Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-08
PATIENT WAITING

AS the weeks went by the old ready
Smile came back to Alice's face again.
After that one afternoon she said
nothing about Lois or David. and
Clara, after having read the letter
and commented upon 1t, also refrain
ed from talking about 1t. A little
warmth came into the air. q hint Of
springttme. But this tantalizins hint
would be followed by sleet and win
and days of gray. ugly skies.
Alice seemed unusually eager for
the sound of the postman in the
morning, and in the late afternoon
she usually managed to walk around
by way of the p~ostofice to see
whether a letter had come on the af-
ternoon train. But except for the
faithful Christine and her long. gos-
sipy news letters. there was nothing
for her.
This is a curious situation" she
said one day to Clara. I'VE did not
even get a personal letter about the
death of Lois. / should think some
one would have notified us, since we
were relatives. That is always done,
isn't it?"
Sometimes" Clara answered. But
If David had charge OF sending the
notifications he might omit your
name. He would know that you and
Lois did not want to see each other
In life. Why. then, should you want
TO see her in death 2"
Yes. of course. that's where COM
mon sense and conventions clash"
Alice unused. She sat back in the
little living room rocker, relaxed and
tired from her day at the Settlement
House. She was undressing Berenice
as she talked. preparatory to putting
that active small person to bed. 1t
was a task that interfered with seri-
Gus conversation, for Berenice could
wv rs find M MANY fh1nRA 10 90
whe bedtime approached and some-
times she was difficult to manage.
But 1t was a delightful ceremony to
Alice. one she looked forward to all
day long.
II wonder whether / should write
him a letter of condolenceP she
went pm after a time. That's an
other case where the conventions and
common sense clash. What could I
say? l could not tell him l was sorry
to hear it, for he and l know
hat I'm not sorry. How could be
sorry for the death of a woman VINO
took everything in my life away from
me-"
She was interrupted here by the
necessity of getting Berenice from
her mothers work basket. The baby
had a special fondness for buttons
and scissors. Presently, having put
her into a blue flannel sleeping suit,
WnlCn Clara udu OnCe CAip
in rabbits. Alice was able to go on
with her conversation.
II couldn't tell him / sympathfzed
with his sorrow over his wires ioss,
for he knows 1 know that he could
not be very sorry. for she was no loss
at ALL"
We'll, OF course. II you must stick
10 the letter of the TRUTH cara re-
marked with a slight smile. you
might write and congratulate him.
Having known Lois in the old days
and knowing of her since. / think
congratulations are more in order.
Alice smiled a little. gathering
Berenice into her arms and holding
her 80 her feet were mean the warm
glow of the stove.
social conventions are queer" she
said. II don't think I'll write
II wouldn't, If 1 were you. The
next move is up to David anyway.
Clara answered, coming nearer 10
the lamp. =.
Alice sat quietly watching her; II
was really a very charming little
scene that they formed. The lamp
on the centre table threw its Hght
over the two young figures, each one
no earnest in her work.
Clara was bent owe some sewing.
a rose silk dress that had Deen or
dered for one Of the wealthy chill
dren of the town. She had an as
sjstant now for the ordinary work,
and the fine touches she put on her
self. In the lamplight h looked as
though she were posing for some old
fashioned painting. Her smoothly
parted hair with its suggestion OF
wave. her clean profile, her clear skin
and delicate color, and her pleasing
little figure. made her very attrac-