Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-04-22
A Long Drive
CHAPTER SO.

Lawrence did think it over. In fact.
he thought OF little else. So. a few
lays after his more or less ~discourag-
ing ALI with his mother, Lawrence
drove his machine up to the Dexter
Street house and. blandly Indifferent
to the stares and comments of the
neighbors-each bu half screened be-
walked up and rang the bell.
Alice answered il. and he came in.
pulling of his fur-lined gloves. It's
too gorgeous for you to stay in, /
want you to come for a drive" he
said. Il know a bully little inn about
rs miles from here-we'll have tea
and buns and I'll have o home be-
hind her parted lace curtains-he
fore seven"
Alice glanced down at Berenice.
That youngster, entirely surrounde
by blocks. Teddy bears. rag dolls and
the contents of a Noah's ark. had
seated herself on a small hassock and
was regarding Lawrence now with her
serious dark eyes.
'Of course. | ought to" Alice
began.
Let your mother do it," was the
way Lawrence solved the difficulty.
Come on. I've an old fur coat of
Mothers in the car. you'll need it"
The old fur coat turned out to be
q loose overcoat of exquisitely a d
SNA4tAltAs VII a StAN u -
came well down over the head. Alice
Cheerfully discarded her old felt-she
had worn il four winters, n 1t never
had been becoming-and put on the
luxurious wraps in the car. bury1n8
her hands in their mended gloves, deep
In the coat pockets.
They reached the inn after a little
more than an hours drive through
air so old il made Alice's cheeks a
vivid scarlet. and brought the sparkle
of health and joy into her eyes.
She tucked the flying wisps of hair
under the fur hat at a little mirror
In the hall. and Joined Lawrence al
a table near a huge fireplace.
1t was an ideal spot. They toasted
themselves before the blazing logs.
while Alice slipped tea and Lawrence
smoked cigarettes. There were other
ouplcs at tables in the room, but as Is
usual In these romantic out-or-the-way
places they were engrossed In each
other.
'It was nice of you to SEM Berenice
the new toys" Alice said after a
time.
mo. 1t wasn't nice" Lawrence OBJ
tected to her phrasing. IT'S the least
i can do for her. since you practically
took her away from me. / was going
to adopt her myself. you know"
II know Alice said, and looked
INTO the nre. You Wanleu Hei
but L needed her"
There was a short silence. The
fire blazed up with a sudden crackle
as the flames dipped into an OILY
bit of the pine log. Lawrence put MS
hand out gently and laid 1t e
Alice's.
MY dear" he said. II need YOU"
The hand under his trembled a
little, but il was not drawn away.
o A - aa.4F,.aI IN Eaan her fara AWAY
from him and to stare into the nre-
Alice. dear?" Lawrence said again.
Alice turned to him. and drew her
hand away. The color had gone from
her face. She looked a little ~frighten-
ed. and very unhappy.
II don't know what to say" she
said helplessly after a time.
You don't have to say anything,
vet" Lawrence told her. I didnt
mean to tell you this way, I didn't
mean to make 1t so-sudden. IL just
happened, as ! suppose these things
always do. I honestly didn't mean
10 tell you that loved you so 'much
today. / wanted to walt and-well
find out in some measure how you
felt towards me. and show you l
cared before / told YOU"
..Rut-' Alice began again.
Lawrence put his hand over hers
again. and she did not finish the
sentence.
II do need you. You've been an
inspiration 20 me Ten years 3
I graduated from college full or am
bition to conauer the world. | travel
ed around a bit and settled down IN
NV ather's business, where I worked
when I felt like It. and trotted around
10 a lot -Suntry clubs the rest OF
the time. I forgot how to be am
bilious or to work-until L met you.
You were so brave in the face OF such
dreadful difficulties. sc cheerful in the
face of so much encouragement, you
worked so hard and so we'll. n you
did SO much good-they worship you
over in III Shanty-town-that first