Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-11-22
Moonlight and
Money
By Marion Ruqincam
AN UNsYMPATHETTO WOMAN

SAAAhA 4A<Ak
The complete isolation In which
Louise and Harry had spent the
summer was broken by the time Oc-
tober arrived. One morning wher
the air was crisp n the trees around
the pretty little house were turning
red and gold, a letter came from
Mrs. DrLscom. Louise read. 1t with
q slight look of vexation, and turned
to Harry at the breakfast table.
Mothers home. She's coming gu
this afternoon"
We'll. that will be nice, I suppose"
Harry said rather doubtfully. You'd
better have q good dinner or she'll
accuse me Of starving you as well as
taking you to live in an empty house
She can't complain of the house
now; it's lovely" Louise replied. But
as for dinner-it's Friday. you know,
and I've used up all my table allow
ance for this week. We were to have
canned vegetables tonight, but l can't
offer that to mother"
NO." Harry agreed with a humor-
Gus twinkle. II can't quite see your
mother enjoying canned peas and
warmed-up spaghetti. Didn't you
say O had ten dollars left from the
sale of your necklace?"
Yes, but I have been using that
money just for house furnishings, and
I've q special purpos for this"
All right, use 1t for your market
ing today, and I'll give 1t back to You
tonight. I'll simply have to drdw
ahead on my salary"
Ought you to do that2" Louise
asked. 1t didn't seem a wise thing
even to her immature judgment.
Probably 1 oughtn't, but I've a
to do 1t before" Harry said as he
rose from the table. Anyway, let's
feast tonight, and tomorrow Will
take care of itself"
Louise laughed as she went to the
door with him. And so they adopted
a policy that was to lead to Its inev-
table conclusion-trouble and sor-
row.
Mrs. Driscom came out at our.
She was in q new car. and was wear
ing a sable scarf over a new ana IN
usually handsome dress. She came
In with the subdued swish or SOFT
silk and the subdued fragrance OF
expensive perfume. She was quite as
correctly turned out the every detail
as over, Louise thought. Even her
kiss, when she returned her daugh-
ter's greeting, was as cold ana US
formally polite as possible.
You're looking quite magnificent
Mother" Louise commented.
Mrs. Driscom seated herself on the
large sofa in the living room ana
smiled slightly.
IT wish 1 could say as much Tor
you, my DEAR" she returned.
are thin as a rail and you look tlred
to death. What have you oeen 40
ing?" oa .ra
lad the way through the house. But
Mrs. Driscom was not impressed.
Louise thought that the mi
p%rettiness of her home would appear
to the older woman, but she was dls-
appointed. door
gIrl" was her comment when she
was once more before the living room
fire. "And you look the part OF ITS
heroine. You've been
skillful and clever. but knowing you
SO well, of course. / can see the tragic
nointg. Your curtains and your up
holstery are nothing to me but your
pretty dresses of last spring; your
furniture is my hideous old stuff dec
| grated with points. and you are MOTH
ing but O physical wreck as M re-
| suit Of our work"
"If It comes to that" Louise an
swered with more spirit than she us
ually showed, you look rather like
q wreck too"
IT am" Mrs. Driscom said. "Bu'
| you're nineteen and Im-in my for
ties. I hope you don't do all the
| cooking and washing too?"
"Of course / DO" Louise was grow
ing angry. II like It,"
well, your tastes have changed
then" the older woman shrugged hel
shoulders slightly. 49,.
my dear child" she went on will
a certain irritable stress on he
words, my comments and criticism
are made because / have your inter
ests at heart. After all, you are m,
daughter, though you think | hav
little affection for you and thougl
you have little enough for me.
don't like to see you breaking dow
because you've picked UP a burde
you are not fitted to carry. If Harr.
can't see how badly you look l can