The Washington herald., 1921-01-03
A CHANGE OF HEART.


station after bidding Mrs. Bradley
godspeed just as a train from town
was pulling In.
She fastened her pace to avoid
the homecoming commuters. She
wanted to be alone; to think OF the
Significance OF the parting message
of Warren Bradley's wife, the wOm-
an who had suffered humiliation and
heartaches for the sake Of a love
that was not returned.
So engrossed was she with her
own thoughts that she did not hear
quick footsteps behind her, and she
started with an involuntary little
cry when a hand was laid on her
arm.
She turned quickly and looked
into the eyes of Barbara Wales.
Cousin Barbara she gasped- Il
thought you were in Florida by this
timeI What a" she gulped hastily
what a pleasant surprise!"
Barbara Wales smiled grimly.
Il imagine so! You look it! But
! don't blame you. I've just been
thinking on the way out on the
train that there's no particular rea-
son why my arrival should bring
pleasure to anyone. Quite the con-
trary."
Alison stared at her cousin in
amazement. She had never heard
Barbara Wales bitter before; angry
grim, sarcastic, malicious, yes; but
bitter, never!
she murmured some sort of a
denial, but Miss Wales stopped her
in the old imperious manner.
Don't try to be polite, for Heav-
ems sake!" she snapped. I'm no.
body's fool, remember"
So Alison was silent, and with
out further conversation the two
arrived at the house.
As they entered the living-room,
Mrs. Atherton, who sat reading by
the fire, got up quickly, the book
falling from her hands.
why, Barbara she stammered
This is indeed delightful! 1
thought-we thought"
That you were well rid of me"
finished Miss Wales, with a short
laugh. Well, you're not"
She motioned Alison and her
mother to chairs by the fire, but
she herself stood by the doorway
I've got something to say to you
that is very hard for me. I am a
proud old woman, even if I AM a
disagreeable one. Oh, don't inter-
rupt! 1 KNOW
She paused a moment and then
went on in a softer tone.
When l left here the other day
after refusing to go tO-tO the ru-
neral, 1t wasn't because 1 was hard
and unforgiving as you thought; as
I gave you to understand 1t was
because I was bitterly remorsefUl.
If it hadn't been for my refusal to
give my own cousin money-this
wouldn't have happened. I turned
him out OF the house when he
needed help"
She stopped again, her eyes low
cred.
I've been in town since I left
here, fighting against two desires.
One was to go far away and forget
all Of you; the other was to go to
Charles grave. The latter won. I
went-today.'
She paused again and walked to
the window, looking out into the
darkness of the garden where the
cold wind mourned in the leafiess
trees and the ivy brushed ghostly
fingers against the frosted pane at
each fresh blast out of the North.
Barbara Wales huddered.
It's cold" she said in a queer
voice, 1T is cold for-him. All, but
it's infinitely colder for US who
LIvE-without love or human ties
Il realized that today when I stood
looking down at the place where
he lay buried There were two to
mourn him, after a fashion. There
would be none to mourn me"
She came back from the window
to the fire, where Alison and her
mother sat embarrassed and Un-
comfortable, but wondering.
Barbara Wales was embarrassed
too. It was not easy for the old
arrogant spirit to take down it's
colors. But whatever her faults,
cowardice had never been one of
them She spared herself no more
than she had spared her adversa-
ries in the past.
Late as it is" she said slowly
I'D like to begin over again, if you
two will give me a chance. I don't
deserve 1t. refused-him-a chance
to begin again. But I'm going to
try to be the sort Of relative you'll
want to have around, the sort you'll
shed a real tear for, when
She buried her face suddenly in
her hands.
Alison sprang to her feet aghast
The last sight she had ever expected
to see was Barbara Wales in tears.
She flung her arms impulsively
around the spare shoulders.
Don't, Cousin Barbara! I can't
bear to see you cry! Please Moth
er and I will be so happy if you
stay with US, won't we Mother
Wen be a nice cozy little three
some
Miss Wales raised her face. She
did not cry prettily.
Threesome, fiddlesticks! Go get
that young husband Of yours. 1
want to apologize to him before
change my mind and decide that
I've been a damn foolT"
Continued tomorrow