The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-18

CHAPTER IS.
elizabeth.
Mrs, Deane and Elizabeth naturally
had heard nothing Of Freddie's elope-
ment. Poor Mr.. and Mrs. Mason MS
own father and mother, only has beer
told of it the day before. There mad
been no time to send out cards. So
now, just as the brides first dinner
with her new parents-in-law was draw
ing to a close, Mrs, Mason's old-time
daughter. Mrs. Deane came into the
living room, flushed and youthful; her
tailored suit fitting her pretty figure,
her slender, white-gloved hands out
stretched to meet Mrs. Mason. Eliza
beth. with her shy and lovely smile,
freddie a sea-shell pink crept up over
her sensitive young face.
\ Hello, Freddie" she said eagerly.
Il didn't know you were home yeti"
It was an awful moment for every
body. In the background stood Es-
trelda, the bride, awkward and sullen:
Neither Mrs. Deane nor Elizabeth had
noticed her as yet. Poor Freddie was
dead white, practically incapable of
speech. Once again and, as a matter
OF course, the full burden had to be
shouldered by Mrs. Mason. She never
knew how pitiful was the look she gave
Mrs. Deane. But her voice was per-
fectly sweet as she said:
Freddie has come home sooner thar
we expected, toto bring us good
news. He was married a day or two
az s n in Won M a. meet Mrs. Es bea6e" lear
But the thing was almost too sud
den for that lady. Mechanically and
because of years Of control her hand
went but to the new Mrs. Mason
But her look did not leave her friends
face. And to herself she vas saying
boy done? He's half killed his
mother!"
In her swift pity for Mrs. Mason she
had forgotten Elizabeth. Why should
she not? The child was but a child
just Is years old, For years she had
like his own sister. Elizabeth loved
Freddie, of course. But that his mar,
rage should in any way really affect
her was Incredible. And yet, what wal
this? One little broken cry. small ant
heart-breaking, from Elizabeth, a
She stood, her eyes big and black
with sudden sorrow; her sweet lipt
~quivering. Her hands were. clinchet
and, at her sides; and all the lovely
sea-shell pink had left her face; left Il
very white and little looking above thu
bit of fur about her throat.
''Oh, Freddie" she had said; "Oh
Freddie, how could you!'
And, at her childish, straight re
proach, he forgot them all; forgot Es'
trelda, the girl he had married, forgo'
his mother and his father, who stoot
| stiff with pain at this new drama tina
threatened to unfold. He forgo
everything. and went in three, Ions
steps to Elizabeth and took her In hi
arms. And with his cheek dowi
against the little bronze head, he whis
| pered to her, as though he was still {
| boy, striving to heal some childish
hurt:
L YOU, shouldn't !? Lizzie, don't! ~
4 wouldn't hurt you for the world!'
+. She, too, had forgotten everyone eu
Freddie Mason" she cried, "wh,
don't you think sometimes? Your
always saying you don't mean things
but you always DO 'em Just the same
Alas, It was the world-old reproacI
Of human to human! We do not meal
to hurt each othWf but we 20 1t a
the Nsame!' Before E~lizabeth's unan
swerable cry Freddie stood still. Blu
\ Mrs. Deane, in the face OF the nev
catastrophe, had gathered her forces
1t seemed that her little child-he