The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-07-13

NO. 3
 The taxicab finally drew up before a magnificent gray stone mansion on Fifth avenue, facing Central park. A butler in livery, hurried from the entrance, to open the door
 Higgins, you will pay the fare" said James companion to the servant. Turn ing to the girl, she continued: You will step into my home, for a cup of tea, will you nct?''
 Jane hestated, remembering her duties at the office, and replied.
 T must be returning to my work, I'm afraid I had only stepped out for late luncheon and a bit of fresh air when I saw you at Trinity church"
 The other pressed her hand to her fore head, answering with shudder at the memory of that eventful hour
 What fortunate thing for me that you did" Then, as the butler assisted her to the pavement, she urged once more: "It will only delay you a few more minutes and will comfort me much. Please come in"
 And so it was that the girl followed her into the most marvellous private resi- dence she had ever visited Only in books and on the screen of motion picture thea ters had she read of or seen such splen- dor.
 Another servant bowed before them, as
  low broad curve of carven marble stairs they entered the drawing room. Jane strove to conceal her curiosity and the natural desire to gaze around at the sculpture, the costly tapestries the Orien- tai carpets and the hundred and one evidences of rich taste and even rlcher ability to collect such lovely things. The perfume of rare flowers pervaded the great room. It seemed to Jane Brown bare indeed sbOu1d rest the living incarnation of happiness.
 How strange-how shocking, in truth that the mistress of such home, with everything in the wide world that money could bring, should seek to destroy her self in a manner no different from that of the humblest shop girl! Life was strange anomaly, Jane realized; she won dered if her wondrous dreams of work, of persistence, of accomplishment, which had inspired her to cast herself into the life of the city were after all, worth the struggle and bitterness.
 Her companion, turned toward her, catching the glint of intesive speculation in Jane's dark eyes.
 You marvel how I can be lonely Tn such a home, don't you?" was her intui- tive query. Jane colored, abashed that her face should have betrayed her thoughts. Well child, as I told you when love flew away, and when my lit tie boy died this great house was trans formed into nothing more than an enor- nous jail. The servants were my turn keys and even my acquaintances seemed only like some visiting committee of of ficials, calling to inspect the wretched prisoner Let us go up to my little living room, where we may have some tea, in a smaller, more intimate environment.
 She gave few delft orders to the serv- ant In another minute they were en- tering the elevator, to speed to the top floor of the great house.
 Her hostess led her to tiny room, In the front, where from the broad latticed window Jane drank in an inspiring vista of Central park spreading out like carpet of rolling green tree tops, with here and there the sheen of lakes and ponds.
 'T'his is where come to brood, where I may not be disturbed even by my serv- ants" said her hostess. Here Is the portrait of my little son. I always keep it by my side, in this, my den.
 Jane looked at the sweet sad face Of little boy, resembling his mother so