The Washington times., 1920-12-16


He raised his glass. tasted the
wine and put il down again.
sheet OF fire swept through him.
what's the matter with itY is
II corked?" she demanded. 1T goes
to the right spot with me-"
TRYING TO EAT.
at seems very good" he said.
trying to smile. and turning to the
food on his plate. The very idea of
eating revolted him-and yet he
made the attempt. He had a feel
ing. ill-defned. that consequences OF
vital Importance depended upon this
attempt. on his natural acceptance
OF the situation.
She put down her knife and fork
Tears sprang into her eyes-tears
OF anger, he thought.
Say, it's no use trying to put up
a bluff with me-" she cried.
"Why do you say that?" he asked.
You know what | mean. All
right. What did you come in here
for. anyway
II don't know couldn't tell
you" he answered.
The very honesty of his words
seemed. for an instant, to discon-
cert her. and she produced a torn
lace handkerchief, which she thrust
in her eyes.
"Why can't you leave me alone.'
she demanded. I'm all right"
II he did not at once reply 1t was
because OF some inner change which
had taken place in himself: and he
seemed to see things suddenly in
their true proportions. He no
longer feared a scene and its con-
sequences.
Her weeping grew more violent
He saw people at the next table
turn and stare, heard the men
laughing harshly. For the specta-
Gle was evidently not an uncom-
mon one here. She pushed away
her unfinished glass, gathered up
her velvet bag and rose abruptly.
II guess l amt hungry after ALL"
she said. and started toward the
door. He turned to the wal er, who
regarded him unmoved, and asked
for a check.
I'll get it," he said.
Holder drew out a ten-dollar bill
and told him to keep the change
The waiter looked at him. Some
impulse moved him to remark. as
he picked up the rector's hat:
Don't let her put it over you,
sir"
Careless Of all comment, he has
tened on, overlook her. and they
walked rapidly side by side. Now
and again he heard a sob, but she
said nothing. Thus they came to
the house where the Garvins had
lived, and passed II. and stopped in
front of the dimly lighted vestibule
of the flats next door. In drawing
the key from her bag she dropped
it; he picked it up and put it in the
lock himself. She led the way with
out comment up the darkened
stairs, and on the landing produced
another key, opened the door OF her
rooms, fumbled for the electric but
ton. and suddenly the place was
flooded with light. He glanced in,
and recoiled
Oddly enough. the first thing he
noticed in the confusion that
reigned was the absence of the
piano. Two chairs were overturned,
and one OF them was broken;
siphon of vichy lay on the floor be-
side crushed glass. and two or
three OF the cheap ornaments that
had been swept of the mantel and
broken on the gaudy tiles OF the
hearth. He glanced at the woman,
'
surveying the wreckage with the
calmness, the philosophic noncha-
lance of a class that comes to look
upon misfortune as inevitable.
"They didn't do a thing to this
place, did they" was her comment
"There was two guys in here to-
night who got notion they were
funny"
TRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER.
Then came the imperative need
Of action, and he began to right one
of the chairs. She darted forward.
"Cut it out" she cried. "What
business have you got coming in
here and Strengthening up / was
a fool to bring you, anyway
81 believe 7 invited myself" he
answered, with attempted cheerful
ness. Then 1t struck him, in his
predicament, that this was precise
" what others had donei when
you asked me little while ago
whether ! had left the church, let
you think / had. I am still con-
nected with st. Johns. but | do not
know how long | shall continue to
be"
She was on her knees with DUST
pan and whiskbroom, cleaning up
the fragments of glass on the
stained carpet. And she glanced
up at him swiftly, diviningly.
"Say-you're in trouble yourself,
amt your"
Il might have known" she said.
staring at him. In spite OF his ges-
ture OF dissent, he saw that she was
going over the events of the even
Ing from her new point of view.
II might have known, when we
were sitting there in Harrod's, that
you were up against it, too, but I
couldn't think Of anything but the
way l was fixed. The agents been
hsve twice this week for the rent.
and I was kind OF desperate for a
Squire meal"
Holder took the dustpan from her
hand, and flung its contents into the
fireplace.
Then we are both fortunate" he
said, Ito have met each other"
II don't see where you come in"
she told him.
He turned and smiled at her.
DO you remember when | was
here that evening about two months
ago said I should like to be your
friend? Well, | meant 1t. And
have often hoped. since then, that
some circumsl ance might bring us
together again You sec ned to