The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1919-07-29

In the face OF considerable family op.
position. | am selfish. Can you
show me any one who isn't largely
swayed by motives OF self-interest, II
1t comes to that? want TO be happy.
| want to be on good terms with my
own people, so that Charlie will have
some OF the opportunities dad can 80
easily put In his way. Charlie isn't
rich. He hasn't done anything, ac-
cording to the Abbey standard. but
make fair start. Dads patronizing
as sin. and mother merely tolerates
the idea because she knows that III
marry Charlie in any case. opposition
or no opposition. / came over ex-
pressly TO warn you, Stella. Any.
thing like scandal now would be-
well, IL would upset so many things, "
you needn't be uneasy" Stella
answered coldiy. There isn't any
foundation for scandal. There won't
be"
81 don't know" Linda returned.
Walter Monahan came TO Seattle a
boat ahead OF me. In fact, that's
largely why came"
Stella flushed angrily.
wen. what OF that?" she demand
ed. His movements are nothing TO
me"
II don't know" Linda rejoined
She had taken off her gloves and
was rolling them nervously in a ball
Now she dropped them and impul
sively grasped Stella's hands.
"a.
get that hurt, angry look. | don't
like to say these things TO you. but
feel that have to. I'm worried. and
I'm afraid for you and your husband
for Charlie and myself. for all Of us
together. Walter Monohan is as dan
Gerous as any man who's unscrupu-
lous and rich and absolutely sclf.cen.
tered can possibly be. l know the
glamour OF the man. used 10 feel
IL myself IL didn't go very far with
me, because his attention wandered
away from me before my feelings
were much involved. and | had
chance TO really fathom them and
him. He has a queer gift of making
women care for him, and he trades
on IL deliberately. He doesn't play
fair; he doesn't mean to. oh. ! know
so many cruel things. despicable
things. he's done. Don't look at me
like that. Stella. I'm not saying this
just 10 wound you. I'm simply put
ting you on your guard. You can't
play with fire and not get burned. II
you've been nursing any feeling for
Walter Monohan. crush II. cut IL out,
Just as you'd have a surgeon cut out
a cancer. Entirely apart from any
question OF Jack Fyfe. don't let this
man play any part whatever in your
life. You'll be sorry IL you do.
There's not a man or woman whose
relations with Monohan have been in
innate enough TO enable them TO real
~ know the man and his motives
who doesn't either hate or fear or de-
spise him, and sometimes all three"
That's n sweeping indictment"
Stella said stiffly. And you're very
earnest. Yet can hardly take your
word at its face value If he's so inn
possible a person, how does IL come
that you and your people counte-
nance him socially2 Besides. it's all
rather unnecessary. Linda. I'm not
the least bit likely To do anything
that will reflect on your prospective
husband. which Is what II SINNERS
down to. isn't TT rye been pulled
and hauled this way and that ever
since I've been on the coast, simply
because I was dependent on some one
else-first Charlie and then Jack
for the bare necessities of life. When
there's mutual affection, companion
ship. all those ultimate interests that
marriage Is supposed 10 imply. |
daresay woman gives fun measure
for all she receives. If she doesn't
she's simply a sponge, clinging to a
man for what's in Il. | couldn't bear
that. You've been rather painfully
frank: so will be. one unhappy
marriage is quite enough for me
Looking back. l can SEQ that even If
Walter Monohan hadn't stirred a
feeling in me which | don't deny
but which I'm not nearly so sure of
as | was some time ago,-Td have
come to Just this stage, anyway. |
was drifting all the time. My baby
and the conventions. that reluctance
most women have to make a clean
sweep OF all the ties they've been
schooled TO think unbreakable, kept
me moving along the old grooves. 1T
would have come about little more
gradually, that's all. But have bro
ken away, and I'm going TO live my
own life after a fashion, and I'm go
ing to achieve independence OF some
sort. I'm never going to he any mans
mate again until I'm sure of myself
and of him. There's my philosophy
of life. as simply as ! can put II. |
don't think you need to worry about
me. Right now | couldn't muster up
the least shred of passion OF any
sort seem to have felt so much
since last summer. that I'm like a
sponge squeezed dry"
81 don't blame you, dear" Linda
said wistfully. "a woman's heart Is
n queer thing, tho When you com
pare the two men. Oh. well, |
know Walter so thoroly. and you
don't. You couldn't ever have cared
much for Jack"
THAT hasn't any bearing on 1t
now" Stella answered. I'm still his
wife, and | respect him, and I've got
a stubborn sort OF pride. There won't
be any divorce proceedings or any
scandal. I'm free personally to work
out my own economic destiny. That
right now, Is engrossing enough for
me-
Linda sat a minute, thoughtful.
Continued in Tomorrow's STAR