Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-06-03
EARTBREA
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Of1AI lEl %
The drive home was in almost per-
feet silence. When they came in
sight of Pennington, Alice turned to
Lawrence.
DO you hate me now % she asked.
There the eternal, tormenting.
emotional feminine came out in her.
She could not return the mans love,
yet she did not want to give it up en-
tirely. But her sense OF fairness
came back to her almost at once, for
she added quickly:
You ought to- hope you do 1t
would make it easier for you"
mo, l don't hate you. and / don't
ever expect to-" Lawrence answered
quietly. You couldn't help this. Sub
consciously I've bee fearing this
very thing all along. from the first
time you refused to marry me be-
cause of the shadow of the old love.
That's why / wanted to hurry our
wedding thought the new life,
and the trips we would take together.
and the fun of building a home and
perhaps the children that might
come later"-his voice was very gem
tie and tender as he spoke-"that all
those things would take your mind
or this past affair and you would
forget it. That's why 1 hated so to
have you go to the college. though 1
never expected you'd meet this man
again."
Nor Tor I would not have gone"
Alice answered.
IT'S hard to give up your friend
ship she added. That will be my
punishment"
Punishment" he turned to her in
astonishment. Dear child. why do
you talk like that? AS though you
deserved punishment! You couldn't
help this. / don't blame you'll"
They drove into Dexter street and
stopped at her house. Alice pulled
off the fur robe and prepared to get
out.
II don't think you nave to sacrifice
my friendship. il you call it's loss a
sacrifice" Lawrence said slowly.
There's no reason why we can't be
friends. Not now-I couldn't bear to
see you Just yet. IL would hurt-a lit
tie" His voice told her how much.
but I'm genuinely FOND of your lit
tie friend Clara. n / love your lit
tie adopted child. You wouldn't want
me to give them up too, would your
Alice smiled at him, though her eyes
were tragic.
Besides, 1 couldn't go along for
ever without seeing you. So I shall
come around again. as a friend, but
not for a little while"
He turned to her and held out his
hand. Alice never forgot his express
L iOOh0o
smiles in the face of death. Then an
awkward little complication occurred
to her.
'eYour ring and pin. and these furs
your mother gave"
For Gods sake, don't give them
back to mel" Lawrence cried. you
needn't wear them, at least, the en-
gagement ring, II you don want to.
Put them away-only don't make me
take them back"
"All- right" Alice said meekly, as
tonished at the yehemence In his
voice. And she turned up the path
to the little house. She heard the
purr of the motor, and the car SID
away
She had hoped to be alone. but her
mother and Clara were In the front
room and there was no chance to
conceal what had happened. That II
was all told in her face was evident,
for their faces showed establishment
and concern as they looked up at
her. 80,
AWhy. my dear, what's happened? 2
Mrs. Fairbanks asked. rising and 60
ing over to her.
Then Alice broke down. For weeks
shc had been perying herself for the
interview this afternoon. Now It was
over. and the strain was one Inc
inevitable reaction came.
Alice laid down on the old sofa
under the window and cried and
cried. in great. shaking sobs. Clara
left the room, guessing what had
happened. and Mrs. Fairbanks came
over and put a gentle hand on hei