The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-10

inOtNtf tlliF RhiitfArllNH hhNN
that tho quecreHt persons In the
world. about eating and drinking. are
actresses. Magsic.' she added. mnll'
ing. $50 don't know whether to
ofYcr you tea. or hot soup, or an egg
beaten up In milk. or what We had
pianist here about a year ago.
and"
"oh. nothing. nothing. thank you.
Rachaelr' Magsio said. eagerly and
nervoualy. II couldn't"
THE boys may be In soon" RIA
chael remarked. choosing TO ignore
her guests rather unexpected emo
ton.
This seemed 90 spur Magsie sud
denly into speech. She glanced at the
tall old moonfaeed clock that was
slowly ticking near the door. as II
20 estimate tho time left her. and sat
suddenly erect on tho edge OF her
chair.
II mustn't stay" she said. breath
lessly. IL have 60 be back at the
theatre at Z. and | ought TO so home
mrs, for n few minutes. My girl
she's just a Swedish woman that I
picked up by chance worries about
inc as IL she were my mother. unless
come In and rest. and take an egg
nog. or something She rallied her
forces with a quite visible EFFORT. ut
was just this. Rachael" said MaFHle.
looking at the ftre. and twisting her
white gloves In desperate cmharraHn-
mcnt. II know you've always liked
inc, you've always been go kind 20
me. and can only hope that your
forgive me II what say sounds
strange 10 you thought could
come here and say IL. but-I'vc al.
ways been a little afraid Of you. Ra.
ohaei-and i''-Magais laughed ncr.
youuly--"and I'm scared 90 death
nowr' she said simply.
Something natural. unaffected. and
direct I'm her usually seif.corscioun
and artificial manner struck Rachael
with vague sense % uneasin.ns.
Marsie certainly did not seem 20 he
acting now: there were real tears IN
her pretty eyes. and a genuine break
in her young voice
I'm going utraiEh, ahead" Hhe
said. rapidly. because I've been set.
ting up my courage this whole week
TO come and sr- you. and now. Will.
Greg L. In Albany. can't put II OF
any longer. lilo doesn't know Il. Of
course. and. aitho know I'm putting
myself entirely at your mercy. RIA.
cha1. believe you'll never tell him
II I ask you not to-
Il don't understand" Rachael said.
slowly.
''I'v. been thinking II all out"
Nag~i. went on. and this 10 the con.
a4asion-at least. this Is what I've
thought, You have always had
everything. Rachael You've always
been 80 beautiful. and NO much ad.
mircd. You loved Clarence. and mar
ried him--oh. don't think I'm rude.
Rachael" tho girl pleaded eagerly. as
Rachael voiced an inarticulsto pro
test. because I'm 30 desperately sn
earnest. and $500 desperately unhap.
pyf' Her voice broke on a rush Of
tears. but shc commanded II. and
hurried on. You've always been for
tunatr. not like other women. who
had to be second best. but always the
cievcrcst. and always the hand
sonest' I remember. when ! heard
you were to marry Greg. I was just
sick with misery for two or three
daysi I had seen him n few weeks
before In Paris. but he said nothing
of IL. didn't even mention you. Don't
think was jealous. flachacl-f
wasn't that But ~ seemed - inc
that you had everything, FirE. the
position OF marrying a breckenridge.
then to step straight into Grcg's life.
You'l never know how how ! sin
gied you out TO watch"
Jus, ms have singled you out
this horrible winter" Rachael said
20 herself. In strange pain and be-
wildermcnt of heart. Magsie watched
her hopefully. but Rachael did not
speak. and the girl went on:
when / canN TO America /
thought Of you. and I listened 10
what everyone said OF you. You had
splendid boy. named for Greg. and
then another boy: you were richer
and happier and more admired than
evcrl And Rachael know your
forgive me--you were no much finer
than evcr-whcn l met you ! saw
that. couldn't dislike you. i
eouldn', do anything but admire.
with all the others. remember at
I.eiIa'a wedding. when you wore dark
blue and furs. and you looked 30
lovely And then met Greg again.
And truly. truly. Rachael, / never
dreamed OF this them
dreamed Of whaty'' Rachael said
with dry lips. The girls voice. the
darkening room. the dull. flutiering
flames OF the dying fire. seemed all
like some oppressive dream.
dreamed Magsie's voice
sank. Her eyes closed. she put one
hand over her heart. and pressed II
/ there. "Then came my plan to go
on the stage" she said. taking up
her story, land one day when ! was
especially blue. I met Greg. We had
/ tea together. I've never forgotten
one instant OF that dayl He tried
to telephone you, but couldn't get
you: we Just talked like any friends.
But he promised to help me. he was
20 Interested. and I was homesick
/ for Paris, and ready TO die I'm this
awful city, After that you gave me
a dinner. and then we had thcatricals,
and then Bowman placed me. and I
had TO go on the road. But / saw
Greg two or three times. and one
day--one day last winter"--again
her voice faltered, as II she found
the memories too poignant for
speech--"we drove In the Park" she
said dreamily; "and then Greg saw
how II was"
Rachael sat silent, stunned.
"Oh. Rachael" the girl said pas
sIonately. Don't think didn't fight
| IT. | thought OF YOU. I tried TO think