The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-30

GRADUALLY Or. and Mrs, ofeGofy he
phone back upon the desk. nodded
grayeiy.
Rachael made no comment. For a
moment her eyes widened nervously.
and a little shudder rippled thru her.
Then silently she gathered up the
leather belt and chains OF beads that
she had been looscninR an she lis
tened. and slowly went toward the
door.
They did not speak again of Ciar-
encc tina, night. aitho they ohatted
easily for the next hour on other
topics. even laughing a little ms the
various episodes OF tho evening were
passed In review.
But Rachael did not sleep. nor did
she sleep during the long hours ~
the following night. on the third
night she Weakened her husband sud
denly from his sleep.
GREG -GreFl Won't you talk 60
me n httieY I'm going mad. I Think
''ilachaei, What Ia ity' stammcred
the doctor. blinking In the dim llght
Of Racbaei'H bedside lamp. Ills wife.
haggarc. with her rich hair falling
in two long bralds over her shout
ders. was sitting on tho side Of his
bed. what is Il. darling hear some.
thing" he asked. more naturally.
putting his arm about her.
Two been lying awake--and lying
awake said Rachael. painting. II
haven't shut my cyos-it's nearly
,. Greg. I keep sring it--ciarcncc's
face, you know. with that horrible
scar what shall doT"
shivering. gaHpinE. Wild eyed. she
chung To him. and for a long hour
he soothod her an II she had been an
hystrriesi child. lie put her into a
comfortable chair. mixed her n soda.
tive. and knclt beside her. slowly
winning her back 20 calm ard sanity
again. ~ was terrible. o, cours. bu,
no orc but Clarence himself was 20
blame. unless u was poor Billy
Yes. I must see Billy when she
comes back Rachael said. quickly.
when the tranauilizinE voice reached
this point II Warren Cregory'r quiet
mouth registered any opposition. she
did not rec Il. and he did not express
It. she was presently sound asleep.
HiIii catching a long childish breath
ms sh. slept But she woke smiling.
with all the harrid visions OF tho pas,
few days apparently blo,tcd out. and
she and Warren went gayiy down
town TO get steamer tickets. and buy
appropriate frocks and hats for the
spring heat Of Bermuda
sl
In midsummer came the inevitable
invitation TO visit old friends at Bel.
vcdcrc Bay. Rachael was pleased 90
accept Mrs Moran's hospitality for
a glorious July week. Warren. 10 her
delight. took an eight days holiday.
and while he looked 10 his racquet
and golf irons she packed her prct,i.
est gowns. Belvcdere Bay welcomed
them rnpturousiy. and beautiful Mrs
Gregory was tho idol OF the hour.
Mrs. Moulton. giving n tennis tea
during this week, duly sent Mrs.
Gregory a card. But when society.
wondering whether Rachael would
really be "A guest in her own old
home. had duly gathered at the
Breckenridge house. young Dlcly
Moran was so considerable as 10 be
flung from his riding horse. Neither
the Cregorys nor tho Morans conse-
auontly appeared at the tea, but
Rachael. meeting all inquircrs on the
Moran terrace. late IN the afternoon,
with the news that Dicky was quite
all right. no harm done. asked pref.
lilly for details Of the affair they
had missed.
She told herself that the past re
ally made no difference in the radi.
ant present. but she know Il was
not so. In a thousand little ways
Abe had lost caste. and she saw q.
II Warren did not. A certain bloom
was gone Girls were not quite as
defercntially adorinR. women were a
little less impressed The old pres
tige was somehow lessencd. She |
knew that newcomers at the club. !
struck by her beauty. were n little
chilled by her history. She felt the
difference In the very air.
old arguments hotly Why was she
merely the divorced Mrs. Gregory
Why were these casual inauircrs not
told OF Clarence, OF her long endur-
anco Of neglect and shame2 More
than once the thought came to her,
that II other events had been rs they |
were. and only the facts of her di-
vorce and rcmarrinRe lacking. she
would have been Clarence's widow
now
Whats the diffcrence7 II all
comes out the sameW commented
Warren. TO whom she confided this
thought.
Then you and I would have been
only engaged now" said Rachael,
smiling. And | would like that!'
You mean you regret your mar.
riage?" he laughed. his arms about
her.
"I'd like to live tho first days over
and over and over again. Greg" she
passionatoly.
"You are an Unsuitable creatureV'
he said But her earnestness was
beginning TO puzzle him little. She
was too deeply wrapped In her love
for her own happiness or his. There
was something almost startling In
her intensity. she was jealous OF
every minute that they were apart,
she made no secret OF her blind
Warren had at first found this
Il had BUNDLED him. Later,