The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-04-28
BycoNDo

I'm up against something and
can't seem TO make 40 my mind
Last nigh, said TO myself. I've go,
TO talk 10 some woman who's no,
married. like me. and not ~ young
~ she used to be. There's no use
going to Mrs. Mckee: she's q widow.
and wouldn't understa nd"
Harrict's voice was a tribe sharp
a. she replied. She never lied about
her age. but she preferred TO for
got IL
Il wish you'd tell me what you're
getting at"
1T Amt the sort OF thing TO como
too sudden. But It's like this. You
ana I can pretend all re like. Miss
Harriet: but we're not getting all out
OF life that the Lord meant us 10
have. You've got them wax figures
instead Of children. and have meal.
ers."
A little spo, OF color came into
HArrtes's cheek. But she vas inter
ested. Regardless Of the corset. shc
bent forward.
Maybe that's true. Co on"
I'm almost 10. Ten years more
ut the most. and I'm thru. I'm
slowing up. Cant get around the
I put sugar into Sir. lie Moyne's COT.
fee--weii. never mind about that
Now I've got . chance TO get home
with a good man 10 look after me-
like him pretty wcil. and he thinks
lot OF me-
Mercy sake. Title, rou arc 70
ing TO get married.
Nom" said Title. that's IT,
And sat silent for q moment
The gray curtains with their pink
oosdins swung gently In tho OPEN
windows From the work room came
the distant hum Of a sewing machine
and the sound OF voices. Harriet
sat with her hands IN her lap and
listened while Title poured out her
story. The gates were. down now.
she told II all. consistently and with
unconscious pa,hos. her little room
under the roof at Mrs. McKee's. and
the house In the country: her ioneII-
ness. and the loneliness Of the man:
even the faint stirrings Of potential
motherhood. her empty arms. her
advancing age--aii this she knit into
the fabric OF her story and laid at
Hsrriets feet. az the sncients put
their questions TO their gods.
Harriet was deeply moved. Too
much that Title poured out 10 her
found an echo in her own breast.
What was this thing she was ssriv.
ing for but substitute for the real
things OF life--iove and tenderness
children. a heme Of her owu7 Quite
suddenly che ioathed the gray carpet
on the floor. the pink chairs. the
shaded lamps. Title was no longer
the waitress AZ cheap boarding
house. She doomed large. potential.
In her hands
why don't you go 10 Mrs. Rosen-
field; She's your aunt. isn't she?"
"she thinks any woman's n fool
TO take up with a man"
You're giving me = terrible re-
sponsibility. Title. II you're asking
my advice"
"Nom. I'm asking what you'd do
IL II happened TO you. suppose you
had no people that cared anything
about you. nobody 10 disgrace, and
all your life nobody had really cared
anything about you. And then a
chance like this came along. What
would you dor
II don't know said poor Harriet.
ut seems 10 me--fm afraid I'D be
tempted. IL does seem as II a
woman had the right to be happy.
even if"
Her own words frightened her. II
WAS - II some hidden self. ana not
she. had spoken. She fastened to
point out the other side Of the mat
ter. the insecurity Of IT. the disgrace.
Like X. she insisted that no right
can be built out OF wrong. Tile
sat and smoothcd her gloves. At
last. when Harriet paused In sheer
panic. the girl rose.
(Continued Tucsday.D