The Washington herald., 1921-01-05
The Marriage Mill
By MILDRED K. BARBOUR.
AfSCopyrisht, 1921, by the Wheeler :
-. Syndicate. Inc.)
!, Ysu- Can Begin This-story Any payl
THE LONELY HEART.

from the Gibsons.
She sped UP the steps of the side
verands ;, intent on finding relief
from the mood that possessed her,
in Kate Gibson's kindly philosophy.
But as she raised her hand to
knock on the door that led into the
Gibsons' cozy library, her glance
fell on the shade, only half lowered
at the easement window. s-
Through then folds of the wine
colored satin ,drapery, that was
also pushed back, she glimpsed the.
glowing fire on the Gibsons' hearth.
In a deep armchair, drawn close to
the hearth, George Gibson, rIolIed
comfortably, his slippered feet
spread to- the ruddy warmth A
pipe hung between his lips, and he
stared with drowsy content into the
flames.
Close beside him on the low foot
stool which was AlisonS favorite,
sat Kate Gibson, her slim hands
locked about her knees. Her head
rested. against the broad arm OF
her husbands chair, and his fingers
lay earessingly in its heavy masses.
There was serenity in the. very
peise of her, in, her eyes, and in
the little half smile that -hovered
about her lips.
Kate Gibson had passed through
the mill and had emerged-whole.
Alison dropped the hand that
would have disturbed the peaceful
scene.
She went slowly down the steps
and paused irresolute.
Before the Atherton hearth she
knew that Barbara Wales and her
mother drowsed, peacefully.
Once again.. as on that chill auE
tumn night when Kate Gibson. had
found her sobbing in the garden,
she felt forlOrn and shelterless
The thought Of home and the two
women sleeping by the freside was
distasteful. Besides. it was not her
home, not her friends.
Slowly she turned down the av-
,nue, with some vague idea of seek
ing out Fannie Wardweu. 1t might
be that the ubiquitous Edwards was
out of town and she would hnd
Fannie alone and sympathetic as
she had been in the first weeks
litter Larry's marriage.
At thought of meeting Larry
-'AN'S -hAAcOh SNOpptu anu almost
.urned back. But with the reassur-
ing certainty that Larry would not
1e spending an evening at home
With the Country Club and the
Tory Grants poker parties within
motoring distance. she hurried ON,
But her hopes of seeing Fannie
alone were. blasted. =
Frieda, Concesling her surprise at
call from the tempestuous bride
of the household. ushered her into
the dimly lit drawing room where
Fannie and Burton Edwards sat dis
creetly Sde by side on the daven-
port under the rose shaded pedestal
lamp.
Fannie sprang up with a little cry
Of welcome which did not seem
wholly sincere to Alison's super
sensitive ear.
Alison shook hands grsvely with
Burton Edwards
q hear you are 71fKeIy to make
your home in Bermuda Is 1t kind
of you to take Fannie so far away
from-us all?''
She had been about to say from
her family" when she remembered
the avowed intention of Jane and
Mrs. Osborne to accompany the
DTludl pair.
Edwards smiled placidIy. For once
lie was not voluble and Alison con-
Sidered this a good sign.
booking at his determined mouth
md chin, she wondered If Jane and
Mrs. Osborne would find their visit
in Bermuda as pleasant and salts
factory as they anticipated She
really thought it bit thick Of Jane
to force herself on the couple, con-
sidering that she could almost be
termed a Tilted flame of Edwards
I'm making you a trousseau gift,
Fannie. I'll bring it over one day
next week. 1-er- dropped in to
see Myra about the charity she
and mother are sponsoring" she
prevaricated, easily. will l find hep,
in her room?"
"Myra is in the library" replied
Fannie, looking relieved. I'll take
you to her. Jane and Alice have
gone to their bridge club and"
she hesitated, and added swiftly,
Larry went out right after dinner"
Alison elevated her little pointed
chin.
We'll, didn't come to see Larry
you know" she said with a forced
laugh.
I'm sorry" breathed Fannie, but
it was impossible to tell whether she
referred to her faux pas or to the
breach between her nephew and his
bride.
Alison remained with Myra a very
short time. The latter was sur
rounded by committee reports and
was too completely wrapped up in
the problem of abstract charity to
be entirely human and sympathetic.
But just before Alison left, when
Myra walked to the gate with her
and stood looking out across the
winter moonlight, she caught a
queer far-sway look in the calm
cool eyes Of the older woman, and
for moment an expression of in
finite pathos crossed the strong
face.
Alison recalling the old story
about the lov<r who had died in the
Philippines, wondered if Myra was
thinking about him; il the chill
moonlight conjured up visions of the
JuRe,rof her youth and love to taunt
her loneliness
(Continued Tomorrow.)