The star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1908-1909, 1908-07-11

a INp(AiNiodNaAio III hoA
that our virtues disappear when
put In competition with our inter-
ests, as rivers lose themselves in
the ocean. This observation applied
in a measure to Nora O'Brien. Self
abnegation, that rare virtue that good
men preach and good women prac-
tise," n which entered so largely
into Patsy's moral makeup, was wholly
lacking in that of her Younger sister.
Nora had beer unable to hear all of
the conversation that followed Patsy's
egress from the bedroom. but she had
been able to catch enough from NAL
lory's loud tones to understand what
was happening. Very soon 1t had be-
come clear to her that the entire op-
probium Of the situation brought
about by her own foolishness and the
efforts of her sister to ave her was
being borne by Patsy. She had heard
the voice Of her mother raised in de-
nunciation of the girl and Mallory's
bitter taunt, indicating hat all be-
tween them was over, but she had not
had the courage to go out and face her
share of the music" to clear Patsy by
telling the truth. Crawford's outburst
had frightened her. and she had re-
manned trembling, fearful of the out
come, and allowed her sister to sacri-
fee herself. Nor had she breathed
easily until Patsy had called her forth
with the assurance that there was no
further danger.
So long as she herself had escaped
! nothing mattered much. Mallory's
break with Patsy did not strike her as
being serious. Patsy would easily be
able to square herself with him by ex-
planning the facts, and they between
them would find some means of hush
ing them up and of placating her moth
err. And, anyhow, 1t was Patsy's own
fault. What did she want to follow
her about for and mix up in things
that did not concern her? She forgot
that she had looked to her sister to
help her out of the predicament in
which she had found herself at the
theatre and her fear of facing her
parents because of the forged note.
All she cared to remember was that
she had been certain of getting the
note herself. 1t was true she had been
afraid of Crawford. The violence of
his declaration of love had alarmed
her. But she felt sure hat he would
Ac i'fo PNiehotSN III Io1o vi Nio pIO
test, for he VIA such a nice man and
liked her so much. The more she
thought about 1t the more she came to
look upon herself as a martyr to Pat
sy's interfering proclivities and as
sumption of the right to boss her. She
was deeply r~esentful also of Patsy's
rough treatment of her in the bedroom
and of the fact that her sister should
have dared to suspect her of having
gone to the bad" The net result of
this meddling, as she figured it, was
that Patsy had stirred up a row be-
tween Crawford and Mallory that had
caused them to end their partnership,
got herself into trouble with Mallory
and her mother. offended Crawford so
deeply that 1t was doubtful whether
her own former pleasant relations with
him, which might have ended in a
brilliant marriage, could be resumed
and, after all. had not succeeded in
getting the note.
The latter act Nora ascertained by
questioning Patsy when they found
themselves in the street The re1ec-
lions outlined above came afterward
while a cab, which Patsy fetched her
self while Nora remained in the hall
way at her sisters request so that she
should not walk on the street In her
satin slippers. was bearing them to
their home. The journey was made
in silence, save for Morals query and
Patsy's answer to it. When the cab
neared the street in which they lived
Patsy, saying that she would come
later, alighted and let Nora drive on.
Tell 'em you was took sick before
the show an had to come home" was
her parting injunction.
Patsy had no heart to enter the fiat.
where she thought her parents must
be by that time. She wanted a chance
to think and decide upon a plan of
She had been too unnerved by
what she had been through to be able
to collect her thoughts, but as
she walked on needless of where she
vas going the significance of what she
had brought upon herself for her sis
ter's sake forced itself upon her. What
hurt her more than even her mothers
words and belief in her guilt-and
they burned to her very souI-was that
Dan should have doubted her and cast
off with brutal scorn. The idea
he would not understand tina
something grave and extraordinary
have led to her presence there,
he would not trust her and wait
for her explanation. would never have
to her eve if h had had
to think before she took the des-
step she did to prevent the dis
covery of Nora and the supper table
In the bedroom. On the spur of the
moment she had confidently thought
hat her statement that she had come
10 Crawford's rooms on business
would suffice. She could not under
h a her appeal to him to trust
her had not been wholly sufficient, as
4 similar ANIMAL froro him m har in