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

- -" 80 49, - W. NftH|hN'ff
"My dear girl" no stammered
why. Raohael-w
For battling with n moment OF emo
ton ahe had fiung her beautiful hcat
back against tho brilliant crctonn'
Of the chair. her eyes closed. hei
hands grasplng the chair arms.
tiear slipped from under her lids.
q didn't for ono second mean
he began again. uncomfortabiy.
Suddenly abe htraightencd herself
In her chair. and opened her eye,
widely. lie saw her lovely breast
under its nimy black chiffon. MS,
ntornily Her voice was rich with
protest.
NO. you didn't mean anything
Greg. nobody means anythinR' No
body IL anything but sorry for mo
you. Billy. Elinor. the woman whc
expected US at dinner tonight. The
servants at the ciubr' she said. hotly
Nobody blames me. and yet every
one wonders how Il happens, No
body thinks I, anything but a little
amusing. a little shocking. am "a
write the notes. and make tho cs
euaen. and be ashamed shamed
--shamed-"
Her voice broke. She rose to her
feet. and rested an elbow on the man
tie. and stared moodily at the fire
There was n silence.
Rachael. I'm SORRY Gregory said
presently. impuisivrly.
Instantly her April smile rewarded
him.
II know you are. Grcg-- she an
Hwcred. gratefully. And know. q
shc added. In low tone. 'that you
ar. ons Of the persons who will un
dcrutand-when ! end II air.
End Il ALL he echoed. sharply.
mot suicide" sho treasured him.
rrnIilngiy She fiung herself back in
her Chair again. holding her write
hand. with It's ring. between her face
and tho nrc. mo" she said. thought,
fully. II mean divorce"
Their eyes met. both were pale,
serious.
~pivorc~r- he echoed. after a pause
n never though, OF st--for your
II haven't though, OF II myself
much" Rachael admitted. with a
troubled smile.
As matter Of fact. sh. had
thought OF IL. since the early days
% her marriage. but never an an
actual possibility Shs had preferred
bondage and social position 10 free
dom and the uncomfortable status Of
the divorced woman. she realized
now tina; rhe might think uf u In q
slightly different way. She Rad beer
a pennilesn nobody scvsn years ago
shr was a parsonage now Tho m~rs
fact that he was Hrcckrnridgs
would win some sympathy for cisr
cncr. but she would have her faction,
too.
More than that. she would never h
younger. never handnoner. never bet
ter able TO take the plunge. and face
the consequences.
I'm IS. Greg" Hhe said. reason.
ably. ''i'm not stupid. I'm not plain
don't INTERRUPT, met Ia this 10 b. my
fatc7 I'm capable Of loving OF ilv
iur--f don't want 20 bo borcd--bored
bored for the rest OF my iife'~
Warren Gregory. stunned and sur
priSod. eyed her sympa,he'lcaliy
'Beivedcrc BAY bore your" hs
asked. smiling a little uncaaiiy.
"No--it'H not that. don't want
more dinners and dances and jewels
and gowns Rachael answered. mus
iuKiy She stared soinberiy az ths
fire. and there was a moments vi
ienc-.
Suddenly her mood changed She
smiled. and locking her hands to
Rcthcr. a. she leaned far forward in
her chair. she looked straight into his
eyes.
Greg" she said. do you know
what ia like TO be- ia like 10 be
far away from cities and people. q
fshcrman'a wife on an ocean shore
with baby coming every year. and
Just the delicious sea TO watch, !
could be a good WIFE Greg. II any
body reaiiy--loyed mer'
Laughing. as she looked at him
she did not disguise the fact tina,
. AfhAN thtNffa h'N AsANHFNa w NIftI
Gregory felt himself stirred "a he had
not been before in his life.
We'll" he said. with an unsteady
laugh. you could be anything with
you for his wife, what couldn't a man
dor
Hardly conscious Of wha, he dsd or
said he got TO his feet. and she
stood. too. smiling up ut him. Both
were breathing hard.
ITO think" he said. with a sort OF
depressed violence. that you. OF all
women. should be Clarence Brecken.
ridges wife,
Not iongr' she answered. in a
whisper.
You mean that you are really
going TO leave him. Rachael7"
II mean that I must. Greg. n am
not to go madr'
And where will you go7" he
asked.
"Oh--to Vera. 10 Ellnor." She
paused. frowning. "or away by my
self" She decided suddenly. Away
from them air.
/ iAA'ttA'if Aif tAiu uuAfkiN. Wii
/ you come 10 my mother7"
Rachael smiled. "To your mo,herr
He read her incredullty I'm he,
voice.
But she loves you" he said
eagerly. And she'd be-we'd both
be 80 proud 20 show peoplc-tc
proye--that we know where tn,
right layr'
My dear Don ouixote." she an
swered affectionntoly. II love yot
for asking mel But / win be better
/ alone. / must think. and plan. Nv,
made n mess OF my life NO far. Greg
] must take the next step carefully.
Ho was clinging to her hands n.
she stood. In all her grave beauty
before him.
III | hadn't been such a bat
! Rachael, all those eleven yoars apo,'