Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-08

EVcrSOnG COulU VI
butler was, but no one voiced 9
suppoe3aon. Warren. handaome ~
skirted coat. knee breaches, and ~
~rnfr,es. disappeared from the III
and theF dancing went on. The scene "a
was unbelievably brilliant, the not, "a
bright air sweet with flowers. and per.Sf
Ifume, and the more subtle odors ofa
silk and fine linen n zoe on y
delicate skin. Warren was presently u
among them again, and there was az
supper the hostess lovely face show 4
Ing no more strain or concern n u
was natural to a Woman eager to "A
make comfortable nearly a ID
guests. 1 &
After supper there was more dane y
ing; and an augmented gayety. There \
we're no more telephone messages, y
nor was there any deflnite :
for the rumor that was presently Y
stealthily circulating. Women. DOW q
|dering their noses as they waited for,s
their wraps, murmured 1t in the n
dressing-rooms: a clown. smoking inif
tho hall. confided it to a ,MePhistop-
heles: u pastry cook. after his emu "A
sive go%od-nights, confirmed 1t as ne b
1.-THE pierrette who was his wife:l
Dead, poor fellow"
Dead. poor C%larence!" said Me-
Prince. magnificent as Queen Eliza
beth, as she and Elinor Vanderwall'
went downstairs. She had once =
danced a fancy lance with him more :
than twenty years ago. Awful
said Elinor, ~shuddering. -. "a
After the last guest was gone War \
rem telephoned to the hospital, Ra-
chael, a little tired and pale in the
Indian costume, watching n us
tening tensely. She was sick at heart.
Even into the library, where they
stood, the Mardi-Gras disorder had
penetratcd: a blue silk mask was ly-
ing across Warren's -blotter, a spatter
Of confetti lay on the polished floor.
and on the reading ia bic was a tray I
on which were two glasses through ]
whose amber contents a lazy bubble
still occasionally rose. The logs that
had snapped in the fireplace were
gone, only gray ashes remained, and
to Rachael, at least, the rooms deso-t
lation and disorder seemed to typify
her own state of mind. I
h could tell from Warren's lookL
that he found the whole matter pain-l
ful and distasteful to an almost tn-f
bearable degree; on his ,tshandsome''
serious face was an expression OF,
grim endurance, of hurt yet dignified
protest against events. He did not
blame her, how could he blame her?l
But he was suffering in every fibre -
his sensitive soul at this sordid n
toriety, at this blatant voicing of
hundred ugly whispers in a matter So
closely touching the woman he loved.
"Dead?" Rachael said quietly. j.
, when his brief conversation GaS over. J.
Warren Gregory, setting the telc-1
phone back upon the desk, nodded /
gravely. 5000 10 % |
F, Rachael made no comment. For a
momen her eyes. widened n%ervously, 1
and a little shudder rippled through
her. Then silently she gathered up !
the leather belt n chainsssof beads
that she had been loosening as she
listened, and slowly went toward tho
door.
| I,hey did not speak again of Clar-
lence that night. although they chat
ted easily for the next hour on other
TOPICS even laughing a little as tho !
various episodes Of the evening were !
passed in review.
But Rachael did not sleep. nor did |
she sleep during the long hours OF the
following night. On the third night
she wakened her husband suddenly :
from his sleep.
"Greg-Greg! Won't you talk to
me q little? I'm going mad, I Think"
Rachael! What is it," stam1ner.
ed h doctor, blinking in the dim
light Of Rachael's beside lamp. His
wife, haggard, with her rich hair fall
1ng in two long braids over her shoul-2
.ders, was sitting on the side of his0
bed. What is -it.a-r daENng-hearl
something's" he asked, morss natural
ly, putting his arm about her. (
I've beenalying awake-and lying !
awake" said Rachael, painting. u
haven't shut my eyes-it's nearly
three. Greg, I keep seeing it-Clar-
ence's face. you know, with that hor- :
rible scar! What shall I dog"
Shivering,. gasping, wild-eyed,. She
chung to him.. and for a long hour he
soothed her as if she had been an
historical child. He put her into a |
comfortable chair. mixed her a, soda
tive. and knelt beside her, slowly win !
nlng her back to calm and sanif1
again. 1t was terrible, of course, bull
no M but Clarence himself was tos1
blame. unless it was poor Billy
yes, must see Billy when she
comes back!" Rachael said quickly, |
Wnen the tranquillizing voice reached /
TINS point. If Warren Gregory's quiet |
mouth registered any opposition, She
ald not see it, and he did not express
IT,. n was presently sound asleep,
sui catching a long childish breath
as she slept. But h woke smiling.
with all the horrid visions of the past
lew lays apparently blotted out, and
she and Warren went gayly down
town to get steamer tickets, and buy
appropriate frocks and hats for the
spring e of Bermuda,
Continued in tomorrow
Evenings Herald,
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