The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-12-13

~ stts1 w ARN hNAilA AHAH 1919
TO cross the water and 20 TO see herr
Nothing might have come OF Il. true.
But she might have yielded to him
az readily as 20 Clarence Breekcn'
ridge,
Il love her" he said 10 himself
and II seemed wonderful. sad, and
sweet Joyous and terrible 20 admit
H. II love per. Hut she doesn't love
me or anyone. poor Rachael She's
forgotten me already
A a matter OF fact, Rachael
thought about him very often dur
Ing the course OF tho next two or
three days. and after he had left
her that night she could think Of
nothing else. To the admiration OF
men she was cheerfully accustomed,
perhaps II would he safe 10 say that
years had she ever found herself
alone In nan'p company without
esoking a more or leHs definite dec.
laration OF his admiration for her.
But tonight's affair was a little dis.
tinctlve for several reasons. Warren
Gregory was most exceptional man.
for one thing: he was reputedly n
cold'blooded man. for another. and
for a third. he had been ex,raordi.
narily In earnest There had been
no hesitation. hr had committed him.
self wholeheartcdly. she was con.
aclous % a plcasurable thrill. How,
ever gracious. however gallant War,
rem was. there had been no social
pretcnae in his attitude tonight.
And for a few moments she lot
her Imagination play pleasantly with
the situation. IL was at least a new
thought. and life had run In groove
for long. long time. Granted tho
prelimlnafiss safely managed. ~
would be a great triumph for the
woman whom Clarence Breckenridge
had Ignored 10 com. back into this
group as Warren Gregory's wife.
Rachael got into bed. flinEing two
or three books down beside her phi
low and lighting the shaded lamp
that stood NJ the bedside. She
found herself unable TO read.
Wouldn't Florence and Gardner
buzz" Hhe thought with smile
And II they buxxed at the divorce.
what wouldn't they say II really did
remarry1 But the worst Of u ia
and Rachael reaching for The Way
OF An Flesh" sighed weafily-"the
worst OF IL il that one never does
carry out plans. or I never do. any
more used TO feel equal 20 any
afsffaffat, ra.. d,,st s-.t,t.,. ,.Ia
perhaps. wonder"--she stared
dreamily at the soft shadows In the
biz room-''f wonder II things are as
queer TO most people an they are TO
mc7 don't got much Joy out OF lie.
as II Is. and yet | don't dare Gu,
ioo-e and go away. No maid. no club.
living at some cheap hotcl--no. |
couldn't do That wish there WINS
someone who could advise me--somc
disintcrrsted person. someone who
we'll. who loved me. and who knew
that I've always tried 10 b. decent.
always tried to play IN. game. All
I want Is TO be reasonably well
treated. TO have good time and be
among pleasant people"
fIH thoughts wandered about
among the various friends whose
Judgment might serve NJ this crisis
10 clear her own thoughts and sim
piify the road before her. Strangely
enough. Warren CrcEory's own
mother was the first Of whom she
thought: that pure and nustcre and
uncompromising heart would certain
L.. a.. -
had the courag. to follow IL was an.
other question. She loved old Mrs
Gregory: they were good friends. But
Rachael dismissed her with a little
shudder. "a from tn. spatter Of icy
water against her barred breast. The
bishop Rachael and Clarence duly
kept n pew In one OF tho city's fash
lot able churches. II was the Brecken
ridge family pew. rented by the fam
lily for a hundred years. But thcy
never sat In u. although Rachael fel,
vaguely sometimes that for reasons
underlined they should, and Clarence
was apt In moments OF sentiment "a
reproach his wife with the statement
that his grandmother had been a
/ lbltNluf tfluTtn MbfUans HIS
mother had always attended church
on pleasant mornings in winter.
But the bishop called on Rachael
once a year. and Rachael liked him.
and mingled an air Of pretty pcnl
iencc for past neRligences with n
gracious promise Of better conduct In
future. His Grace was fine
breezy. broadminded man. polished
In manner, sympathetic. and toler
ant. lie had not risen 10 his prcsen,
eninencc by too harsh a rebukc Of
the sinner.
His handsome young assistant,
Father Graves, as he liked 10 be
called. was far more radical. But a
great deal was forgiven this attrac
tive boyish celibate by the women
Of the Episcopal parish. They On,
joyed his seedlings. gave him their
condolences. and asked his advice.
tho they never followed II. His
slender. black clad figure. with the
Roman collar. was admired by many
bright eyes at receptions and church
bazaarr
stu, Rachael could not somehow
consider herself ms seriously asking
either OF these two clergymen for
advice. She could see the bishop,
fitting finely groomed sfingers To-
gether. pursuing his lips for a judicial
reply.
MY dear Mrs. Breckenridge. that
Clarence Ia now passing thru a mos,
unfortunate. most lamentable. period
In his life IL. alas. perfectly true.
His mother--a lovely woman--was
one OF my wifc's dearest friends. one
Of my own. His first marriage was
much against her wishes, poor dear
lady. and--as my wife was saying
the other day--had she lived 10 sec
him happily married again. and her
grandchild In such good hands. II
could not but have been q Grea, Joy