Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-01-09
MOONLIGHT AND MONEY.
Ry Marion Rubincam.
TWO LETTERS.

DO you like Murray buIier! MT
Driscom asked her one afternoon rs they
walked home from his studio.
VERY much Louise answered absent
". She wasn't thinking of her artist
friend and teacher at the moment; she was
looking out over Central Park, where
group of children were playing follow
thc-leader," winding back and forth IN
snaky curves-with baby Just learning
10 walk, hobbling and tumbling along at
the end of the line.
Look there, Father" she exclaimed,
pointing out the group 'Nouldn that
make = charming design TO go around the
walls of a nursery? Id make the hgQres
about Is inches tall and put them hall
way up the nursery walls, so the kiddles
could see them easily. Look at that baby
tumble over there and laugh-and those
two nurses sitting so primly on the bench
sewing
"um, yes, very pretty Mr.. Driscom
answered in a tone as absent and unln-
tercsfed as the one Louise had used when
she answered him. But 10 be polite, he
did look over st the group OF children.
Louise laughed and squeezed hls hand.
That's what YOU used TO say when |
asked YOU whether you liked my new dress
and all the time YOU never knew whether
II was new dress or an old one, and hall
the time YOU didn't even see me,
That was long ago. MIR. Drlscom
answered And didn't have much IN
tercst in the place that was supposed to
be nv home. and | didn't know YOU.
think IL must have been part of your
mothers desire 10 revenge herself on me
that she kept me from ever knowing
what a charming little daughter ! had.
Il like YOU lot. Father, Louise said
with sudden shyneSs.
You've more than made mp 10 me for
all the wears that missed out Of my life.
Mr.. Driscom said slowly.
Yes, she had made up to hIm for the
loss of his wife, Louise knew. She had
given him back his home. he rarely went
90 the club now lie seemed to enjoy every
bit OF the big brown stone house. Louise
took care these days to keep the place as
cheerful a. she could She kept fresh flowers
about and pulled down most Of the dark
hanglngs. intending 10 replace them IN
tho fall with something brighter
But could her father, for all ms love
ana tenderness, make up to her tor the
loss OF Harry Sometimes she thought she
was much happier than she had been when
che tved with her husband She knew she
was more comfortable and at peace and
trea from worry hut was that all IN iife2
She wanted 10 decorate nurserieS-hut
wouldn each ono She did Tor other
mothers be just an expression q her
longing for / nursery ot her own
Thinking like this. she reached the
house and went up 10 her room to change
her dress With her father and Mr. Butler
sh, was To dine Al one Of the fashionable
roof garden restaurants that night. and
she was 70 wear her prcttIcst evening
gown
On the table lay small package and .
u la1r {nT
the handwriting on both was Harry
Hes gong 70 ask me to come back
20 him. and I'm going she said, and
reached for the cnvelopc.
Dear Louise she rcad-that seemed
q cold way to begin letter she thought
In spite Of other debts, I've kept up
The Payment on your pearl necklace
and on my last commission ! got it away
from the place YOU pauned IT, IN mailing
II with the letter.
Its too bad il ever had to &c as i did
n rsiSe money but ! s a' -1Ght slncC It
wasn't lost entirely iii .cf out your
other things IS soon IS ] r:.I afford them
Il found sll the tickets ia thu houso be
tore ! rented IL
Il know YOU are we'll. because friends
have seen YOU about at theatres and res
1aurants with Your Father and other
l.ople and have told me about 4, still,
YOU might write ne once in 3 while and
1el me about yourself, don YOU think?
think have still the right 70 know how
my wife /, and not Get information sec +
ond-hand.
! have the same Office and an doing
IS well 81 beginner can expect 20 you
know where TO reach nle-when you want
me. don have 10 tell vou u be glad TO
hear from YOU or TO see YOU
She was both thrilled and chilled ~
MS letter That he felt hurt she knew-vet
he need not be quite 50 formal She
opened the package and looked at the
string OF pearls-how long ago It seemed
sanoe she had first seen them, the wedding
cft Of 5 wealthy uncle. She tossed them
oveS on the dresser and went 70 her desk,
Dear Harry" she wrote hu-riedlv
q all write you-I nigh; have done
that, know ] am gong with Father On
q business trip 70 South America think
" Il be gone for s long time. She hesita-
ied-but wha- else was there TO say? She
could not y rite Jut al the things that
eere IN her hear - she added merely a
hne, Thanks for resculng the pearls.
md signed her name. With little sigh.
me folded the letter ana slipped i into
A.