Evening star., 1914-04-18
THE EVENING STORY.
House of Sacrifice.
Copyright. 1914. by W. werner.)


II began the Sunday afternoon they
walked out to Pink street to look at the
Tracys' new house The Tracy house
had reached that hopeful stage where
one can actually begin to conceive of 1t
as a completed structure. From an archi-
tectural point of view it was exceedingly
involved. Looked at squareiy from the
front it bore q close resemblance to the
Spanish style One side was Queen Anne,
the other Gothic. and the back-but no
body ever notices the back OF a house
except the mistress thereof. who spends
most Of her time there and no house is
built for her convenience SO much as
for what passers-by may think of it.
Madeline was very nuch taken with
the Tracys house inside and out. She
nearly spoiled her best pair of pumps
climbing about over concrete slabs and
granite clippings. And she went home
in an obviously uncomfortable frame Of
mind
Well" said Steven. iocuiarly. as they
sat later at their Sunday night supper,
now that you've seen Tracy's new house
! suppose you'll want me to build one
just like it
the dining room ceiling. where bulge
and crack appeared in the slightly faded
paper. All at once it came to her that
the whole house was horrid: it was so
small. so shabby. so poor looking. They
had lived there quite long enough with
Stevens present finances. Such a house
told on ones social standing 1t CALLED
her to think where Bess Tracy would be
socially once she was installed in her fine
new house in that fashionable neishbor-
hood. The fact that she was CALLED
showed in her tone as she replied:
Certainly. want you to build me one
Just like it. There's nothing unreason-
able in that. I'm sure
Steven laughed that provoking little
laugh of his Nothing unreasonable at
ALL my dear But You don't think for
one moment I'm going to do it. do you?"
Their giances crossed like swords. II
don't see why not. You're drawing a
good salary. with something in the bank
and this house clear. You might better
put your money into a decent new house
than into that car you're thinking of
buying" she replied.
AS source of enjoy ment the two
things can't be compared" Steven re-
torted. After being shut up in an Office
all day the car will give me needful air.
exercise and pleasure. You'll get the
good of ii, too. We can see lots of coun-
try and have good times that wouldn't
be possible without it. Well get more
society, too. in a way. for We can always
take couple of friends along. The more
the merrier in a car. In other words,
chine runs. l can get car for S1,J0O
or less and the house-but what's the use?
Tracy will spend $1,000 before it's ever
finished. But then he can afford to do it
if he likes. He's worth ten times what
am. besides having prospects. And his
wifes got money of her own
You're always referring to the fact
that she has money" Madeline said un-
reasonably. I'm sure it's not my fault
that l haven't any. But l could have
married some one with money If I hadn't
lost m yhead over YOU
She got up and went into the living
room and set the phonograph to playing.
The next day Madeline met Bess Tracy
at an auction bridge party and compli-
mented her upon the new house.
Yes. I think we shall like it Mrs.
Tracy said carelessly. Then. too. Pink
street is such a good locality. Why don't
YOU come out there yourself? There's
lot just opposite ours that You can buy.
If you've got any idea of building you
couldn't do better than get that lot And
then We could be such close neighbors,''
All the rest of that afternoon Madeline
played bridge with iner hands and eyes
alone: her thoughts were busy with far
different matters. She knew of Old that