The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-08-13

Ia
Orchard Inn. the morning
after the battle.
DEAREST JOAN:
There have been many TIMES In
my life when / rot angry and 70.
GREETED what / said or did There
have been other times when | was
too wildly angry to say anything.
so | let the offcnsc go unrcscnted
and UNPUBLISHED And later I TO.
GREETED that. too.
Tonight when overheard those
old eats discussing me on the
porch I determined FOR once 10
administer the rebuke properly
that H.. neither In uncomfortable
anger nor In silent aoorn.
when l stepped thru the French
window and appeared before them.
they stopped with their mouths aiar
and stared. recognized them re-.
spcctiyciy a. q well.to-do spinstcr.
by name Hopkins. and q childless
married woman. Mrs. orwell. OF the
type who stiil wears false hair In
great abundance. and 10 whom much.
trimmed royal plush ia the ideal cos
tune. with "A wide brimmed hat 20
match. sitting high upon her head.
No-picasc do not go" / opened.
as they both half rose from their
rockers. Il want TO remind you that
u IL never safe 90 discuss upon "a
hotel porch the guests 81 that hotel %
glances. and closed their mouths.
"Ir had not overheard YOU 10.
night hy tomorrow should have
been branded before everybody in
this place as a girl Of immoral char.
aetcr."
How dare you" began Mrs or
we'll
"why. all We said was that We
hadn't seen started Miss Hopkins.
| snapped them both into silence
with
Il heard exactly what you said.
She has not come In at all tonight
was one remark You would have
circulated that lie in the morning.
and by noon such Is the proneness
OF people TO accept Islander without
question: should have been tried.
convicted and sentenced without a
chance In my own defense"
"You--you should avoid the ap.
pcarance OF evil. Miss Narlck, II you
do not wish to b, misunderstood. ="
from Mrs orwell.
Certainly" echoed the splnstsr
with the edges OF her lips.
The evil exists only In your own
minds. 4" / said steadily. you women
who call yourselves moral commit
more actual crimes than most Of
the people do from whom you draw
your skirts aside in horror. You
might not steal someone's purse. but
you'd steal reputation and wanion-
iy destroy II without a auaim. May
be you'd hesitate at mupicr. but any
poor girl who made ono false step
would have with you as much
chance TO make a new life for herself
as a sparrow In the claws Of n
hawk You are hard. narrow. cruel
women. both OF you. and your re
ward will be utter fricndies-neas. for
no one can have friends without 10.
ing a friend"
turned to 20 back again thru
my window. when Jrs. orwell broke
the Icy silence that followed my
speech.
~Of course" she said irrcievantly.
and prompted more By curiosity than
friendly interest. III you are en-.
gagged to the young man"
she probably hopes 20 be, !"
speared Miss Hopkins
looked at them aniably. and
with extreme sweetness. spelling
their relish Of the moment by de-
clining 20 be enragcd. 1 felt that the
honors Of the occasion were mine
I had said my say. administered my
rebuke. and now was tho moment to
close the interview.
Perhaps" ! smiled cnigmaticaily.
regarding first one, then the other
OF them. And now. ladies'. good
night"
But I went TO bed. Joanie. feeling
very downin.the.mouth for all that
II isn't pleasant 10 endure the cheap
malicious criticism Of country inn.