Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-21
Moonlight and
Money
BY Marion Rubincam
TWO LETTERS
CHAPTER SO

do you like Murray Butler?" Mr..
Driscom asked her one afternoon as
they walked home from his studio.
Very much" Louise answered
absently. She wasn't thinking of her
artist friend and teacher at the
moment; she vas looking out over
Central Park, where a group OF
children were playing "follow-the-
leader" winding back and forth in
snaky curves-with a baby, just
learning to walk, hobbling and
tumbling along at the end Of the line.
Look there, Father!" she ex-
claimed, pointing out the group.
Wouldn't that make a charming de-
sign to go around the walls of a
nursery I'd make the figures about
eighteen inches tall and put them
half way up the nursery walls, so the
Riddles could see them easily. Look
at that baby tumble over there and
laugh-and those two nurses sitting
so primly on the bench s%ewing!"
''Um, yes, very pretty" Mr.. Dris-
com answered, in a tone as absent
and uninterested as the n Louise
had used when she answered him.
But to be polite. he did look over
at the group OF children. Louise
laughed and squeezed his hand.
That's what you used to say when
I asked you whether o liked my
new dress-and all the time you
never knew whether it was q new
dress or ar old one, and half the
time you didn't even see me-"
That was long ago" Mr.. Driscom
answered. And l didn't lave much
interest in the place that was sup
posed to be my home, and I didn't
know you. 1 think 1t must have been
part of your mothers desire to re-
yenge herself on me that h kept
me from ever knowing what a
charming little daughter / had"
81 like O a lot, Father" Louise
said with O. sudden shynesS.
You've more than made up to me
for all the years hat 1 missed out
Of my life," Mr.. Driscom said slowly.
Yes, she a made w to him for
the loss of his wife, Louise knew.
She had given him back his home,
he rarely went to the club now. He
seemed to enjoy every bit of the
big brown stone house. Louise took
care these days to keep the place as
cheerful as she could. She kept fresh
flowers about and pulled down most
of the dark hangings, intending to
replace them in the fall with some
thing brighter.
But could her father, for all his
love and tenderness, make up to her
for the loss of Harry? Sometimes
h thought h was much happier
than she had been when she lived
with her husband. She knew she was
more comfortable and al peace and
free from worry-but was that all
in life2 She wanted to decorate nur-
wouldn't each one she
did for other mothers be just an ex-
preston Of her longing for a nursery
of her own?
Thinking like this, she reached the
An-rCn nva1 Tray,f ~ g. hn, NV 4 -
change her dress. With her faith II
and Mr.. Butler she a to dine ~
one Of the fashionable roof garden
restaurants that night, and she was
to wear her prettieSt evening gown.
On the table lay q small package
and a letter. Her heart gave a sud
den leap, for the handwriting on
both was Harry's.
He's going to ask ME to come
back to him-and I'm goingl" she
said, and reached for the envelope.
Dear Louise she read-that
seemed a cold way to begin a letter
she thoHght-'In spite of other debts
I've kept up the payment on your
pearl necklace, n on my last com
mission l got it away from the place
o paWned 1t. I'm mailing it with
the letter.
IT'S too bad it ever had to go as
II did to raise money, but it's all
right since 1t wasn't lost entirely.
I'll get out your other things as soon
rs 1 can afford them-I found all the
tickets In the house before l rented
1t.
Il know you are well, because !
friends have seen you about at thea !
tres and restaurants with your 1
Father and other people, and have !
told me about it. still, you might
Writo me once in a while and tell me
about yourself, don't you think? 1
think [ have still the right to know
how my wife is. and not get informa-
ton secondhand.
Il have the same office and I am
doing as well as a beginner a ex-
pect. So you know where to reach
o want me. I don't
have TO tell you Til be glad to hear
from you, or to see you"
She was both thrilled and chilled
ut his letter That he felt hurt she
kneW-yet he need not be quite so
formal! She opened the package
and looked at the string Of pearls
how long age it seemed since she
had first seen them, the wedding gift
Of a wealthy uncle. She tossed them
over on the 6@'esser and went to her