Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-02-12
Moonlight and
Money
THE POINT
BY Marion Rubincam
1913

CiAAAA LEN IUo
A few days after her fathers re-
turn Louise was busy dismantling
heT studio. Murray Butler found her
in the midst of a lot of boxes and
piled-up furniture, packing and wait
ing for the movers to come.
There's no need to keep this fat
she told him. IN live at home. of
course, and I've hired a room in the
centre OF the shopping district,
where samples of my furniture will
be shown, and where l have a girl
TO await on people and take ORDERS
"A regular business" Murray COM
mented.
Yes, I'm in with several people
it's cheaper" Louise explained. An
nabelle'S batiks are shown there, and
some luStre china, and a lot of in
terror decorating things" She paused
in the packing of Il trunk to smile at
him.
Murray started hunting through
his pockets for his cigarette case.
When he found one, he started hunt
ing again for matches. Louise, smil-
ing, watched this characteristic per-
Torrance. Butler seemed able
to find what he was looking for.
Matches are packed" she said
finally, when he had given up the
search. You'd better run up to the
house and find Father. He's home
now and he'd like to see you. I'll
try and get there in time for tea and
some gossip"
AS you wish, madam Murray
answered.
He found Mr.. Driscom at home,
as Louise had said, and the two men
settled down in the study for q
smoke and talk. Mr.. Driscom had
photographs of the mines in the
mountains where he had lived and.
what Interested his friend more, OF
the natives and of some Of the gor-
Ycous bits of CeneTy.
After a time their talk drifted to
Me one great interest which they
Hhared-LouiSe.
II hadn't time to answer your let
ter about her" Mr.. Driscom said.
II came home a month before I ex-
pected. However. I can tell you
about what you wish to know.
"He's q nice chap, a likeab1e fell
low. clean, honest, straightforward.
/ knew him first from a talk | had
the night he asked my permission to
marry Louise. I knew him better
during the short time he lived here
when their baby was born. I was
away almost all the time the mar
riage lasted-that is. about up to
the time Louise left him to como
home. OF purse you know the I'M
fortunate circumstances that caused
all that trouble.
IT have kept track of him. 7 was
not doing my duty to my daughter
when / let her marry a chap I knew
so little about. But I've made up for
it since"
rs he making money! Butler
asked.
Not very much. I'm sorry to say"
Mr.. Driscom answered. He is do
ing a little better now. but of course
1t takes years to become established
in his sort Of business. He makes
enough TO take care OF himself
rather poorly. and to keep clear of
debt in his office connections
do you think he's the type that
will ever make money!" Butler ask
ed.
FRANKLY, no." said the older man.
Having found out what he wanted
to know, Butler left as soon as he
politely could, and went back to his
own handsome studio. Once there,
he stood before his big fireplace,
staring into it and smoking one
cigarette after another.
"She sIan't go back to him. he
said to Himself. And later he re-
peated it, She shan't go back to
him"
back and forth owe the room. Then
he went into q closet and brought
ont q little oil painting, a half-flnish-
ed portrait of Louise. He had work
ed on it at odd times from memory.
Louise had never posed for him. He
set the picture on the easel and
stared at 1t.
He had remembered her happy
moods when he was painting, and he
had caught perfectly the CLINT of her
brown halr, the curious combination
of gray and brown in her eyes and
even a suggestion of the dancing
fiecks hat came in them when she
laughed and was happy. But the
mouth was wistful.
He looked at it a long time.
you said once you would do as I
told you-and YOU shan't go back to
him!" he told t~he~picture.
TomorTow-Ta'>ing 1t Over.