The Washington herald., 1920-12-04
The Marriage Mill
By Mildred X. Barbour
Copyright, 1890. By The wheeisf
syndicnfs. Ine.D
THE LIVING fAsr.

AhA MtAN0 fASTs
Il never had any right:' declared
Alison passionately. He only gave
me half allegiance. It was all
you permitted me. You blame me,
but It Is you-and you-and you
turning defiantly to Jane and Myra,
who have wrecked our marriage
and brought US to the divorce court
Alisohs reckless declaration that
she and Larry had reached the
brink of the divorce court brought
gasp of horror from hiss mother
and aunts.
Whatever do you mean?" de-
manded ~ Mrs. Osborne. Allison.
you couldn't-Larry couldn't-'
- wouldn't put anything past
Alison" declared Jane, Historically.
She's perfectly heartless and"
"Oh, shut up, jane" again Myra
came to the rescue. Were all
unstrung. Let's declare a truce
until after dinner and then dis
>cuss this thing comfortably around
the fire. Nobody has a right to be
emotional on an empty stomach
She brought the car to a stand
stiil at the curb before the Osborne
house and motioned them all out.
I'll run the car around to>-the
garage. I'd never get the~engine
started again on a cold night like
this. I'll be back in a minute, but
for Heavens sake manage to
keep the peace until l show up.
Alison. go up and see Fannie! Lu-
cifer himself couldn't pick a quar-
rel with her."
I Jane scrambled out of the ma
Chine and fiounced into the house
without a backward glance. Mrs.
Osborne followed in chill dignity.
Alison trailed along behind them,
angry at heart, yet conscious that
she looked like a culprit school
child.
III you wish to follow Myra's
advice, Frieda will ask Fannie to
come down" said Mrs. Osborne.
icily, over her shoulder, as she
moved into the library.
THANK you. I will go up to her
ROOM" replied Alison with equal
coolness.
She ascended the broad, softly
carpeted stairs, little twisted
smile on her lips. She was remem-
bering vividiy the early days of her
married life when she and Larry
had endeavored to build their new
life together on the treacherous
sands of a mother-in-law's home.
Nearly every stair had a sep
arate memory.
On this one she had sat and wept
because of a slight from the fam
ilE on that one she had stopped
with hands clenched in rage at
some detection of Larry's. The
first landing had \been the scene of
a bitter exchange on the night of
Myra Cunninghams bridesmaid
dinner. FronHthe top of the stairs
she had overheard James criticism
when she had returned that first
night from a motor drive with War
rem Bradley.
Outside the door of the room she
paused. looking into its twilight
depths with wide. liked gaze. IN
bidden and unwelcome tears sprang
to her eyes. =
They had been very happy there
at first-June and the honeymoon
rose colored. despite the families,
She could distinguish the fur
nishings but vaguely through the
shadows. Everything seemed just
as she had left it on the morning
when she had impetuously decided
that life with her husbands family
was impossible. and she had gone
to join her mother and Barbara
Wales at the Springs.
How long ago that Seemed! And
how trivial had been the circum-
stances which had brought abour
her first separation from Larry!
What a contrast to the yawning
chasm of suspicion and misunder-
standing that lay between them
now!
There was no bridging tina,
chasm. she thought with a sigh.
And yet. deep in her heart lay the
knowledge that peace and happi-
ness could be theirs again IL either
were ready to sacrifice pride and
family. II seemed to Alison that
giant, invisible hand, in the guisa
of their respective families, was
driving them inexorably apart: that
she was being carried on, wholly
conscious and resentful. yet too
apathetic to offer active resist
ance.
Unwillingly, she moved on to
Fannie Wardwelrs door and tap
ped.
1t opened instantly. revealing
Fannie on the Threshold new
Fannie. radiant, flushed of cheek.
wearing a very becoming evening
gown.
"Alison"
Fannie enfolded the girl in her
arms and kissed her warmly, draw
ng her into the room meanwhile.
I'm so glad it's you! couldn't
have kept from telling it a moment
longer! Alison. I'm so happy! I'm
going to marry Burton Edwards
(COntinued Monday.D