Perth Amboy evening news., 1920-01-31
Moonlight and
Money
By Marion Rubincarn

1dA1 Ely %
The day after Louise had run away
from the private exhibit of paintings,
Murray Butler came around to the
studio. He smiled gravely when
Louise greeted him enthusiastically,
and as gravely declined her offer to
make tea.
IL want to talk to YOU" he said as
he pulled of his overcoat and gloves
Talk with tea is so much more
sociable." said Louise. determined to
be frivolous.
'My talk this afternoon is not go
ing to be sociable." Butler answered,
hunting about for his cigarette case.
You're going to scold me for run.
ming away so rudely yesterday,
Louise said. She pouted a Htte-a
trick. that all her s~ub-conscious FEM
mime self knew would appeal to him
and soften him. She had lodged
many a scolding for bad work at her
painting lessons by this method.
But today he would not smile. In
stead he lighted a cigarette with the
same grave and methodical manner
he had used when he pulled off his
coat, and hunted for his favorite
chair. Louise sat down on the couch
and fooled her hands.
ct should have called you up and
a-poiogized." she said. "Tm-sorry to
have been so inpolfte-"
There's no question of fmpolite-
ness Butler said. blowing out a
cloud. of hay blue smoke. II hope
You know me well enough so you can
be voltr real self with me, ard no a
social automaton n says and does
only the correct thing"
1T don't know what an-an auto
maton is Louise answered with a
return of her f~rivo'ous manner. She
dreaded n s~eriovs talk and wanted to
avoid It at any price.
please don't scold, I don't want
TO be iectured today" She put the
fun strength of her helpless feminine
n into her look and the words,
I'm not a bit happy. really. today,
and ia rather be amused than lee
tured. Take me to teal know a
lovely place where all the prettiest
ladies go, and no one wears furs that
cost less than a thousand
"Louise!" Butler exclaimed in ex-
ASPIRATION.
Anyway, I had a good reason for
running away from you YESTERDAY.
And with this final appeal, Louise
settled back for the lecture she felt
was coming.
Tn not going to scold," Butler
said. notified, his dark gray eyes
regarding her seriously. Listen. my
dear, I've been one of your fathers
best friends for q great many years.
knew him before he married, u
Rot 50 we'll because he was a bit old
er. Later, we both grew old, and
ten wears or so difference in g did
not matter at all. I saw him always
at hts club, or around town; often
we dined together.
"Yes?" Louise said en~couragtngly.
although we were snch good
friends, he rarely mentioned his
difficulties at home. He never men
toned your mother after the separ-
alton between them seemed to be
final, but now and then he would talk
about you-how pretty o were
getting or that o were growing up,
and hat he would feel completely
lost when you married"
II did not know Father was so
observing In those days." Louise said.
He wasn't observing of details, put
he always loved you, and the little
he talked about you made me feel
/ knew you a bit too. You see, L
feel as though I'd known o all my
life-that's why ] want to talk to
you today. as though you were my
own daughter" :.
Did he tell you about Harry-and
me?" Louise asked.
Very little. though I've heard
rumors and gossip" Butler said,
lighting another cigarette. II sup
posed after seeing o run yesterday
that the chap you stared at was your
busband"-Louise nodded-"and the
woman's name I learned later
''Well?" Louise encouraged.
1T don't know anything about
that" Butler said, though l should
mt IL 1 were a young lady possessing
a moderate amount Of common sense
go rushing o the street because l
saw the man 1 refused to live with
attending a perfectly proper art eX-
hibit with q perfectly respectable
Ldy."
"What do you want me to do
then ?" Louise asked.
EITHER make up this silly quarrel
with your husband, or else take the
next available BOAT and go join your
father N South America" Butler
said bluntly. (which will you do?'
"If 1 tel you. will you tax me out
60 tea at the frivolous place 1 Hke?"
Louise asked.
'Oh, Lord!' Butler laughed and
gave It up. Eyes. go get your coat
or. Which will you do?"
Mother" Louise said calmly, adj
susting her hat to a fetching angle.
sT'm going to stay here and work
until I can make a comfortable In
come"
Monday-Carol Tries to Help.