Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-01-25
CHAPTER XXNI
Geraldine Listens


For a moment Tavy stood, weak,
faint, sick; yet, without tremor, she
walked straight through that circle of
staring eyes, and took the arm of
the man she had promised to marry.
Wee going home, Billy" she said,
and, though her voice was calm and
low, it was strangely without fleXi-
bility.
He looked down at her with his
foolish smile, and patted the icy hand
which lay on his arm.
'All right, Tavy." His tongue was
thick. but he was entirely willing. He
was perfectly agreeable to anything
she wanted; dear little Tavy! Most
wonderful girl in the world! Good
night ALL" he mouthed over his
shoulder, and he stumbled slightly as
he turned, stumbled and swayed; and
into her body he carried the same
sway. so it was as if she, too, were
drunk; for no man and no woman
who have made themselves one, can
escape each their share of the sins
of the other. So it was that Tavy
finished the gayest night of her life,
and quilted the ballroom floor of her
first real party, leaving behind her
half a hundred plying witnesses of
her shame!
Three-B Benning, Tommy Tinkle
and Geraldine followed swiftly to the
door.
1--WE can't let her go home with
him. said Tommy to Benning as they
converged.
Certainly mott" Benning was
furious. Wen see the girl home in
my car"
Tommy nodded his head with a
sharp jerk.
Good. I'll take Billy to the club"
Take him to the devil! Any place
so the beast gets out of my house!
And he can't come back; ever Tell
him that when he wakes up"
Geraldine had passed them, and
overlook Tavy and Billy just ahead in
the hall.
Il can't tell you how sorry I am"
she sympathiZed, slipping her arm
through the girls. "You mustn't at
tempt to go with Billy. Wen keep
him for the night, and we'll take you
home"
Tavy turned to her with cold eyes.
I'm going with Billy" was all she
said, and the tone was so quiet in its
despair that it must have melted a
heart of ice; but there is no Ice in the
heart of jealous woman. There is
only fire. that burns and destroys.
Billy became conscious that a third
party was with them. oh! Ger
aldine.
Great punch, SIS" he told her,
with a clumsy laugh. whisky in it,
though. Tell drop of it in the ocean.
Taste on the tongue you know. Say,
Benning!" He looked back. He felt
sure he had heard Benning's voice,
but Three-B was gone for his hat and
coat. Only Tommy was there. close
behind them; good old Tommy.
Hello, Tommy. Going to quit you
early. Little girls tired" and again
he patted the icy hand which clung
to him.
That's right. Billy" soothed Tom
my. and. setting Geraldine aside with
a brusqusness which made her stare.
he led Billy and Tavy to the little
just off the vestibule.
Walt just minute, please. I'm go
ing homo with you.'
THANK you, Tommy" Her mind
was In q whirl. She was glad TO be
alone for a few moments. She had
many things to decide. Billy follow
ed her into the ante-room. He turn
ed, as If to take her in his arms. but
she shuddered and walked away to
the window, and he. feeling some
thing uncomprisingiy stiff about her,
sat down, He was tir ed anyhow
Tommy, still in the doorway, noted
the drowsy eyes of his friend with
then he returned to Ger
aldine.
Come with me, want to talk
with you" 1t was an order, the first
one Tommy Tinkle had ever given to
a woman,
Geraldine stared at him in astonish-
ment, and then her eyes flashed with
resentment, She lowered them .as
she met his steady gaze. There was
contempt in it. A group of guests
came down the hall with Mrs, Ben
ming, but without gayety. The party
was ending most uncemfortably.
Geraldine walked with Tommy
through the conservatory and into the
cozy alcove, He wheeled abruptly to
her.
"Now what have you done?r
She glared at him defiantlE, but
the color was receding from her
cheeks.
II don't understand you.Y
"Yes, you dol" His tone was fiercely
tense. You spiked Billy's punchi
There was no whisky in that / drank.
Why did you do it2'
This is an ontfagelH Geraldine's
eyes now were blazing straight into
his She held Them fh6re uyifbo,tt. da 7