New-York tribune., 1919-05-18

when you wouldn't, l know, and it
wasn't my fault, either), it wasn't pre-
meditated, really, it wasn't. Honest,
cross my heart, dear, twenty days, and
hope to die" (What did she really
care for his disappointment or what
he suffered, curse herb "Cnly yester-
day at 1 Betty called up and insisted
that I should come. There's big
house party on, and you're invited, OF
course, when you get back. Her
cousin Frank is coming and somc
friends of his" Eyes, he knew what
friends!), land four of my old girl
chums, so I just couldn't get out Of
it, nor would l, particularly since She
wanted me to help her, and I've asked
her so many times to help us-ncw,
could l."
Idelle's way in letters, as in person,
was always bantering. To the grave
with Betty Gildas and all her house
parties, in so far as he was concerned,
the fast. restless, heartless thing
Why couldn't she have been here just
this once, when he wanted her SO much
and had wired and written IN plenty
of time for her TO be, and brought her
these flowers and the candy-and the
servants always seeing,
But no. she didn't care for him. She
never had. She merely wanted to fool
him along like this. to keep his name,
his position, the social atmosphere he
a joke to her-this house, his friends,
himself, adjust nothing Her idea
was to fool him along in this way
while she continued to run with these
other shabby, swift, restless, insatiable
creatures like herself who liked cabs-
rets, thes dansants. automobile runs to
this. that and the other wretched place,
country house parties, country clubs,
country this, country that, or Nes
York and all its shallow and heartles:
mockery of simplicity and peace. Well,
he was through. She was always weary
of him, never anxious to be with him
for one moment even, but never weary
of any of them, you bet-of seeking the
widest forms of pleasure, Well, this
was the end now. He had had enough
She could go her own way from now
on. Let the beastly flowers lie there
what did he care? He wouldn't carry
them to her. He was through now. He
was going TO do what he said-leave.
Only
He began putting some things in
another bag in addition to The ones
he had-his silk shirts. extra under
wear. all his collars. Once and for
ell now he wouldn't stand this-never!
Never,
Only
AS he fumed and glared, his eye
fell on his favorte photo of Idelle-
young, rounded, sensuous, only twenty
four to his forty-eight, an air and
manner flattering 10 any mans sense
of vanity and success to possess-and
then, as a contrast. ne thought of the
hard, smiling self-sufficiency of so
many of her friends-J-- C, for
one, still dogging her heels in spite
of him, and Keene, young and wealthy,
; and Arbuthnot-and who not else p
any one and all of whom would be glad
TO take her if he left her. And she
! knew this 1t was a part of her
strength even her charm-curse heri
Curse herl Curse her.
But more than that, youth, youth, the
eternal lure of beauty and vitality, her
smiling softness at times, her genial
ity, her tolerance, their long talks and
pleasant evenings and afternoons, were
calling, calling, and yet they were all
at the vanishing point now, perhaps
never to come again, if he left herl >
She had warned him of that. "If II
CO." she once said more than onceN
indeed-"it is for good. Don't think
I'll ever come back, for | won't" An
he understood well enough that she
would not She didn't care for him
enough to come back. She never would.
if she really went.
He paused, meditating, biting his lips
as usual, flushing, frownins, darkening
"a changeable sky his face-and
them
George" he said after the latter had
appeared in answer to his ring, "tell
Charles to bring the jitney around
again, and you pack me- the little brown
kit bag out of these others. Pm going
, away for day or two, anyhow"
"Yes, sun"
Then down the stairs he went, say
ing that Idelle was liar, wastrel,
, heartless butterfly, worthy to be left as
? he proposed TO leave her now, only,
I once outside with Charles in his car,
he paused again, and "To the Gildases,"
, he said sadly, "and better go by the
Skillytown road It's the shortest"
Then he fell to thinking again.