Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-08-09

Hayward. Remembered the wild way
the flowers on the wall had danced
when she read, over and over, that
her old friend, Nell Grifis, was going
to marry Lewis Heyward-the man to
whom she had been engaged not six
months before.
She had believed things would come
right between hem down to the very
day the flowers swayed on the wall,
and, believing, had dreamed, as wom-
en- will while time lasts. Because of
the little dreams sweetness she had
put an ocean between herself and
Hayward, and kept it there.
Haven't kept up with Mrs. Hey
ward?" Heyward's voice was cheerful.
1t seemed to sway to her as from a
distance. "She chases the butterfly.
Did it I've occur to you, Kitty, that
hymnal beatitudes are not always
what they're cracked up to be?"
Kitty got to her feet. She was very
indignant, and very disappointed. Not
so much with Hayward as with her
self. For three years, although at
times she wanted to shrek out at her
bondage, she had wandered, trying to
forget an idol, clay to his chin.
She held out her hand in farewell,
and the light went out of Heyward's
face.
Women do not love perfect men. He
was still an idol. Clay, probably, but
lonely, to all appearances deserted,
and she had quarreled with him fool
ishIy.
Il thought you were happy" she
said, as she dropped back into her
chair. 81 wanted you to be-" The
pathos in her voice reached him.
He wen to her uncertainty. Child"
he said. those big fires you spoke of
burn down to ~cold-looking ashes that
have live embers under them. Child"
But she shrank from him.
He went back to his chair and sat
down, leaning back as though tired.
When Mrs. Hayward came in with a
silken swish Of skirts a few moments
later she didn't notice Kitty's dejec-
ton or that Hayward was just about
as cheerful as a funeral director-she
was not an observing m
She fell on Kitty ~affectionately.
1--WE been to the train," she said.
i've searched the streets and stopped
at the hotels. If l had not met an old
hackman l know, who is burdened
with a conscience, 1 would not have
found you. Why didn't you bring her
to me, Mr.. Hayward? Lewis to a
mans figure that doomed in the door
way, you had better come here and
meet Kitty before she vanishes into
the air. She ran away just before our
wedding, Mr.. Hayward. And she's been
prowling about over there ever since.
What made you stay so long? Didn't
you get very lonely, Kittyf"
Il thought-thought-" Kitty's
voice sank and stopped. How they all
staredI And the deadly faintness she
felt that long gone day when the flow
ers reeled on the wall was overtaking
her. That day her Lewis Hayward
was engaged or wasn't-she couldn't
tell with her senses swaying so.
II thought" she stammered again,
and flung a frightened appeal at Hey
ward.
A sudden light shone in on his dense
soul. He put a steady hand on her
shoulder lightly. "T1l just have to
make a clean breast of it," he said,
reassuringly. "She came in here and
found me reading a telegram from
some fellows that ear to dine with
me tonight, Mrs. Hayward. She
thought it was her message to you
that she was in your house. She's a
great one to jump, at conclusions. l.
should have told her at once, of
course"
81 see," said Mrs. Hayward. She,
sent her mind back nimbly. and smiled
broadly. 81 seew
you don't!" said Kitty. thrillingly
conscious of the pressure of those,
fingers on her shoulder-pleading,
Tightening fngers-"you DON'T" Sud-
denly she laughed a low, sweet, bub-
bling laugh of content that Hayward
echoed with deeper notes. "But, Nell,
we," lingering on the pronoun for a
breathless moment, "do!"