The Lamar register., 1920-02-18
A WRIT
OF REPLEVIN
CCopyrightJ
By MAX HART

tlreS which the family refused you,
until life seemed drab and useless
there was the seventy horsepower tour
ing car, with its French driver; Or per-
haps it was country home on a Maine
hill, diamond sunburst, clockwork
horse in pale pink with stiff tail-a
first suit OF evening clothes, Daghis-
tan rug, new heels on your old shoes.
check from responsible sources, the
encouraging smile of strange woman
whom you had discreetly admired.
the new crystal in your injured watch
III might simmer Oh indefinitely.
This is the point, and II permits OF
no dissension. It allows no argument, IL
is unto itself an all-lnc0ntroNertible
fact: That which we hnve. we are
quietly pleased with. when 1t is good !;
but the keen and biting edge Of our ap-
probation becomes dulled from the
first moment of possession-tle wire
fine edge Of the Joyous, shocking thrill
Of novelty slides rapidly away. despite
our best efforts TO hold II, and some of
US become numb-very numb.
The 'this-suits-me- fine" of the second
day loses one-half a tone aud there
can be no better way of illustrating
than TO wander idly Into the home of
Mr.. James Brainard. on MOrningS'd-
Park.
Mrs. Brainard-Aline. of cOurse-is
sitting on green couch In the morn
ing-room. Her eyes are fastened upon
u naphtha launch that scurries along
the surface Of the Hudson a mile away.
II Is DELIGHTFULLY."- busy launch. and
for long time Mrs Brninard watches
II circle and line. until the water-spnut
on the building next door blOts IL out.
Around her is wealth-profuse. un-
restrained wealth, and the culture that
follows IL. There are servants at the
end OF each thin bell-wlre. The floors
are inch deep with expensive rugs.
Paintings All the bare spaces. and bits
Of ststuary are scattered through the
larger rooms.
Wherever she looks, Mrs. Bralnard
sees possessions-thoset things that she
owns. she and Jim Brainnrd. who. at
the movent OF our impertinence. is puz-
aiinG over a legal problem In Broad
street.
James IL very rich. very successful.
TO the ragged edge OF q smnsh-up. not
financial. not moral. not domestic. not
romantic-just Q plain amash-up. for
which no defining expression 10 yet
within the language.
And now to draw hack the curtain.
Alins and James married In Dubuque.
Iowa. and came to New York city on
the nrst two hundred dollars. For q
long time after their arrival. James
operated upon n fieeting basis. without
ONCE, without practice. and frequently
without food.
He did little tasks around police
courts. and Alins was captain and gen.
srsi manager Of the little apartment
on East Ninsty-third street. which
slesversd away from their tiny sink
ing-fund the sum of sixteen dollars per
month. II was q genuine sinking. fund.
living strictly to Its name.
On East Nlnety-third street the land
lords run to furnished fats. and the
Brainards occupied one. II was small
beyond the jokes In comic papers.
Aline promptly discovered how 1t
should be used, even IL 1t were Intended
ibI botuetnlHk else. huus us thc fihk
hung almost beside the door leading
into the hall. II was her thoughtful
custom to greet James upon his return
from downtown with wifely kiss.
which she delivered through the leather
ring.
Not q bit Of sense to 1t. OF course:
but Aline liked It. and the ring Just
covered her eyes. SO. sometimes. Jim
couldn't tell that she had been crying.
When the little launch drifted out of
her sight the little hat drifted in, and
for q long time she sat In silence. re-
calling one familiar object after an
other. and wondering what had hap
pensd to her and to Jim In the years
that had crept between.
Not SO very many years. she mused.
He was a bit younger then, to be sure.
So was she.
But In those happy. poverty-strIcken
months. life had held something for
each of them that It no longer pos
sssssd- At least, II It still held It for
her, In q measure, It seemed not to for
Jim.
II was appreciation, she decided. OF
course. Jim was comparatively happy.
he realized that his life was flowing In
smooth waters. He was pleased with