The Washington times., 1921-04-06

niteness and mystery with which
their whole future had been delib-
erately shrouded, all these things
were comprehensible now.
I'm no more his sister than you
are" Helena went on. His sister
is married and living in Brooklyn.
My name IL Perry. Alice Perry. ana
i only met him when he went to
Paris. / was in the same building
that he was. down and out with
pneumonia and no money. and
was almost starving.
"I had gone oyer there to study
music, originally, for the comic
opera stage, but I think I would
have died II 1t hadn't been for Sids
Poor boy, / never should have let
him do it! But he was lonely, too;
he wouldn't take less than the real
thing. and we were married.
II guess 1t was legal. although
the whole thing was 80 mixed up
and confused; there were papers
we never got and ceremonies we
never bothered about. kept house
for him and got we'll and my
family sent me $500 to come homo.
and / did come home
IT went back on the stage, and
was doing well. when I happened
to be near Deerbridge. and-lfke
a fool suddenly thought that
would stop and see Sid, and per-
haps find out how we could annul
the marriage. So I landed here.
and had to come down sick again
on his hands--poor Sid! But I'm
leaving him for good and ALL"
SID LOVES HER
T remember Patricia said
slowly. She could perfectly recall
the late August day when Sidney
had telephoned her: who do you
think has turned up. Patr NY
small sister. Come around and
meet her! She's got . frightful
cold poor kid. and she's tired to
"Your sister, she had echoed.
Il thought she was married. some
where in the East"
"She was" he had answered.
"but she's on the stage now. using
her old name She's only going to
be here for a few weeks. so don't
say anything about the martial
tanglew
And she had duly gone and met
the sister. and had q cup OF tea
No question had ever risen In her
heart; Aunt Hattie had said that
she perfectly remembered tho
Hutchinson baby girl, twenty years
ago. some one else had comment
that she was entirely unlike SID
ney. that was all
"This explains things~ she said.
with a rueful smile
"But the thing is. has he told
"ToId Beatrice?" Patricia echoed
tbourhtfully. 81 wonder"
"He cares this timer the other
woman admitted.
"Oh. yes" with a great sigh.
Patricia added the fact of Sid
ney's marriage to the other ac-
cepted facts of life. He cares
now" she agreed. sadly.
"And would she run away with
him. Patr'
.she miEht~ Patricia pondered.
Il think / had better tell Mrs:
Palmer and Dan, and we can all
watch her. Its-poor kiddy-its
her first affair. She's not like other
girls. She'll take 1t hard"
"Sid loves her. the other wo-
man said simply; "he's mad for
her. And he isn't to blame, Pat
No. really he isn't" she added,
as Patricia fiung up her head impa-
tiently. His heart was never In
II, / knew that He's just one or
those extraordinary generous
men who blunder into things like
this. Try-try to forgive him.
Pat"
Over the beautiful face that
Helena was anxiously watching
crept a rather bitter and rather
pitiful smile. my dear Helena
Patricia said slowly, both hands on
the smaller woman's shoulders.
"the time when It matters to Sid
ney whether or not l forgive him
has gone by. The question now Is
whether she will forgive him I'm
sorry for her. I'm sorry for them
both"
Ten minutes later she went down
the dark. empty Railways for the
last time She passed 'O'Callaghan.
Robes.~ and the flower store,
where the flowers were all hidden
by great arabesQues Of frost on the
glass. She went into cold and
frosen East Cathedral avenue. Tho
streets were deserted. the sky was
low and ominoua.
And in her soul Patricia felt the
bitter wind. the darkness and the
storm.
CTo Be Cs.ti,ued TsnsrswS