The Washington times., 1919-04-11


Brandes marries Rue through fake
ceremony.
But to Ruhannah this studio en-.
bodied all the wonders and beau
ties of that magic temple to which,
from her earliest memory, her very
soul had aspired-the temple Of the
unknown God OF Art.
Vaguely she endeaVored to real
ize that she was now inside one Of
its myriad sanetuaries; that here
under her very tired and youthful
eyes stood one OF its countless
affairs; that here. also, near by, sat
one of those blessed acolytes who
drous service.
"Ruhhannah." he said. "are you
calm enough to let me tell you
what think about this matter?''
Yes. am feeling better"
GOOD, work. There's no. occasion
for panic. What you need is a
cool head and q clear mind"
She said, without stirring from
where she lay resting her cheek on
the chairback:
MY mind has become quite clear
again"
AAAnA DGGO1-GS OACAAGNs
That's fine! Well, then, think
the thing for you to do is" he
took out his watch, examined It,
replaced it-"Good Lordp' he said
Its o'clocki"
She watched him but offered no
comment. He went to-. the tele-
phone, called the New York Cen
trail station, got general informa-
tion, inquired concerning trains,
hung up, and came back to the desk
, where he had been sitting.
'The first train out leaves at 6:O3,"
he said. "I think you'd better go
into my bedroom and lie down. I'm
not tired; I'll call you in time, and
I'll get a taxi and take you to your
train. Does that suit you, Ruhan-
nah?"
She shook her head slightly.
why not?" he asked.
"rve been thinking. can't 80
back"
Cant go back! Why not?''
ct can't"
you mean you'd feel too deeply
humiliated?'
"I wasn't thinking Of my own
disgrace. I was thinking Of moth
er and father" There was no trace
of emotion in her voice; she stated
the fact calmly. ---.-
Il can't so back to Brookhollow.
It's ended. I couldn't bear to let
them know what has happened to
me-"
What did you think Of doing:'
he asked uneasily.
Il must think Of mother-I must
keep my disgrace from touching
them-spare them the sorrow-
humiliation" Her voice became
tremulous, but she turned around
and sat up in her chair, meeting
his gaze squarely. That's as far as
/ have thought" she said
Both remained silent for a long
while. Then Ruhannah looked up
from her pale preecupation:
Rue Interrupts silence.
"I told you I had three Thousand
dollars. Why can't I educate my
self in art with that: Why can't
I learn how to support myself by
art?"
where"
Here"
Yes. But what are you going to
say to your parents when you write:
They suppose you are on your way
to Paris"
She nodded. looking at him
thoughtfully.
trunk on board the Lusitania?"
Yes"
That won't do! Have you the
check for it?'
Yes, in my purse
we've got to get that trunk on
the ship" he said. There's only
one sure way. I'd better go down
now, to the pier. Where's your
steamer ticket?
IL have both tickets and both
checks in my bag. He-fet me have
the p-pleasure of carrying
them" Again her voice broke
chiIdishIy, but the threatened emo
tion was strangled and resolutely
choked back.
Give me the tickets and checks"
he said. iii go down to the dock
now"
She drew out the papers, sat
holding them for few moments
without relinquishing them. Then
she raised her eyes to his, and a
briRht Hush stained her face:
"Why should I not go to Paris BY
myself" she demanded.
You mean now? On TINS snip
eyes But"
'why notr' she repeated fever
ishly, her gray eyes sparkling. Il
have three thousand dollars; can't
20 back to Brookhollow and dis
grace them. What does II matter
where I go?"
cit would be all right" he said.
"If you'd ever had any expert
ence-"
"ExperIence! What do you can
what I've had today" She eX~
claimed excItedly. To lose In a
single day my mother, my home
to 70 throuEh-XhGt an geinG