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

IN the building department.
N------------------------
inlaw's and Alice Valentines calm
acceptance OF the situation bewllder-
/ ing ana discouraginF
My dear. | don't eat meal In
comfort, tho entire timer Alice said
/ cheerfuly. II mind that more than
any other phase
"liut | am such broken recdr'
Rachael smiled ruefuliy. 81 have no
energy,
The Older woman laughed.
II know. my dear--haven't been
thru Il allf Just don't worry. and
l spare Greg what you can
! Rachael could do neither. She
wanted Warren every minute. and
she wanted nobody else Her favor
couch near the fire. playing with his
free hand. while he read 20 her or
talked 60 her. She wanted 10 hear,
over and over again. that he loved
no ono else. and sometimes she de-
elined invitations without even con
sultlng him. because we're happier
by our own fire than anywhere else.
aren't we. dcarestT" Don't tell
me about your stupid operations
she would smile at him. talk about
--uar'
She wen, over and over the details
Of her old life with a certain morbid
satisfaction In his constant reansur,
ancc. Her marriage had not been
the cause Of Ctarenee'A suicide. nor
OF Billy's elopcment. she had done
her share for them both. moro than
her share,
Summer came. and she and the
baby were comfortably established at
Home Dunes. Warren came when
be could. perhaps twice "A month. and
usually without warning. II he
promised her the week ends, she felt
asgricved 10 have him miss one. 10
he wired her every day. and sent her
books and fruit. letters and maya,
zines every week. and came az IN.
regular Intervals. Alice and George
Valentine and their children. her
garden. her baby. AMI the ocean she
loved 20 well must fill this summer
for Rachael.
.
The beautiful Mrs. Gregory made
her first appearance In society.
after the birth Of her second son. on
the occasion Of Miss Leila Buckncy' q
marriage 10 Mr. Parker Hoyt. The
continual poStponemsnt Of this event
had been a standing joke among
their friends for two or three years.
It took place In early December. At
the most fashionable OF all the
churches. with reception and sup
per 20 follow at the most fashionable
of all tho hotels. Leila naturally
looked tired and excited. she had
made a gallant fight for her lover.
for long years. and she had won. but
az yet the returning tide OF comfor,
and satisfaction had not begun in
I her life. Parker had becn a trying
f!Ance. he was cool-bloodcd. fish.
like Httio man. there had been other
cofnpllca tons. her fathers heavy
| financial losses. her mothers diacon.
tent IN tho lingering engagement.
her sisters persiHilng state OF un.
marricdnsas.
| However. the old aunt was AZ las,
dead. Parker had dutifully gone 20
her side toward the end. and had re.
turned again. duly. bringing the
| c4stet and cscortinK Miss Clay.
And now Mamma was dressed. and
Edith was In n hideousiy unbccom
ing green and silver gown. and the
five bridesmaids were duly halted
and frocied IN green and silver. and
she WIS dressed. too. realizing that
her new corscts were n irifle small,
and her lace veil too heavy.
And the disgusting caterer had
come to somc las, moment agreement
with Papa whereby they were 10
have the supper without protest. and
the florists insol.nt man had con.
scented TO send the bouquets at last.
The fifteen hundred dreadful en-.
velopcs were all addressed. the back
! breaking trylnEon Of gowns was
over. the three hundred and seven
ty-onc gifts were arranged in two
big rooms at the hotel. duly tlckeicd.
and the three hundred and seventy
one dreadful personal notes OF
thanks had been somehow scrubbed
off and dispatched. Leila was ahso.
iuiely exhausted. and felt as pale
and pasty aa shn looked People
were all so stupid and tircsofno and
I inconsidcrntc. she said YEARLY TO
herself. and the awful breakfast
would DO 50 long and duh, with
everybody saying the same thing 20
/ her. and Parker trying TO be funny
and simply making himself ridiou'
lous, Tho barbarity Of the modern
wedding impressed itself vaguely
upon tho bride as sho laughed and
/ talked In strained and mechanical
manner, and whatever they said to
/ her and 10 her parents. the guests
were aftcrward unanimous In decid'
Ing that poor Leila had been an
absolute fright.
hut Mrs. Gregory. In her dark blue
suit and her new sables. won every
I body's eyes NJ she came down the
| church aisle with her husband beside
| her. Her son was not quite a
month old and u she had not re-
covered her usual wholesome bloom
there was n refined. almost spir'
itunl, element in her beauty now
1 that more than made up for the
loss She wore "A fragrant great
bunch OF violets Mt her breast, and
under the sweeping brim Of her hat
/ her beautiful eyes were as deeply