The Washington times., 1920-12-06
By Winston Churchill.
Author OF .Richard Cnrvel" "rhe
Crisis" and Many 0ther Novels
of WORLDWIDE Popularity.

Crisis" and Many Other Novels =
of WORLDWIDE Popularity.
<S~NE of the finest l ever heard
If not the finest Mr..
~ Plimpton declared, with a
kind of serious empressmen;'
squeezing his hand.
Others stopped him: Everett Con-
stable, for one. and the austere
Mrs. Atterbury. Holder would have
avoided the ever familiar figure OF
her son, Gordon. in the invariable
black cutaway and checked trou-
sers. but he was standing beside
Mr.. Parr.
"Ahem! Why, Mr.. Holder" he
exclaimed. squirting off his glasses,
that was magnificent EFFORT.
was saying to Mr.. Parr that il isn't
often one hears a sermon nova
days as able as that. and as sound.
Many clergymen refrain from preach
them. ! sometimes think. because
they are afraid people won't like
them"
"I scarcely think it's that" the
rector replied, little shortly.
"Were afraid people won't heed
them"
He became aware, as he spoke,
of a tall young woman. who had
cast an enigmatic glance first at
Gordon AIterbury, and then at him
self.
1T was a good sermon" said Mr..
Parr. You're coming to lunch,
Holder"
The rector nodded. I'm ready
when you are" he answered.
"The motors waiting" said the
banker. leading the way down the
steps to the sidewalk. where he
turned. ALLISON, let me introduce
Mr.. Holder. This is my daughter"
he added simply.
This sudden disclosure of the
young woman's identity had upon
Holder a certain electric effect, and
with il came a realization OF the
extent to which-from behind the
scenes so to speak-she had grad
ually aroused him to a lively specu-
latiOn.
She seemed to have Influenced, to
greater or less degree. so many
lives with which he had come into
touch, Compelled persons to make
up their minds about her! And
while he sympathized with Eldon
Parr in his abandonment, he had
never achieved the full condemna-
,tion which---he felt--an impartial
Christian morality would have
L-cted out.
4 NEW PERSONALITY.
AS he uttered the conventional
phrase and took her hands. he
asked himself whether her person
ality justified his interest. Her
glance at Gordon Atterbury in the
midst of that gentlcman's felicita-
tions on the sermon had been eX-
prcssivc, Holder thought, of veiled
amusement slightly tinctured with
contempt; and he. Holder. felt him
self to have grown warm over 1t.
lie could not be sure that Alison
Parr had not included, in her inner
comment, the sermon likewise, on
which he had ospent himself
What was she doing at church"
AS her eyes met his own he seemed
to read a callenge. He had never
encountered woman. he decided.
who so successfully concealed her
thought, and at the same time so
melted curiosity about it.
The effect of her temperance on
Gordon Attcrbury was painfully ap-
parent, and Mrs. Larrabbec's re-
mark that "he had never got over
IL" REQUIRED to Holder He pos
sesscd the virtue of being faithful.
at least. in spite of the lady's apos-
tasy, and he seemed to be galvan-
lied into n tcn-fold nervousness as
he hustled after them and handed
her, with the elaborate attention
little men are apt to bcstow upon
women, into the motor.
"Er--how long shall YOU be here.
Alison" he asked.
II don't know" she answered, not
unkindly. but with a touch of in
difference.
You treat us shamcfully." he in
formed her, upon my word But
I'm coming to call"
"Do,' said Alison. Holder caught