The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1919-02-16
I Is not to be inferred that James
Hamilton Burke, better known as

uliIlllulitc, was OdtIcIcQ ola WOfluIiIl
with purple complexion, round re
Eions below the waist, and fashy ap
pareL Not a. all Jimmy Burke wa
slender of waist and hip as John o
Bologna Mercury. while the clear pal
kor of his skin gave no hint of the mum
Der of highbails and cocktails he wa
wont to consume in the course of TWEEN
U-3pux hcurA He was an individual
not tallers model, and wore his clothe
with . weA-groomed carelessness not II
- aeQuired by all But Jimmy hat
been q iobster palace hid" before tn
expressive slang was coined, and has
crowded enough rapid living into tn
last ten years to give him as liberal al
edncation ~ Il possible. Chorus girls
ssfists models, gay society DANES, n,
had, as he expressed it. gone through
~ whole outat," and with a whimsical
lily not wholly unexpected to those who
knsw Jimmy best. suddenly. at sight. te
use his own expression again, had
fallen" for little CiGly Day in all the
disqualification of her nineteen years
snd her first visit to New York.
Though too clever a woman to openly
veics her satisfaction, Mrs. Burke took
10 herself all the credit of the match.
For had she not discovered Cicily, the
daughter of an old school friend, In her
flying visit to = staid little Connecticut
not insisted that Cicily must come to her
that winter for a taste of New York;
She had watched the girls blue eyes
crow almost fearful and her cheeks turn
to rose as she discoursed to her upon
the wonders in store-the theaters,
dances, and gay dinners, and had nodded
amusedly when Cicily supplemented:
And music and pictures! Dear Mrs.
Burke, shall really hear Caruso and
see Bastien lie Pages Jeanne D'Arc'? 2"
yes, indeed, you quaint little Blue
Stockingw Genuine liking for her pref
ty protegc mingled with Mrs. Burkc's
amusement. Everyone goes to the opera,
OF course, and, though find the Metro
shall go there. too-if there's where you
mean.
Gcily had been imported at the
psychic moment. Two years ago her
presence in the family circle would
have been distinct bore to Jimmy, who
would probably have spent most of his
time IN other haunts, for two years ago
he had been at the height of his infatua-
ton for Merry Nickerson, a perplexing,
irnpetuous studio favorite, who loved
him for a novel quality she had discov-
cred under his lightness, and innate de-
cency answering to something in her
self which had cried out for under
standing from other men, and in vain.
But now the gleamings of gossip which
had furnished much of Mrs. Burke's
knowledge of her sons doings, together
with marked changes in his goings and
comings, indicated, beyond doubt, that
he was in one of the transitional periods
between two affairs, and why shouldn't
his next venture be along legitimate
hnes1
For months Mrs. Burke had entertain
ed . secret thought that it was time
Jimmy reformed. Not that she had ever
been strong On reformation. She de-
spised molly-coddle and would have
been ashamed of son of the Sir Gala
had or Sir Percival type. But even to
ens Of her liberal views, Jimmy's career
Of ixte had been a trifie terrifying. He
had qualified for the reverse of molly
coddle with complete success, and she
was CONSCIOUS of an ardent wish that he
wouad content himself with the iaurels
he had Won and retire from the game
II CariIy Day had been the inmate of
any home save the Burke's it is prob
able she would have heard stories con-
eerninS the son of her hostess which
would have shocked her SO completely
that she would have fed his attentions
~ abe would = pestilence. But, as it
vas. she Immediately invested him with
all the virtues necessary for holding a
place as the ideal OF young girl who
has been brought up along the old-fash-
toned lines where ideals are fostered.
and from whom the rlurky truths that
underle the social structure are care
fully concealed.
Had she been less genuinely innocent,
the conversation of Mrs. Burke's gay
circle of friends would have done much
to cnligflten her concerning things as
they are" She listened to their laugh
ing illusions and watched their free
and-easy intercourse with a somewhat
bewildered admiration OF their clever
ness, mixed with an equally bcwildered
sense of uneasiness. An ingrained quail
ity of gameness made II possible for her
10 conceal her incredulous disnaay at be-
holding women. young and old, drink
ing cocktails, smoking cigarettes, and
playing cards for money, but, while Mrs.
Burke's carelessly good-natured set re-
Ceiyed Cieily with the superficial cor
dialiy of their kind, quite unknown to
them, and equally immatcrial had they
known. Cicily was receiving them with
reservations. There was nothing kill
Joy IN her attitude and her wonder at
the world itself within her clear eyes.
Besides, when one is living a miracle. all
lesser phenomena cease to be disturbing.
To Jimmy. love-affair could hardly
contain the elements which go to make
up the miraculous, yet he found the one
IN which he was embarked replete with
sensations and emotions which surprised
him even to the point of wishing he
had been bit different in the past. To
End yourself leel>d I'D to heine