Middletown transcript., 1916-03-11

--@S4<3aos5
AS Judge Healey, gray-haired but
erect, walked up the avenue his keen
glance fell on Gerry Lansing standing
across the street before an art deal
er's window. Gerry's eyes were fas-
tened on a picture that he had long
had in mind for a certain nook in the
library of the town house.
1t was the second anniversary of his
wedding, and though it was already
late in the afternoon Gerry had not
yet chosen his gift for Alix. He
turned from the picture with a last
long look and a shrug and passed on
to a palatial jewelers. farther up the
street,
For many years Judge Healey had
been foster-father to Red Hill in gen
eral and to Gerry in particular. With
almost womanly intuition he read
what was in Gerry's mind before the
picture and acting on impulse the
judge crossed the street and bought it.
While the judge was still in the pic
ture shop Gerry came out of the jew
eler's and started briskly for home
He had purchased a pendant of bril-
liants, eXtravagant for his purse but
yet saved to good taste by a simple
originality in design.
He waited until the dinner hour and
then slipped his gift into AIix' hand
as they walked down the stairs to-
gether She stopped beneath the hall
light. 81 can't wait. dear, simply
can't" She snapped open the case
''Oh! she gasped. How dear! How
perfectly dear! You old sweetheartw
She threw her arms around his neck
and kissed him twice Then she flew
away to the drawing room in search
Of Mrs. Lansing and the judge. the
sole guests to the little anniversary
dinner Gerry Strengthened his tie
and followed.
AliX' tongue was rippling-her whole
body was rippling-with excitement
and pleasure. She dangled her treas
ure before their eyes. She laid it
against her warm neck and ran to
mirror. The light in her eyes matched
the light in the stones. The judge
took the jewel and laid 1t in the palm
of his strong hand. 1t looked in dam
ger of being crushed. "a beautiful
thing, Gerry" he said, land well cho-
sen. Some poet jeweler dreamed that
twining design and set the stones
while the dew was still on the grass"
After dinner the four gathered in
the library, but they were hardly seat
ed when Alix sprang up. Her glance
had followed Gerry's startled gaze.
He was staring at the coveted picture
he had been looking at in the gallery
that afternoon. 1t hung in the niche
in which his thoughts had placed it.
AliX took her stand before it. She
glanced inquiringly at the others. Mrs.
Lansing nodded at the judge. Alix
turned back to the picture and gravity
stole into her face. Then she faced
the judge with a smile.
1--WE live" she said, lin a PhiIistine
age. don't we? But I've never let any
Philistinism drive pictures from their
right place in the heart. Pictures in
art galleries" she shrugged her pret-
ty shoulders-"I have not been trained
up to them. To me, they are mount
ed butterflies in a museum, cut flow
ers crowded at the florists. But this
picture and that nook-they have
waited for each other"
A strange stiffness followed on Alix'
words. To the judge and to Gerry it
was as though the picture had opened
window to her mind. Then she
closed the window. "Come, Gerry"
she said, turning. MAKE your bow
to the judge and bark"
Gerry was excited, though he did
not show it. "You have dressed my
thoughts in words l can't equal" he
said and strolled out on to the little
veranda at the back of the house. He
wanted to be alone for a moment and
think over this fash of light that had
followed dark day. For the first time
in long while Alix had revealed her
self. He did not begrudge the judge
his triumph. He knew instinctively
that coming from him instead of from
the judge the picture would not have
struck that intimate spark.
The next day Gerry gave his consent
to Allx' plan for a flying trip abroad,
but with a reservation. The reserva-
ton was that she should join some
party and leave him behind.
Judge Healey heard of this arrange.
ment only when it was on the point