Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-10-30

In her love was something OF a moth
er's yearning.
Then like a fash came two and two
together. Her face blanched. and her
hands fell like dead weights at her
sides. She remembered nowi
After she and Cousin Yves had left
the bowling alley they had stopped in
to see the last act at the Empire. When
they came out 1t was nearing midnight.
AS they passed a certain alleyway that
sneaked of Center street a noisy group
OF boys turned In.
She had distinctly seer the loose belt
ed figure of Tom Baker and another
curly headed. hatlessl But she had
Immediately argued herself out OF be-
lieving her eyes. Now she felt con-
vinced.
81 saw you downtown last night"
came from virglnia's lips In a frozen
tone, unlike herself.
"Where?" demanded Dean, flushing
darkly.
Center street. between First and
Second West. In an alley"
Virginia. you didn't I wasn't there
Some ones been talking. Just let me
catch
'I saw You myself. Don't lie to me
againTs
It was an undreamed OF Virginia who
confronted hint
I'll only went In with the boys-to
look on" be defensively offered instead
Her %sternness put him at a disadvan-
tage, but anything to hold herl
.You said you were at the bowling
alley last night and you weren't"
Stampeded. confused. Dean hurried
with the truth.
well, then-In tell you. Only you
mustn't be too hard on me. A fellow
hit me here with a billiard cue In q
place on Columbine alley. And hen
there was a fight"
"Oh. Deanr Shuddering under the
destruction of hope and faith-a shat
tered ideal-Virginia hid her face In
her hands and sank into a chair.
Look at me-" he pleaded, falling on
his knees beside her and attempting to
raise her chin.
But her head only sank lower. and
SIG Puo4CG ~ ny A4G u10 <1t y
look at you any more-you lied to me-
1t NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS."
Dean stood up. He looked around
the big, familiar rooms suddenly grown
strange and hostile, and then at the
dark head bent because of him.
She was like a flower still, but life
less, bitten by the frost. A sob clutch
ed his throat and he tried the hardest
thing of all.
virginia, I'm not fit to touch your
hand-but-can't you forgive me, Vir-
gie-please?" he implored, bending over
her with trembling lips and heart smit-
ten with remorse.
But her one vulnerable spot had been
pierced. Pain had quenched the fame
of her love. and the ashes lay likas
stones In her breast. /
81 don't know. II Isn't that Wheths
er l forgave you or not, 1t could never
be the same" she repeated duly.
Sixteen and twenty, but the lightning
had struck.
Dean Strengthened his shoulders. "Do
you want me to goT'
Eyes," with a suggestion OF eager
ness. "And you had better take this
with you"
Rising, Virginia handed him his sig
net ring.
The tragedy was complete. This last
concrete instance Of their parting was
as the closing OF the casket 1 n a funeral
service.
The front door closed, and a man OF
twenty stumbled down the steps.
.virginia, didn't you hear the din
ner bellT" peremptorily called her ia
Their from the dining room.
sNo-I-I don't want any dinner"
replied Virginia from the hall where
she stood, outwardly calm as a statue.
inwardly nauseated with the pressure
OF unshed tears.
"Nonsensei Hurry In here! We've
got noodle soup. Where on earth is
Dean2' demanded her father, looking
up from a steaming tureen. ladle
poised in the air, as Virginia crept
alone into the dining room.
"He-didn't stay" she quietly re-
marked, slipping into her place at the
table.
whats the matter? Didn't he ask
you to the dancer Intercepted her
mother, righteously indignant
"~Yes-but-I'm going with father Il
/ go" was the astounding reply.
Certainly you may 81 with your
father" largely consoled the judge.
with a comprehending wink at bis
wife.
"Of counsel That's the very incest
way to go! And what are you think
ing of wearing" pursued Mrs. Parker
with tactful enthusiasm
81 ~think-Ill wear-Id like TO wear
my old white began Virginia. but
at the thought of that dress and its
intimate history she could no longer
! keep back the tears. Choking with