The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-24

you can't tell me anything abou,
that" he said. sulienly, Then there
came "a silence Rachael. looking a,
him. wished that she could hate hin,
little more. wished that his neg
lccts and faults had made a littlc
deeper impression. For minute or
two neither spoke. Then Ciarenc.
got up and left tho room. and Ra
enact sat still. the little slip held
lightly between her fingers. Tho
color ebbed slowly from her face. her
heart resumed It's normal beat. mo
ments went by. the little clock on her
desk licked ON and on. II was all
over: she wa. free. she felt strange
~ shaken and cold. and dcSoiatrly
lonely.
lie loved her as little as she loved
him. They had never needed each
other. yet there was In Thu. sever
ance os the bond between them a
strange and unexpected pain. n was
as II RnchAei's heart ycarncd over
the wasted years, the love and hap
rinsea tina, might have been. No,
even the thought OF Warren Gregory
seemed warm or real to-day. a Erea,
void surrounded her spirit, she felt a
chilled wearin.ss with the world,
with all men--she was sick Of life,
On the following day she gave
Florence a hint Of the situation. II
was oniy fair TO warn the important,
busting matron trirc IA advance
Of tho rest Of tho world Rachael had
had "A long nights sleep. she already
began to feel d.liciouuiy young and
free. She was TO spend a few nights
a, the tiavllands. aud tho next week
supposedly 20 80 TO IN. Princes at
fhir iiarbor. really she planned 90
disappear for "a time from her world.
She must 40 az 10 town for a con
suitation with her lawyer. and then.
when the storm broke She would slip
away 20 little Quaker Bridge. the
tiny village far down on Long IL
hand upon which. quite by chance.
she had stumbled two years before.
No one would recognize her there. no
one Of her old world could md her.
and there for month or two she
could walk and bath. and dream 10
wonderful solitude. Then then sfce
would b~ home again,
n want 20 tell sou something
FiorcHcc. Rachael said 20 her sis-
ter.in Law when she was stretched
upon the wide couch In Florence =
room. watching with the piacidl,y Of
% good baby that i1dy's process %
dressing for an afternoon Of bridge.
or rather the operations with cold
cream. ruhbcr face brush. hair tonic
eyebrow stick. powder. rouge. and llp
paste that preceded the process OF
dressing. Mrs. iisvilnnd. even with
this Assistance. would never be beau.
tifui. IN Justice Il must be admitted
that she never thought herself beau
tlful. But she thought rouge and
powder and paste improved her APP
pearancc. and " thru fatigue or
haste she was ever led to omit any
pr all Of these embellishments. she
presented herself Co the eyes Of her
family and friends with genuine
sensation 81 guilt. Perhaps three
hours out OF all her days were spent
in some such occupation; between
bathing. manlcuring. hair dressing
and intervals with her dressmaker
and her corset woman u IL improba.
bic that thn subject of her appear
ancc was long out OF the Iady's mind.
Yet she was not vain. nor was she
particularly well satisfied with her
self when Il was done. That about
one fifth OF her waking time some
thing more than two months out Of
the ycar-was spent In an unprptit.
able effort to fnsISr herself. not beau
tiful nor attractive. bu, something
only n little nearer than was natu.
raj TO n vague standard Of beauty
and attractivcness. never occurred.
and never would occur, 10 Florence
Haviland.
what Is IT," she asked. now
sharply. psusing with one eyebrow
beautifully pcncilcd and the other
less definite than ever by contrast.
IL don't suppose u viii surprise
you to hear that Clarence and have
decided 20 try change" Rachael
said. slowly.
How do you mean a changer" the
other woman said. Instantly alert
and suspicious.
THE usual thing" Rachael smiled.
what madness has got hold of
that boy now" his sister exclaimed.
aghast.
ITS not entirely Clarence" Ra-
chael explained. with touch OF
pride.
wen. then. you're madr' tho older
woman said. shortly.
Not necessarily. my dear" IA.
chacl answered. resolutely serene.
Go talk TO some one who's been
thru IT," Florence warned her. you
don't know what It isl It's bad
enough for him. but it's simple sui
eide for youf'
well. | wanted you to hear It
from me" Rachael submitted mildly.
do you mean TO say you've de
clded, seriously. to do ~"
VERY seriously. I assure your
How do you propose to do NJ"
Florence asked. after pause, dur.
ing which she stared with growing
at her sistcr-inlaw.
THE way other people do it," RIA.
chael said. with assumed iightness.
Clarence agrees. There viii he evil
dencc."
Mrs. Haviland flushed
you think that's fair TO Clar.
ence?" she asked. presently.
II think that In any question OF
fairness between Clarence and me
the balance IL decidedly in my IN.
vorr' Rachael said. crisply. Per.
sonally. ] shall have nothing 10 do
with IL. and Clarence very little.
Charlie Sturgis will represent me.
! suppose Coates g. Crandall will
take care OF clarcnce--I don't know.