The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-02-26

faltered. 1T was n mistake--our
marriago7"
Yes" he said rcstleszly. Yes.
II wasn't fair"
sho had no means OF knowing
that he meant It was unfair 10 her
She held on 10 herself. tho she felt
her face turning cold with the sud.
den pallor OF fright.
Sho stopped TO get her breath and
catch nc tho only things that mat
tered--steadineHs. quietnesA. ability
20 aootho Allanl e.
IT can be annulled." sho said
evenly. nut listen 10 me now.
Allan. II cant be done tonight,
or before YOU are stronger so for
your own sake you must try 10 reht
now. Everything shall come right
| promise you u shall he annullcd.
But forget II now, please. ] am
going 20 hold your wrists and talk
20 you. recite things for you. TIL
you so back TO sleep"
She wondered Afterwards how
ahe could have spoken with that
hard serenity. how she could have
gone steadily on with story after
story. poem after poem. till Adams
strip on her hands relaxed. aud he
fell into heavy. tired sleep.
Once out OF Allnn's room. she
ran AZ fun speed TN che gained
her own bed. where she could cry
In peace TN morning II she wanted
To. with no one 90 interrupt That
was all right The trouble was go.
Ing TO be next morning.
but somehow. when morning
came. the old routine was dragged
thru with. Directions had 10 be
given tho servants az usual. n was
n perfect day. And Allan must not
lose lt-hc must be wheeled out In.
TO tho garden.
She came on, and sank for A
moment In tho hammock. that aft.
ernoon. She had avoided him all
tho morning
4 just came 10 rec n everything
was all righi." she said. Il don't
need 10 stay here n Worry you"
I'D rather you'd stay, N you
don't mind" no answered. Phyllis
looked at him intoniiy. lie was
white and dlupifited. and his voice
vas lis,lcsH, This would never DO
What had come 90 Do her dominant
Instinct. keeping Adams spirits up.
oInholdened her Co bend forward.
and even laugh little.
Come. Allan" she said. Even
II we're not going 10 stay together
always. We might a. well bc cheer.
ful ,ill We do part No used 10
be good friends enough. Can't we
be 10 a little longrr7" II soundcd
heartlsHs to her after she had hnid
II. but - Eeemed tho only way 20
speak She smiled at him brAvely.
Allan looked AZ her mutely for
moment. AH II she had hurt him.
You're right" he said suddenly.
There's no time but tho present.
after all. Come over here. closer
TO me. Phyllis. You've been awful.
~ good 10 me. child--iunt there
anything anything could do for
You-fomethlng you could rcmem-
Der afterwards. and say. Wen. he
did that for me. anyway"
Phyllis eyes filled with tears
FYou have given me everything al.
ready" she said. catching her
breath.
Everything" hs said bitterly.
NO. ] haven't can't give you
what every giri wants--a we'll.
strong man 70 be her husband
the health and strength that any
man IN the stree, has"
"oh. don, speak that way. Al.
lam
she bent over him symph,he,.
ieally. moved by his words In an
other moment tho misunderrtana.
InE might havo been straightened
out. II Il had not been for his re-
ply.
Il wish never had 10 SEQ you
at an" he said involuntarily. In
her sensitive state OF mind the hurt
was all she felt--not tho deeper
meaning that lay behind the words.
I'm relieve you OF my presence
for awhile" sho flashed back. Be
fore she gave herself time 10 think.
she had loft the garden. with some
thing which might ba called a
! flouncr.
Allan heard tho side door slam.
/ He had never suspected before that
Phyllis had n temper And yet.
what could he have said7 hut she
gave him no opportunity TO find out.
In just about the time IL might take
I TO find gloves and parasol. an.
other door changed In the distance.
The street door Phyllis had cvi-
IDENTIFY gone out
Phyllis. on her swift way down
the street. grew anErier and
angrlcr. She tried 10 persuade her,
self 10 make allowances for Allan.
but they refused 10 be made. She
felt more bitterly toward him than
abe ever had toward any one In
her life. II she only hadn't leaned
over him and been sorry for him.
Just before she got a slap In the
/ face like that
She walked rapidly down the
main street of the little village.
She hardly knew where she was
going. Her quick steps finally took
| her to the outskirts OF the village,
to little green stretch OF woods.
There she sat down. trying 10 think
more quietly. She found tho tide
OF her anger cbbIng suddenly. and
her mind forming all sorts OF ex.
cuses for Allan.
Then the growing twilight re-
minded Phyllis that Il was time
TO 20 back. II was a mile back to
tho house. She could have taken
the trolley part OF the way, but she
felt restless and like walking. She
had forgotten that walking at might
thru well known. well lighted city
streets. and going In half.dusk thru
country byways, were two different