The Washington herald., 1920-11-24
|WOMANSAFFAIRS: HERE AND ELSEWII HERE
heMarriiaqe Mill /
DISCOVERED.
BY Mildred X. Barbour
tCopyrisht. 1920. b. The Wheeler
: syndicats. Ine.D

When she opened the front door
Of her apartment. with her father
close behind her. little pang shot
through AIison's heart.
She had thought that she would
go back without quaim after that
moment in the early evening when
she had overheard Larry and Diane
Evans talking on the street corner.
But the turn of the key in the
lock. the old familiar scent Of the
room into which the door swung
open-a scent that was e blend Of
withered roses and cigarette smoke.
were pricks in the armor Of her self
possession.
By, the glow of the corner arc
light, reflected on the ceiling, the
objects In the room were dimiy dis
cernible. All as familiar as her own
face, all in their accustomed places.
She caught herself up with a jerk
How ridiculous she WIS! why, IL
was only three days since she had
left In the dawn of a grey morning!
Three days! And It seemed three
thousand days. so much had hap
pened in that time! So many men
tai readjustments had had to be
made!
why don't you turn on the light.
Alison? fumed Atherton. ITS
drafty as the devil in this corridor -
Not being troubled with rheuma-
tism, are your returned his daugh-
ter. mockingly. "Fie. Dad! Surely
He muttered something and closed
the door. and Alison's fingers NOV
ing over the familiar ground, found
the switch.
The lights springing up behind
their rose-colored shades, revealed
a room orderly in every detail.
Scarcely a film of dust lay over the
shining mahogany. Evidently Lar
ry had directed the maid in putting
the place In order on that last fate
ful morning.
Even fire was laid in the hearth,
ready for light.
Alison indicated ii with a gesture
of her gloved hand.
"If you'll start the FIRE, I'll go
forage in the pantry. ] can prom
ise you coffee and biscuits, I'm sure.
And perhaps even a rarebit, IL I'm
lucky"
Atherton Erunted, carefully drew
up his perfectly creased trousers,
and went down on his knees heavily
before the hearth.
Alison watched him from the din
ing room door, with little imp Of
irony in her eyes.
What fop he was. She won-
dered IL he wore a toupe: his hair
was almost too perfectly brushed
and pomaded. His hands. moving
awkwardly at his task. were sharp
ly and exquisitely groomed.
She had a swift vision of him sit
ting each morning in a white-tiled
mirror-lined barber shop. opposite
trim pretty girl who filed, and
tinted. and polished, while he re-
garded her heavily. caressingly.
Men like her father made barber
shop manicuring a lucrative institu-
tion.
Alison went into the kitchen. It
was in perfect order: even the tea
towels hung stiffiy and spotlessly
on their racks.
the canister and opened a tin of bis
cults. She found cheese In the cap-
met and the other maRings OF q
rarebit. Carrying everything into
the living room. she arranged the
tray bearing the percolator and
chafind dish and toaster on the serv-
ing table.
You can toast these biscuits" !"
she told Atherton. while I stir up
the rarebit-"
Must IT'
He glanced at his hands and down
at his Immaculate suit.
It'll give you an apron" said ALI
son. interpreting his glance. Poor
Dad. it's been a long time since a
woman bossed him or asked him to
work. hasn't it?"
She tied a ridfculously frilled
apron around his waist, laughing
gayly.
The fire was burning brightly and
the coffee had begun to send it's
fragrance throughout the room.
mingling with the scent of melting
cheese. Atherton lunbent and Joined
in his daughters laughter.
1t was this charming little scene
which greeted Larry when he
opened the door without warning.
(Continued Tomorrow.)