Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-01-24
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THE NOVEL OF THE YEAR e4NSqS7sh e4YS5Ssgsh x %tsgyI

to good taste by simple originality in
| design 9'''''i''E III
| lie waited until the dinner hour and
| then slipped his gift into Alix's bord as
| tney walked down the stairs together
she stopped beneath the hail Iieht "i
can wait, dear; I simply can't" She
| snapped open the case "Obi" sho
| gasped. How dearl How ,,or,,,,I,s
| dear! You old sweetheart" she throw
| her arms around his neck and Lissed
| hlm twice. Then she flew away to tbo
drawing room i'm search of Mrs ronsiny
ana the Judge, the sole guests TO the
lltlIe anniversary dinner. Gerry straight
ehed his tie and followed.
Aims tongue was rippling-hor whole
ovuS was rlppling-with excitement and
| pleasure. She danPled her treasure no
lore their eyes. She laid IL against hcr
warm neck and ran to n mirror. Tho
llEht IN hCr eyes matched tho Upht ~,
! the stones The Judge took the level
and laid 1t In the palm Of his strong
hand. 1t looked in danger of being
crushed. "A beautiful thing, Gerry" hc
saul and well chosen Some poet
JeWeler dreamed that twning design and
set the stones while tnc dew was on
the grass"
After dinner the four gathered in the
library but they We're hardly seated
when AliN sprang up Her glance had
followed Gcrry's startled gaze lie was
staring at the coveteu picture he had
been looking at In the gallery this ortor.
noon IL hung IN the niche in which his
thoughts had placed It Alix took hcr
stand before IT. She hIanCed inuuirinElv
at the others. Mrs. Lansing nodded at
tne Judge AliN turned back to the
picture ana gravity sole into her face
Ihen she faced the Judge with a smile
We live. she said, "in n phflistinc
age. don't We? But I've never let NV
Philistnism drive pictures from their
right place in the heart. Pictures in nrt
galleries" she shrugged her pretty
shouiders-"1 have not been trained up
to them.
ITO me, they are mounted butterflies
IN n museum cut flowers crowded at tho
horists But this picture and that nook
they nave waited or each other You sec
the picture nesting down for n long rest.
ana 1t seems small thing and then
1t catches your eye and holds 1t, and
you see that it is n little door that opens
on a wide world, IL has slipped into the
room and become II part of life"
strange stiffness followed on Allx's
words, To the Judge and to Gerry II
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 ii. You have dressed my thoughts
in words | 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 moment and think over this
flash of light that had followed n dark
day. For the first time in a long while
AlN had revealed herself lie did not
beSrudge 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
Alx's plan for a flying trip abroad but
with reservation. The reservation was
that she should join some party and
leave him behind
Judge Hcaley heard Of this arrange
mcnt only when it was on the point of
being put into effect. In fact he was
only just in time at the steamer to wave