The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-18

A"'' NHA't Nh' htihHNs NiA'si , s'"''N
hat.
You know how often there ~
neither cool reason nor any cause for
laughter In my life, Greg" she said.
after a moment AS for love-
don't think know what love Isl l
am an absolutely calculating woman,
and my FIRST. last. and only view OF
anything IN just how much II Affects
me and my comfort"
II don't believe itr' said the doc.
tor.
TITS true And why shouldn't Il
be-" Rachael gave him a grave smile.
No one" said SHE. seriously. ever
--ever--cver suggested 90 me that
there was anything amixa In that
point OF view, why Is there"
II don't understand you" said the
doctor. simply.
zone doesn't often talk this way.
suppose" she said. slowly. but
there il funny streak OF what shall
call it7---conscience. or soul. or
whatever you like. In me. Whether
get Il from my mothers Irish
father or my fathers clergyman
grandfather. don't know. but I'm
ctcrnaily defending myself. I have
long sessions with myself. when I'm
Judge and jury. and invariably find
Not GUILTY."
Not guilty OF what7" tho man
asked. stirring hia untasted cup.
Not guilty OF anything hhe an.
swered. with ehild's puzzled laugh.
Il stick TO my bond. dress and
talk and eat and 30 about" Her
voice dropped. she stared absently at
the table.
But" tho doctor prompted.
''Bui--,hat's just it--but I'm 40 un.
happy all the time Rachael con.
femsed. I'VE all seem like lot OF
puppets. TO me-iike Bandcr los
What aru We all going round and
round In circles for. and who gets
any fun out Of IT. what's your an.
swcr. Greg-what makes tho wheels
so round7''
Ills lovc-'tis lovc--that makes
etcc,ern. eteetera." supplied the doc
tor. his tone less fippant than his
words
"oh--iove-' Rachaers voice was
fun of delicate ncorn. i've aNen n
Ercat deal OF all nortn and kinds Of
love- ahe went on. land must
say that consider love a very much
over rated articiel You're laughing
at mo. you bold gossoon. but I mean
g. Clarence loved Paula rnadly KID
mapped her from boarding school
and all that. but don't know how
much their seven years together
helped the world so round. He never
loved mo. never once said he I'D. but
I've made him better wife than she
did. IIo loves Blll. now. and It's the
worst thing In the world for herr
There's some love for you said
Or. Gregory. EianeinR across the
room 20 the figures Of Miss Leila
Buckney and Mr. Parker Hoyt. who
were laughing over a cabinet full Of
worries.
II wonder just wha, would happen
there II Parker lost his money tomois
row-f Aunt Frothy died and left !,
all to MaRnic Clay" Rachael sug'
gss,cd. smiling
The doctor answered only with al
shrug
More than that" pursued RIA
chaeI. suppose that Parker woke up
tomorrow morning and found his en-
gagcmcnt was all dream. found
that he really hadn't asked Leila toI
marry him. and that he was az free
as air. DO you suppose that the
minute he'd had his breakfast he
would 20 straight over TO Loila'sI
house and make his dream heaven
iy rcailty7 or would he decide that
there was no hurry about IL. and that
he might rs well rather keep away
from the Buokney house until he'd
made up his mind7'
II suppose he might convince him
self that an hour or two's delay
wouldn't mattcrF' said the doctor.
laughing.
III you talk 10 me Of clothes. or OF
jewelry. or OF what one ought TO send
a bride. and what 20 say In letter
OF coincidence. know whore | am.
said Rachael. but love. freely con
fcss IN something else again.
II suppose my mother has known
great love" said the man. after n
pnuse "She spends her days In that
quiet old house dreaming about my
father and my brothers, looking at
their pictures. and reading their let
ters-"
But. Greg. she's 40 unhappy Ra-
chael objected. briskiy. And love
surely the contention is that love
ought TO make one happy"
e. FWCH. ! think her memories do
make her happy. in n way Altho
my mother Is really too conscien'
tious a woman to be happy: she wor'
rics about events that are dead issues
these 20 years She wonders II my
brother George might have been
saved II she had noticed his cough
before she did. there was n child who
died at birth. and then there are all
the memories OF my fathers death
the time he wanted ice water and the
doctors forbade 1t. and he looked at
her reproachfully. Poor motherT
you're a joy TO her, anyway.
Greg" Rachael said. as he paused.
Charley is," he concluded, thought
fully. and in n way | know I ann
But not In every way. OF course"
Warren Gregory smiled n bit rue.
fully.
SO the case for love Is far from
proved" Rachael summarized. cheer
fully. There's no such thing
"On the contrary. there isn't any.
thing else, really. In the world"
smiled the man. i've seen II shin.
ing here ana there; we get away from
Il, here. somewhat. III admit"-his
glance and gesture Indicated the
other occupants OF the room-"and.
like you. I don't quite know where
we miss It. and what it's all about.
but there have been cases In our