been little less than
cruel to have spoken to Harriet Of such
an affair at such moment, and there
would surely be other opportunities. After
her sleepless night the warmth and ease of
her room lulled her into a half drowsy
state and she sat looking at the sunlight
trying to break through the clouds. She was
almost happy. the recollection of Lawrence
Ryland's words, of his look which had re-
assured her trembling doubts of his voice.
comforted her with a belief In the endur
ance of his love; he was not proof against
her beauty and her charm. it seemed al
most possible to believe that he would for
give her the artitice which had led to their
meeting and in the eyes of love her Of
Tense would be- afr all. what 1t had
seemed at first to her. an innocuous farce,
bit of play eting. d chance peep of the
land of promise.