New-York tribune., 1912-03-03


other, stood modestly with her conquerlng
eyes downcaSt:
~Victor. YOU have drunk too much. Drop
that girls hand at once and let me take you
home"
Unmindtul Of their manners in the deSper-
ate interest Of the scene thus enacted before
them, Mrs Cobb's guests crowded close IN
ring. jostled one anothers shoulders, even
climbed on chairs for better view. Around
us there was no noise but their strained
breathing, together with the monotonous
music from the stage and the occasional
cink Of glasses from the other tables. We
tor shook off his mothers hand as though 1t
had been a butterfly.
NO. Mother. my mind is made up. |
can't stand this any more. Lii dOesn I want
to marry me, any ymore than want 10 marry
her Here's the girl want for my wife
and by Heaven I'm going to have her.
In their two faces there was something
terribe.-thcSe two faces of mother and OF
son. stamped not only in the same image but
in the same mask OF tragic rage and OF bitter
rcsolution-and turned against each other
Mrs Cobb spoke first in a choked voice.
"You desert me- your mother: You desert
Lii! You marry thiS-thiS person; VIC
tor. YOU know the consequences.
Her sons voice seemed the echo OF hers,
identical in tone as in intensity. Keep your
moncy-that is, my fathers money. You We
treated me like a child long enough. Now
I'm man, and by Heaven I'll take man 5
rights | guess | can work for my wife as
well as the next fellow. Will YOU marry me
without a penny, Fay?
For answer she clung TO his arm. Yes,
perhaps she loved him after all; tor what
else but love could have worked that mira
ce could have pierced that dull hide OF
egotiSm and self indulgence, have galvanized
that inert hulk into life. could have made OF
Victor Cobb, as he himself said. man,
WANTED to clap my hands in pure admlra-
ton, to shout Bravo, Victor. after him as,
still holding Fay by the hand, he walked
reSolutey away toward the elevator HIS
mother, as though turned to stone, stood
gazing after him with anguished eyes.
Upon my word" heard voice mutter
~ somewhere near me. "One has to
admire the fellow. after all"
Fright YOU are" | wanted TO cry out in
response But a sudden thought came to
me and took my breath. Since OF his own
free will Victor had abandoned me- was
frcc-free TO go TO Henry.
All, Henry, my dear, dear Henry! The
thought of him in that instant was too much
for me, and began to cry.
Instantly and from all quarters there was
a rush of consolation toward me. From the
deserving bridegroom, attention was at once
recalled to focus itself upon the deserted
bride
"Ah, poor little thing Dear Made
moiscllc, try to control yourself. Poor
little creature, what tragedy for her. -
While somewhere in the immediate back
ground heard Aunt Elizabeth 5 voice BOOM
ing majcStically:
IL have heard much, Mrs. Cobb, of the
disobedicnce OF American children; but |
must say, your son-
While Portia's voice, thin and correct, in
my ear, "Thcrc, don't cry. poor Lii, It's
really too distressing. | pity you with all
my heart
But through the compassion OF her words
struck a note OF secret pleasure that under
stood,-in a few short hours had not our
positions, according to all human probabil-
ity, been precisely reversed? And Portia
was pitying me- triumphing over me. The
idea was too ridiculous, and | burst out
laughing. Then, somehow, the laughter got
tangled up with the tears. and when tired
to stop laughing | found that | couldn t.
But the absurd part OF it was, all the time |
was laughing for sheer happlneSS-Henry,