The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-16

intensely interested In a younger woman.
suppose she wil--ahaii 70 up TO the
Niilalongsu'7 They're terribly nioe
TO me. and ! think vern Huupects-"
What makes YOU think she does7'
Warren asked. feeling as n hot.
dry wind suddenly amote his skin.
because she's 30 nice to me-
hagrie answered triumphantiy.
"Rachaeis been just a little snippy
to Vera" aho oonfided further. "or
Vera thinks she has. She's not been
up there for ages, could tell
Vera"
Warren'a power OF reasoning was
dlHaipated In an absolute panic. But
George had primed him for this talk.
lie assumed an air Of business.
There are several things 20 think
OF, Magsie.' he said briahiy. before
wo can 30 farther. In the first place.
you must spend tho summer com.
fortabiy. Two arranged for that"
lie handed her a email yellow
handbook. Magnie glanced at II;
glanced az him.
"oh. GREG. dear. you're too gen
erousr'
"I'm not generous at ALL" he an.
rwered with an honest flush. II
know what I am now. Magsie. I'm Il
cad"
who says you're cady" Msgsie
demanded Indignantly.
Il say nor' he answered. ANY
man In cad who gets two women
into mess like thisr'
Greg. dear. you rhan't say soF'
Her slender arms were about his
neck.
Well" lie dIsenEaged the
arms. and went on with his planning.
George Valentine In going 20 zee
Rachael" no proceeded.
About the divoree7" said Magwis
with a nod.
About tho whole thing. And
George thinks I had better go away"
"wheroT" demanded Asgre.
''oh. travelling somewhere"
''Hio7" dlmpied Magsie. You
know you hav. always had n sneak.
inE desire To see fto.
Warren smiled mechanically. II
had been Raeharl's favori,e dream
when tho boys are big enouKh-
His sons--were they bathing this
minute. or eagerly smptyinx their
blue porridfe bowinY
''Magnie. dear" he said slowly,
its a miserable buslnens--thia I'm
as sorry as can be about A. But
the truth IL that George wants me
TO get away only until no and Alice
can get Rachael into n mood where
she'll forgive me. They see this
whole crazy thing as II really II,
dear. I'm not a young man. Massie.
I'm nearly fifty. hav. no business
to think OF anything but my own
wife and my work and my children
Don't look so. MsEsie.~ he broke off
10 say, II only blam. myself Il
have loved you--f do love yoa--but
IT'S only a mans love for n sweet
little amusing friend. Cant we
can't we stop ~ right herc' You 40
what you please. draw on mo for
twice that. for ten times that: have
a long. rc.tfui summer. and then
come back in the fan as N this was
all n dream
Mngrie had been watching him
steadily during this speech. long
speech for him. At first she had
been obviously puzzled. then aston.
ished. now abe was angry. She had
grown pale. her pretty childish
mouth was little open. her breath
coming fast. For fun minute. "a
his voice halted. there was silence.
''Thcn--then you didn't mean all
you said," Msgsie demanded. storm.
iiy, after the pause. You didn't
mean that you-carcdg You didn't
mean tho letters. and the presents.
and the talks we've hadY You knew
] was In earnest. but you were Just
foolingr' Sheer excitement and fury
kept her painting for n moment. then
she went on: but I think ! know
who's done this. Greg" she said
viciouHiy: its Mrs. Valentine. She
to youi they've done H. She's per.
suadcd you that you never were I'm
earnest with me- Magsio ran
across the room. flung open the little
desk that stood there. and tore the
rubber band from a package of let.
tcra. You take her one OF theser'
she said. half sobblng. ASK her n
that means anything Greg. dcarr'
she Interrupted herself to say In n
child's reproachfui tone. didn't you
mean it7' And with her soft hair
floating, and her figure youthful un.