South Bend news-times., 1919-05-03
~ ! 7 s. 6

IS not 20 be inferred that lanes
Hamilton Burke, better known as
- Jimmy by those who were admit
ted into the affectionate, wholly
disrespectful intimacy denoted by the
diminutive, was a battered old wording
with a purple complexion. round re-
gions below the waist, and fashy ap-
pareL Not at all Jimmy Burke was
three years short OF thirty and was
slender Of waist and hip as John of
Bologna's Mercury, while the clear pal
Tor OF his skin gave no hint of the num-
Der Of highballs and cocktails he was
wont 10 consume In the course of TWEEN
ty-four hours. He was an individual,
not tailor's model, and wore his clothes
with a well-gToOmed carelessness not to
be acquired by all But Jimmy had
been "a lobster palace kid" before the
expressive slang was coined, and had
crowded enough rapid living into the
last ten years 10 give him as liberal an
education as is possible. Chorus girls,
artists models, gay society DANES. he
had, as he expressed II, gone through
the whole OUTFIT, and with a whimsical
ity not wholly unexpected 10 those who
knew Jimmy best, suddenly, at sight, 10
use his own expression again, had
fallen for little Cicily Day in all the
unsophistication Of her nineteen years
and her first visit TO New York
Though too clever a woman TO openly
voice 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 a staid little Connecticut
town the summer before? And had she
not insisted that Cicily must come to her
that winter for taste of New York?
She had watched the girls blue eyes
grow almost fearful and her checks 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' ?"
Yes, indeed, you quaint little Blue
Stooldngl" Genuine liking for her pret-
~ protcge mingled with Mrs Burkc's
amusement. Everyone goes TO the opera,
OF course. and, though / find the Metro
pOlitan terribly tiresome, certainly you
shall so there, toO-lf there's where you
mean"
Cicily had beer imported at the
psychic moment Two years ago her
presence IN the family circle would
have been a distinct bore to Jimmy, who
would probably have spent most of his
time in other haunts, Tor two years ago
he had been at the height OF his infatua-
ton for Merry Nickerson, a perplexing.
impetuous studio favorite, who loved
him FOR a novel quality she had discov-
cred under his hghtness, and innate de-
oency 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 a doubt, that
he was IN one OF the transitional periods
between two affairs, and why shouldn't
his next venture be along legitimate
linesf
For months Mrs. Burke had entertain
ed a secret thought that il was time
Jimmy reformed. Not that she had ever
been strong on reformation. She de-
spised a molly-coddle and would have
been ashamed OF son of the Sir Gala
had or Sir Percival type. But even to
one OF her liberal views, Jimmy's career
of late had been a trihe terrifying He
had qualified for the reverse OF a molly
oOddle with complete success, and she
was conscious of an ardent wish that he
would content himself with the laurels
he had won and retire from the game.
IL Cicily Day had been the inmate OF
any home save the Burke'S il is prob
able she would have heard stories con-
cerning the son Of her hostess which
would have shocked her so completely
that she would have fed his attentions
as she would a peStilenoe But, rs il
was. she Immediately invested him with
all the virtues necessary TOR holding a
place as the ideal of a young girl who
has been brought up along the old-fash-
Ioned lines where ideals are fostered,
and from whom the murky truths that
lnderlie 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
10 GnAlAALCil AlSA concerning LnlUES as
hey arc She listened 10 their laugh
ng illusions and watched their free
intercourse with a somewhat
Dewildcred admiration Of their clever
ness, mixed with an equally bewildered
sense OF uneasinesS. An ingraincd quail
ty Of gamencSS made X possible for her
10 conceal her incredulous dismay at be
holding women. young and old. drink
ng cocktails, smoking cigarettes, and
playing cards for money, but, while Mrs
Burke's careleSsly good-natured set re-
-eived Cicily with the superficial cor
iiallty OF their kind. quite unknown TO
hem. and equally immaterial had they
known, Cicily was receiving them with
reservations. There was nothing kill
oy IN her attitude and her wonder at
he world itself within her clear eyes.
Besides. when one Is living a miracle. all
esser phenomena cease 10 be disturbing.
To Jimmy. a love-affair could hardly
.outaiu Ihe elements which 60 10 make
lp the miraculous, vet he found the one
N which hc was embarked replctc with
sensations and emotions which surprised