The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-12


eas OF dressing in a weary daze. The
boys, as was usual. came in during
the hour. fun Of fresh conversation
and eager to discuss plans for the
day. Jim tied strings from knob 20
knob OF her bureau drawers, Derry
amused himself by dashing n chain
OF glass beads against the foot OF the
bed until the links gave and the tiny
balls rolled IN every direction over
the floor.
the discounted junior. Pauline Will
come In and pick them all up.
Mother doesn't carci"
Derry. however. howled on uncon-
aolod. and Rachael. stopping. half
dressed. TO take him In her arms.
unused while she kissed him over the
tiny sorrow that could 10 convulHc
him. Was she no more Than VI howl.
ms baby robbed OF toy3 Nothing
could be more real than Dcrry's sense
Of loss. no human being could weep
more deHoiately or more unrcason.
ably. Were her love and her life no
more than a string Of baubies. scat
tered and flung about by some IRE.
Hponrlbio handf Was nothing real
except the great moving sea and the
arch of stars above tho spring
nights Life and death. and laughter
and tears. how unimportnnt thoy
wcre' Eight years ago she had felt
herself 10 be unhappy. now nhc must
that IN those days nhe had known
neither sorrow nor Joy. Since then.
what an ecstasy OF fulnlied desire
had been hers She had lived upon
the heights. shc had tasted the full
eat and the sweetest Of human
emotions. What other woman--Cieo
patra. Helen. all the great queens OF
countries and Of art--hAd known
more exquisite delight than hers had
been In those nrst days when abe
had waited for Warren 10 como 10
her with vioietsT
The morning wen, on like an ugly
dream. Al . o'clock Rachael sent
down an untouched breakfast tray,
Mary took tho boys Out into the
struggling sunshine. The house was
still
Rachael lay on her wide couch.
staring wretchedly into space. Her
head aehed The moon.faced clock
struck slow 10. the hail clock
down stairs following 1, with brisk
silver chime. Vendors In tho square
called their wares: the firs, carts Of
po,t~d spring flowers wero goins
their rounds.
shortly after 30 o'clock she heard
Warren run upstairs and into his
room she could hear his voice at
the telephone he wanted the hos.
pitai-Dr. Gregory wished 10 speak
to Miss Moore
Miss Mooref DR.. Gregory would
be there Mt II please have
everything ready. Miss Moore. who
was n veteran nurse and a priv.
legged character. asked some CUES
tons M 90 the Albany case. Warren
w.ariiy answered that the patient
had not rallied: II was too bad--too
bad.
Once I, would have been Raohaers
delight 90 soothe him. 10 give him
tho strong coffee he needed before
II O'Clock. 10 ask about the poor Al.
bany man. Now she hardly heard
him. beginning 10 trcmble. Hhe sat
up. her heart beating fast.
Warren she called. In a shaken
voice.
lie came 20 the door Immediately. |
and they faced each other. his per.
functory greeting arrested by her
look.
Warren" said Rachael. with |
desperate effort at control. ~ want |
you TO tell me about--about you and |
Maggie Clay
Instantly his face dsrkened. lie
gazcd back at her steadily. narrow
Ing his eyes.
what about it7" he asked.
sharply.
Rachael knew that she was grow
ing angry against her passionate res
olution 20 Keep the conversation in
her own hands.
'Magsie came TO SEQ mo ycster'
dayr' she said. painting.
Had Eho touched him. She could
not tell. There was no wavering
In HIS inpassivo face.
what about IT, he asked again,
after a silence.
His wife pushed tho rich, tumblcd
hair from her face with wild ges.
ture. as II abe fought for air.
what about ~" che echoed. in n
tone. Htill with that
guickened shallow breath. do you
think 1t 81 customary for n girl to
come 20 a mans wife. and tell her
that she cares for him? DO you
think It II customary for a girl 20
have tea every day with a young
actress who admits shc Ia in love
with him"
II don't know what you're talking
about" Warren said his face dull
red.
do you mean 20 tell me that you
ion't know that MarRare, Clay cares
Tor you"' Rachael said. in rising an
ger. 'and that you have never told |
her you care for her--that you and
she have never talked about II. have
never wished that you were free TO
belong to each other!''
you viii make yourself mr. War
-cn said, quietly. watching her.
His tone brought Rachael abruptly
70 her senses. Fury and accusation
we're not her best defense. With
Warren calm and dignlncd she would
,nly hurt her claim by this course.
In n second she was herself again,
her breath grew normal. she straight.
rncd her hair. and with brief shrug
walked slowly from the room into
her own sitting room adjoining
her. Warren found her