The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1920-10-21

side. How queer TO send IL up Us
that She took DO ont with somc Gu.
/ riosity and looked at the n.gNc:
Mrs Monck" There was somsth.r-
written IN pencil "I mop, you N.a l-
kind engug. TO- see m. ror few mir
utes."
The card dropped u0m her has
and she aat staring before her o.
though turned 90 stone She Was rs
rigid as X something had arTosle
, every mOvemeut--her mos sct am
empty For O. moment she hao
. thought lt might be lrmU. lhen s1s
remembered that she was married.
could only be- Ait mother there wa
no other Mrs. MoncE. H.
mother She. drew long breath, d
I one slowly returning 90 consc,oGsn65s.
I but she bad not lost her senscs.for o
moment, though she had had q bao
shock 10 was s1 unexpected; she Ia l
been feeling so much better and hap
pier. and now n sudden blow had eeu
ner back. She felt the shadows OF { o.
I past closing round her again: ~
/ struggled 20 throw them Off.
81 won't see her--t won't!' sc
/ muttered ferCcly That terrible olu
woman, hard and bitter and revepge-
| ful. She remembered how Joh1snn
/ had described her What did she
| want here? What right had she 20
| come and torment her? She would
I send a message that she was ill1en
/ gagged, anything 70 get rid OF her.
She had turned towards the bel
when her hand dropped. The maid hs
/ already told her that she was alone
/ II was too late 20 send an excuse, toy
late FOR any polite founaltty. Ehc
| could refuse plainly TO see her. ano
| that was all-and that might look
! strange. The second thought made
/ her hesitate. She was suoh a de-
| termined old woman. johnson had
| said that she always did what she
made up her mind to do. She had
| taken this journey on purpose 70 see
| her, no doubt: she would not be eAally
/ dismissed.
! III / don't 20. will she think I'm
| afriid2' Lllah asked herself and at
/ the question her courage rose. She
! should not think that-it would be
wonse than anything She would see
her now and have done with H. She
| would take care that there was no
second interview. She would 20 at
/
ready: her visitor might be thinking
| all sorts OF things. she got up quick
/ ly and ran down 20 the drawing room
When she opened the door che saw
an old lady, heavily veUed, seated near
| me window leaning on n stick
You Will pardon my not rising"
she said. but I am old and infirm.'
Somehow the voice was different from
what Lilah had expected. Il was
gentle and her manner was quiet ana
dignifed. She looked pathetic fiE-
ure IN her heavy black: an old woman
weighed down with sorrow; nothing
70 be afraid or Suddenly Lilah feit
sorry for her. Hl"
you must be tired. for you have
had a long journey" she said ''You
must let me give you some tea" Mrs
90 ring grlGr'.'
| No" she said. nothing. Thank YOU
II you will let me talk 20 yon Tor n
rev minutes. that IL all I want N
Is KIND OF you 20 see me: cannot
be a very welcome visitor '---'sfll,
Why not2' Lilah asked. "A On rnoe
ments OF strain We ask Qutahohs u
preclpitate events eager 70 know M
worst. Why should you thluk thatp
am very sorry for yOu--lf you don't
mind my saying so" -
That Is kind Of you" Was the-c
F suspicion Of sarcasm in the altci.
voice? II 80, Lilah was TOO disttail
To notice II, ''Rut the sighr. of mo
must recall events you wouAd natn-
Fally rather forget-it is only MS
mother who RENE mbers" lfJ 90
You must not say that" IAlah saiE.
atter moment in a low tone ~
have all remembered. II has made
terrible difference: the place IL. NJ
been the same since"
but now you are forgetting. I a
the announcement Of your apDrlnerl
ing marriage In the Morning 10,
ihat VIII make pleasant chang
the village will De en- fete. II rs All
right-quite natural; life Is like M
All through. We turn from the. dAt
10 the living" Llluh did moi 80
| what 10 say.
When / saw that thought won
come down and try 10 see YOU befo
you went out OF my reach. did,
want anybody 10 recognize me
know who am, 80 sent my car1i
In an envelope, and put on a IN,
Veil' Ihey say my son and | We
Inueh alike She threw back h
| vel as she spoke and I.ilob pave
little exclamation. Yes. A. MI
old. ~
You see the HSeness7"
'Hes--yes.' She shrank hack b,,,
the fierce old eyes seemed 10 cling tc
her face She felt as though fbsI
we're arching-searching. Tbs,
seemed 70 go through her. as hls Ma
done sometimes when she had trie,5
70 deceive him. to put him on az
had seen through her pretext, ana
nimsy barriers
You will have heard, perhans th..
my son was very much like me
never thought that he would 20 arst
and In such a way! II has LajFen
all the zcst out OF my life; it's mao
me an old woman. I've nothing ia
live Tor now except 10 bring his gbur-
dcrer TO Justice. O.. You think I'm
right, don't your she asked.
II don't know"
I'm not one OF the ukewarr,, 49,,
who are always ready 10 forgive ana
forget shouldn't say you are eit6ar
/ think you viii understand. Az
all, I've the best authority for whot
DO; IFS the old law OF a life for Ma "
you don't think it can be noid ~
In any othCr way?" wi
"No--do you? There's nothing, mat
Iequnls life, nothing so valn1hja
Other things can he replaced AM
NE meant 80 much 10 him, You, who