The Washington herald., 1920-11-17
WOMAN'S AFFAIRS WASHING GTrONAND Ell EISEWIIERE
TheMarriage Mill
By Mildred X. Barbour
(copyught. le1o, by Ihs Wbselsf
Syndicate. Ise)
MEMoRrEs.

6tte@a eeb seaElnE ~ tnt urts
wondering what she should DO
Should she tell Gwen about the
homeward ride with Bradley, or was
II best to let her put the inter-
probation she had upon Mrs. Brad
what do you think she will dor
she asked finally. What CAN she
doy"
Gwen shook her head.
Il can't say. but 4 had TO warn
you. For PHYS sake, Allison. be
careful. I'm not saying this be-
cause I'm jealous-Pm past that
stage long aRo." a bitter little
smile twisted her lips. Tn warn
ing you because ] can see that you
are playing fast and loose with the
love of big hne man-Larry."
The early winter twilight had fall
len when Alison left Gwen Parker.
She was In a curiously chastened
mood, but whether II had its source
In fear of what Warren Bradleys
wife might do. or in a guilty sense
OF disloyalty to Gwen. she could
not. for the life of her. have told.
She decided suddenly. late as II
was, to visit her mother-in-law. and
turned southwark on the avenue
A chill night wind WHIPPED her slim
skirts about her and sent a shudder
of cold through her. She drew up
her furs and started out at a brisker
pace.
The bare branches Of the trees
and the dark outlines Of the houses
OF Mapiewood stood out blackly
against a sky still saffron with the
afterglow of sunset. Dried leaves
rustled and whirled in the wind
Behind trim hedges. bright lights
prfcked out from warm. cheerful
living rooms.
AS she passed the apartment
house where she and Larry had be.
gun their new life together. she
glanced up to the windows of the
fourth floor apartment They wer,
dark and blank. and from one. ler-
Icarelessly half-opened. a limp fold
of curtain nuttered pathetically in
the wind.
Her heart contracted suddenly
and a lump came into her throar
For a moment she forgot that last
passionate scene In the early morn.
ing hours of two days previous
She remembered only the first eve.
ming they had gone there to live.
1t was dusk when they had left
Mrs. Atherton's' dinner table and
motored down to the new apartmen,
with a last consignment OF house.
hold goods.
She had gone upstairs ahead oi
Larry, shivering a little with the
first autumn chill. As she opened
the door OF the rose living room. 9
wave of warm. scented air hao
greeted her.
A fire glowed in the hearth, lit By
Larry's thoughtful hand. and thers
were roses, red roses. her favorits
the center table. their fragran,
hearts giving out their perfume un-
der the tropical heat
larry" Alison recalled tha,
her heart had been too full for
other words and she rad gone tc
him and laid her head down on hi.
shoulders and rested quietly. hap.
PLY, there in mis- arms. while he held
her with his cheek tenderly against
her hair.
Our home, sweetheart" he hac
said huskily. Isn't IL wonderful7 =
J And now il was home" no longer
but a deserted house from which
the spirit of love had fed: an empty
Ihearth on which rested the ashes oi
a burned-out tenderness.
Tears came to Alison's eyes al
the thought. and she raised hel
hand to her throat as though g
hurt with the bigness OF the sol
that lodged there.
She paused irresolutely. Some
thing prompted her to cross the
street. and mount the stairs to tn,
little room that waited forlornly
there in the darkness.
|. She had taken a step forwasrd
when the sound Of voices-a man
and a woman's-arrested her atten
tion.
The couple were coming dowr
the side street. screened from he
view by the hedge of the cornel
residence.
do you really mean that. Diane?
the man was saying.
Alison stopped. petrified.
The voice was unmistakabl,
Lsrry's.
A low. velvety laugh answered
him. The slurring, provocative
laugh that a girl gives when sh
is sure of her attraction for tn,
man she is with and revels in Il.
Did you have to ask7" said tn,
voice OF Gwen Parker's house guest
i"Why else should / have droppe,
Mr.. Bradley in town and come Z
your office? It's beep a perfect art
ernoon, hasn't II, Larry?"
1t viii be a more perfect even
ing" he replied, firmly. Now rui
and get your warm wrap and II
meet you with the car at this cor
nAr."
Ito BE Continued Menday.l