The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-01-10
CONTINUED From Yesterday

Vontiuued FROM heste'uSl
Tonight Rachael went with her
kiddies Co the nursery. where their
little table was already set for sup
per and their small white beds al
.<sdy neats turned down.
Mothers going TO giv. us our
bathsr' shouted Jim. Both boys
looked at her eagerly: Rachael smiled
douhtfully.
Mothers afraid that she Will
have 90 dress. 90 meet Daddy down
town" she began regrcuully. when
old Mary interposed respectfully;
Excuse me. Mrs. Gregory. But
pennison took a message from Doc
tor this afternoon. happen TO
know II because Louise asked me n
l didn't think she had better order
dinner for you. Doctor has been
called TO Albany on a case. and was
70 let you know when 10 expect him.
"Gccdy---goody-- -good-goodr' shout
81 Jim. and Derry Joined in with a
triumphant shrek. and elaSped his
arms tightly about his mothers
knees. Rachael had turned little
pale. but she kissed both boys. and
only left them long enough 10 change
her gown 10 something loose and
comfortable.
Then she came back TO the nur.
scry, and there were baths, and
garncs, and suppers. and then stories
and prayers before the fire, Mary
and Rachael laughing over the fluffy
heads. reveliing IN the beauty OF the
little bodies.
When they were In bed she went
down TO solitary dinner, and. as she
ate IL. her thoughts went back to
other solitary dinners years ago.
Utter Encouragement and something
like a great. ail.enveloping fear pos.
seSsed her. She was afraid OF life
She had dented her armor. broken
her steel, she had been flung back
and worsted in the fight.
What was the secret. then. Raeh-
aeI asked the fire. N youth and
beauty and high hopes and great
love failed iiko so many strawsl
why was Alice con,ented. and she.
Rachael. torn by a thousand con
fIicting hopes and fearsf Why was
Il. that with all her cicverncss. and
all her beauty. the woman who had
been Rachael Fairfax. and Rachael
Breckenridge, and Rachael Gregory.
had never yet felt sure Of Joy. had
never dared lay hands upon II boldly.
and know /, to be her own. had
trcmbled. and apprehended. and dis.
s.l ~
lesser gifts had been able TO enter
into the Kingdom with such utter Ger
tatnsy and serenity
Sitting thru the long evening by
the fire. in the drowsy silence of the
big drawing room. Rachael felt her
eyes grow heavy. Who was un.
happy. who was happy--what was
all life about anyway
Dcnnison and old Mary came In at
eleven. and looked a. her for long
five minutes. Their eyes said
great many things. aitho neither
spoke aloud. The fire had burned
low, the light Of a shaded lamp fell
softly on the sleeping woman's face.
There was a little frown between the
BEAUTIFUL brows. and onco she sighed
slightly. like a child.
The man stepped softly back into
the hall. and Mary touched her mis-
treas
MRS. Gregory. you've dropped off
70 sleep
Rachael reused. looked up. smiling
hewilderedly Her look seemed to
search the shadows beyond the old
woman's form Slowly the new look
Of strain and sorrow came back into
her eyes.
"why. so did, she said. getting
TO her feet. II think III go upstairs.
Amy message from Doctor Gregory"
mo message. Mrs. Gregory"
THANK you. Mary, goodnight
Rachael went slowly out thru the
dimIy lighted arch OF the hall door
way. and slowly upstairs. She de
liberateiy passed the nursery door
Her heart was too full to risk n visit
to the boys tonight. She lighted her
room and sank dazedly into chair
II dreamed that we were just mar
RED, and in the old studio" she said
half aloud. 81 dreamed I had the
oId--feeling again. OF being so sure,
and 30 beloved I thought Warren
had come home early and had
brought me violetsr'
A day later Dennison brought w
the card Of Miss Margaret Clay
Rachael turned IL slowly In her
hands. pondering. with n quickened
heartbeat and fiuctuating color
Magsie had been often a guest In
Rachaers house a year ago. but she
long time now. They were TO meet
they were TO talk alone together
what about? There was nothing
about which Rachael Gregory cared
10 talk TO Margaret Clay.
A certain chilliness and trembling
smote Rachael. and she sat down
She wished she had been out. II
would be simple enough TO send dowr
a message to that effect, OF course
That would be evadng the issue
whereas. had she been out, she could
not have held herself responsible foi
missing Magsie.
Well. the girl was in the neigh
borhood, OF course. and had simply
come In TO say how do you do? Bu'
1t would mean evasions. and affecta
tons, and insincerities to talk will
Magsie; II would mean lying. unless
there must be an open breach
Rachael found herself In state o.
actual dread OF the encounter, and
TO end II, impatient at anything 80
absurd. she asked Dennison TO brint
the young lady at once to her owl
sitting. room.
This was the transformed apart
ment that had been old Mrs. Greg
-. -..~~fu.x atr.ie,bf acroaa ths