The Washington herald., 1920-06-25
CxxxI-PLANs.

Alice's remark came in the ma
ture of a surprise. Tony with "a
strain of insanity in his blood
and Alice could turn white
over such a thought.
spoke.
mo, Alice. you're quite wrong.
.Tony's mother lost her reason at the
time she lost her child. She was as
sane as you or when he was born.
Her madness was the result OF
;shock-the awful grief of losing
him"
Alice looked first incredulous. and
then relieved.
This madness business has been
SO terrible" She breathed. "it would
be too awful IL II broke out in
Tony, next We've had enough
trouble in this neighborhood."
couldn't contradict her. MY
own nerves were not in the best
f. condition.
what are your plans, Alice7" I
dehnltely changed the subject.
Don't you think you ought to go
away somewhere for a holiday
Alice heaved a weary sigh.
Nobody wants me-" she said.
plaintively, twisting her black
bordered handkerchief into a little
ball. Ready tears sprang to her
large blue eyes. She looked pathetic
enough to melt a heart of stone.
81 feel 500 horribly alone She
gave a little sniff.
such nonsense, Alice" i decided
that the buckling-up process was
what she needed. why. you've
shoals of friends! So many invita-
fions that you don't know where to
20. and what to accept"
Again did Alice sniff.
''Oh, yes, I've got friends-of .
sort There's Clara" (Clara was
the life and soul of the fast set in
q neighboring country house-the
woman who had mistaken me for
Alice's maid. Ny heart danced warm
TO the gay. loud talking Clara"
And there are others" went on
Alice, plaintively. but none of them
lead the quiet. retired sort of life
that 1 must lead for the next few
months" She glanced down at her
mourning clothes. They've no
time for-for sorrow-or anything
Of that kind"
This was strictly true. I knew
the set"
me, my dear" said. in a determin-
edly bright voice. You mustn't be
allowed to stay down here, and
NOPE"
For a moment thought that Alice
looked disappointed. Perhaps she
did not wish to be removed from the
vicinity of Master Tony? In view
of her recent bereavement. this was
an uncharitable thought, and l tried
TO crush 1t down.
Then Alice spoke:
"I like that little hotel in town
where I've been staying lately. Oh
yes, 1 can afford 1t. That reminds
me, Helene"-she looked at me
"that reminds me that / owe you
quite a little sum of money. I'll
give you a check for the full amount
tonight"
was astonished. Alice was be-
coming business-like, at last.
And 1 think that I'll go in for
something" she went on. ANY
thing to take my mind off my
troubles. No. not Spiritualism, or
New Thought or Theosophy, or any
of those nerve-racking things. I've
had worry enough, without start
ing anything new of that kind. But
] thought"
"Yes?" cut in Jim, very kindly
1t was evident he approved of Alice
in this mood.
She stared into the heart of the
IRE, and then she said, quite softly:
My poor Jack would approve OF
me doing something to fill in the
long days. l know. So 1 thought
that 1 might take up singing, and
perhaps make something of it, too
In the old days. my teachers pre-
dicted great things of my voice
But l was lazy. 1 married so
ridiculously young, and Jack spoil
ed me dreadfully." Again her eyes
hlled with tears. I'm one of the
people who has hidden her talent
In a napkin-a-a cumberer of the
ground"
This rather mixed statement
brought no smile to either Jirn's
face or mine. For Alice was in
earnest.
And some honest work would be
the avins of her. 1t would dis
tract haG mind, too, from her trou-
ole..
So II was settled that Alice was
TO come Up to town, and recon-
mence a course of music at the