The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-06

charms of the fair young cinema star
to the other gentlemen of the party.
Then another blow impended when
she overheard Mrs. Winifred Testers
darling Roy, who had no more con-
troll over himself than a dead man
| has, tell Gale that If she didn't let him
kiss her, he'd go outside and shoot him
| self. She heard Gales smothered lit
tie laughter and light advice for him
to please go far enough away from
the house so that the sound of the
shot would not disturb the guests.
That evening when Gale consented
to dance for them and looking in her
I light draperies like a young dryad
out of the newly green forests nearby,
| swayed rhythmically and POLITICALLY to
the soft music of the Swan Song"
even Mrs. Fordyce was inclined to for
give Peter for the expression OF rap
| ture on his face.
He was new Peter. His eyes were
sparkling. There was an alert, vigor-
Gus swing to his straight young body,
as if red blood had suddenly been
| transfused into his veins. The old
bored, Indifferent Peter was gone.
| 1t was after the dance, when Mrs.
Fordyce had heard the richest young
! man in the party, the most eligible
young man in Peters set, offer his
heart and hands to the pretty, smiling
| Gale, that she went outside to think
| things over.
She walked on the terrace alone. A
| little ripping breeze, freighted with
| the fragrance of lilacs that tossed
their purple plumes in the moonlight,
seemed to anesthetize her hardened
| old heart. Dreams of her own youth
were born of it. The soft call of a
night bird plucked the strings of ro-
nance until memory breathed for her
a love sing of the long ago She
seemed to be leaning hard upon the
strong breast of Peters father; Peters
father, who had gone on beyond the
stars.
A dragging step sounded on the
stone. Peter, head bent, was walking
YEARLY toward the garden, abioom
with hyacinths and yellow jasmine.
"Peter!" she called.
I'm going off, by myself" he an
swered, hardly pausing. You can't
understand and Gale won't do any
| thing to-hurt you"
She lifted her face to the stars,
those candles aglow on the far-away
altar of the skies. Why, she would
give her body, the blood of her heart.
for Peter. She had brought the girl
to make her i'll at ease. unhappy; hop
| ing to disillusion Peter. What a cruel
thing old age could be!
Would she ever be able to make it
up to them? Would she deny Peter
the evergreen memories that cheer the
| lOISliHSSS Ol ineN1ldOlS Otu age IO
marry for love, to bring happy,
| healthy, wanted babies into the world
That was the paramount issue of lifei
A soft little hand slipped into hers.
! She looked down into Gales glowing.
beautiful face, young as spring itself,
her white shoulders cleaning like
marble under the silken tulle about
them. Its a wonderful night. a
| lovers night, isn't it, Mrs. Fordyce ?"
| she asked, an almost breathless little
eagerness warming her voice.
She put her arms around the girl,
and eyes sparkling with tears, she bent
! over to kiss heron the forehead. DO
| you see that little red glow down there
| in the garden? That's Peters cigar.
He's waiting to tell you that he loves
\ you and that We want you-Peter
and l."
Quivering Alps touched her cheek.
whitening in spite of care. Then Gale
| fly in the moonlight. She heard
| Peters questioning voice, heard his
| little cry of rapture, saw the two fig
ures merge into one.
| She looked again toward the shining
stars and once more out of the en-
veloping shadows seemed to feel the
| strong breast of Peters father. her
own young lover, his arms around her.
She was strangely comfortable. Peter,
! too, should have his memories, ever
green memories, to cheer the loneli-
ness of inevitable old age.
| copyright, 1920. by the Mcclure News
| paper Syndicate.)