The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1913-12-06

alcoye. her cheek upon the pillow
atchlthily she cried herself To sleep
She thought OF tho flat, OF her
mother working night after might
In the little Kitchen. OF the racke,
rising from the rough street 10 her
window. disturbing sleep in tho
close alcoye. She thought OF the
days before her, each one like ia
predecessor. and OF her mother
finishing her life on one OF them
without ever having enjoyed some
thing better"
"Oh. what u fool wnsi"
Summer passed. fall brought cold
rains, and IN the nombor streets the
first snow fell.
Walking home one evening
through the fine avenue where.
perv9rrely. she still tormcnted her
self by gazing AT that other world.
che saw rtriding toward her a tall
figure. with giistening hat and
pumps and a fur.lined freht-coat.
In a fash she felt an acute. burn.
Ing pain below her heart. II was
ho again.
lie stopped before her. They
stood motionless, Needless OF the
people who brushed past them with
aHksnce looks. Presently she found
herself walking slowly beside him
in n by-street. his hand beneath her
arm. He began 20 speak. and tho
rich vibration OF his voice made
her tromble
why did you do IT, why were
you 70 cruelT have had Il terrible
time ever since Whenever ] zee
n slender figure indistinctiy In a
dark street. my heart leaps into my
throat and think; IT is she,'
when | close my eyes. see you
why aid you run away from met
would do everything for you
would like 20 sec you always ms you
looked thu, day. in the silver dress
love you"
"You dor she asked. in voice
which she did not recognize az hers
She felt his arms about her. In
the shadows OF the empty street,
lifting her nearly off her feet. he
kissed her. and she smeiled dell
cIons odor OF lilac water. She knew
nothing All was lost WHEN he
left her. after walking with her for
several blocks. she had promised
20 meet him the next night,
The next night she told her
mother calmly tina, she WAS going
10 visit n shop-girl who was sick.
-. oil 80
sip. asked Bertha all abou; the In.
valid. Tho daughter was forced
10 invent a long story II was her
first direc, lie 10 her mother She
told herself ano,her-and tried ~
believe it--when. setting out. ms
short OF breath AS IL she had been
running. abe kept repeating: 1T
will be all right There IN no harm
In going 10 dinner. IL there7 He
has been slandered; he In good
shouldn't ! know' He loves me.
for he said so. Then why should
he not marry NOR
She entered Broadway. At once.
upon her beat binding light:
from thousands OF globes scintillai.
'ng before theatres. from many fan.
'as''c signs aioff. which. rookie;
like. burst every moment into bril-.
linncy. from the green glare emit.
ted by shop windows. turning all
faces shastly. In this illumination.
lowering her head. she FASTENED
through the crowd like a guilty per.
son fearful OF detection. She
bumped Into woman who was
sauntering along. swinging n hand
purse. gaiiy dressed. wearing n
great hat full OF feathers. Bertha.
looking up. recognized her. Il was
the wife OF the glass-cuttcr
The woman's face was close 20
Bertha's Tho Intense green light
from a shop window Illuminated IL
turning 10 purple the rouge on the
cheeks, revealing fully the furtlyo
anxiety and the exhaustion STAMPED
on tho dcterforated counienancc
She recognized Bertha and
smiled. with an expression which
drew sun crease down from each
corner OF her mouth. She ex.
claimed:
here'"
Her utteranee seemed like n cor.
dial welcome.
Bertha turned and walked away
blindly. knocking against pedes.
TRANS. She reached the cool dark
streets. She went on and on. nj
random. like n somnambulist. She
stared up at the clear sky. spread
out Ike great canopy Of blue.hlach
velvet. and was amazed TO see shin.
Ing there the countless stars. cold
calm. unaffected. immutable-just
as they had always been.
She reached the flat.house and
slowly climbed the four staircases
She opened the door. George was
sitting In her rocking chair. taking
to her mother.
He had on fireman's uniform.
He rose. trembling from apprehen,
sion. unable 10 speak. HIS face
TRANSPORTED by a look OF dumb dc.
yotion.
For a moment che could not be-
lieve Il true.
Then. In faltering voice: "Oh,
George" she cried. and reached out
her hands TO him.
tTHE END)
The fellow who 10 riding his hob.
by expects all the world TO get out
OF his way.-Macon News.
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