Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-21

Closed Doors.

Wayne stood uncertainty on the board
ing-house steps, glancing up and down
the bleak. deserted street. The night
was cold and a keen wind whipped his
unbuttoned ulster round him. The woman.
watching him through the blind. so near
that he was within arms reach of her.
felt the tragedy of this hour. Her sense
of responsibility for one mans life had
prompted her confession in the ugly lit
tie parlor: but there stood another whose
need Of her was not less great. She had
sent Wayne Craighill away and she must
always think Of him as he stood there,
outside the threshold OF her life as it was
to be, blown upon by the winds of des-
tiny. A bit of paper. whirling in the
blast. was not more a thing of chance
than he.
A succession Of trolleys passed as
Wayne fingered, staring out upon the
street. He was hardly conscious of the
conflict that ragged within. the turbulent
spirit, the appetite already thwarted once
today. uncoiling like serpent and de-
manding to be satisfied. His heart was
in rebellion against whatever gods he
knew. No one in all the city was SO lone
as he; but there was always the great
resource. He glanced toward the heart
of the city; car was approaching and
ly and he started to run. 1t stopped with
harsh grinding Of the brakes. ard he
put his foot on the step. then swung
round, leaving an angry conductor swear
ing on the platform. and walked rapidly
toward home. Jean. waiting at the win
dow, saw and read with relief the mean
ing of his changed decision.
The spirit of the storm was not fiercer
than that in his own heart as he strobe
away, and as his blood warmed with the
a. rnic ho hnu 10 anti nc hf1ffafinO
in the gale. He had started up the long
avenue toward the East End, widening
at every step the distance between him
self and the haunts he had known in
drink. The internal struggle was less
strenuous. now that his body fought the
gale; and the remembrance OF Jean mes
tied hirdlike in his heart. She was a
woman unlike any that had ever been be-
fore in the world. and she had opened
her soul to him for q fleeing glimpse and
closed the door forever.
He STROBE on until midnight, with the
bare boughs of the trees bending over
him under the lash of the blast; and he
found himself at last quite near home.
and suddenly tired and weak, for he had
eaten nothing since his slight luncheon.
When he had gained the house and let
himself in he flung himself down In a
chair in the hall, and sat there, too weary
to go further. The weakness of hunger
was q new sensation and he felt SO
strange that he wondered if he were i'll,
and nothing that had happened seemed
real or possible.
He became aware of light step on the
stair, but In the dim light from the single
hall lamp he saw no one. moment
later the switch clicked and Mrs: Craig
hill stood gazing at him as he sat in one
of the high-backed hall chairs. his ulster
falling loosely round him, his hat on the
floor at his side. There was no mistak-
ing the meaning of her accusing glance.
Wayne" she cried. what are you do
ing here?"
He rose and chung wavering to the
chair. confirming her impression that he
was drunk.
I'm all right, Addie. I haven't been
drinking-not a drop. Don't make fuss.
I'll go up to bed i'm minute. I'm lit
tie knocked out, that's all"
He shook her off impatiently as she
tried to help him out of his coat.
please run along. Addie. I'm tired to
death, and / guess I'm hungry. I'll get
some crackers.
Nothing would serve now but that she
he followed her into the dining room.
where she lighted the alcohol lamp and
prepared to make tea. He protested, as
she came and went with things for his
luncheon. that far less would do. She
moved about softly in her slippered feet,
her dressing gown fluttering about her.
while he sat with his elbows on the tale
and his head in his hands. unheedful OF
her questions. She brought chair and
sat down near him to tend the kettle. and
waited what seemed an insufferable time
for him to speak. Finally she said:
Your father came in only little while
before l heard you. There was meeting
of the directors Of the Hercules National
tonight. He seemed very much troubled
when he came home"
Wayne lifted his head. Yes. l suppose
he is
Have the business troubles affected
him? He says there is no panic
Wayne reused himself at this and
grinned
You might be sure father would take
a sanguine view of the situation. That's
his way 1t doesn't make any difference
what you call it-a panic or shortage of
currency or anything else-the country's
been scared to death and the fright isn't
over yet.
He drank his tea and ate hungrily the
sandwiches she had made. The news that
his father had been at the bank until
midnight interested him: he knew that
the Hercules carried his fathers paper
for a very large amount. and that 1t was
maturing. Seeing that the mention of
the financial stringency had interested
Wayne Mrs. Craighill jumped to the con-
in jeopardy and that Wayne's condition
was due to the anxious state of affairs
down town. She had believed her hus-
band very rich and the thought that he
ing She had passed an unhappy day
after her interview with her husband that
morning touching the unfortunate Boston
excursion. She had spent the evening
alone and. though Wayne did not know
it. she had telephoned to the Allequippa
Club and to the Penn and asked for him.
She had much to tell him and as he
seemed more like himself, now that the
hot tea had warmed his chilled body, she
was quite ready to prOlong this interview
for her own relief and pleasure. She was
charming en- neglige. and her hair In long
braids added it's note Of intimacy.
Its nice to see you. II you won't tell
really and truly-Ill confess some
thing
"Well?" he scowled.
Dear me, you'll have to do a lot bet
ter than that, Wayne. dear"
Don't call me Wayne: it makes me
SICK
ooh she >pouted and threw herself
back in her chair.
what is it you wanted to tell me-" he
demanded.
Nothing"
Then don't make SO much fuss about
1t. You'd better go to bed"
I'm comfortable right now. but I've
been lonesome and unhappy all day. i
hoped you would come q long time ago.
1 kept a fine fire going for you-really
just for youth the library, and now
you're as cross and uninteresting as you
can be. l didn't suppose you Craighills
were all cross
80 father was cross was he?" asked
"Oh, terribly cross. I tried to be polite
hi nd Hn M int