Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-03-18
like a cold Wind that turns to white

uut Sne Hel0 ner mead Qua Above
it. and even Clarence and his daugh-
ter never guessed what she endured.
What did it matter? Rachael asked
herself YEARLY. She had not asked
for love. She had resolutely exchang-
ed what She had to give for what she
mad determined to get: Clarence had
made no blind protestations, had ex-
pected no golden romance. He ad-
mired her: she knew he thought it
was splendid OF her to manage the en-
easement and marriage with So little
fuss: perhaps his jadeded pulses hut-
tered a little when Rachael, EXQUISITE
IN her bridal newness. stopped at the
railway station to give the dropping
Silly a good bye kiss, and promise
that in three days they would be back
to rescue her from the hated cover
ness; but paramount above all Other
emotions, she suspected. was the ire.
satisfaction OF having gained
Just II right woman to straishten
out his tangled domestic affairs, just
the mothAr, as the years went by, to
do the correct thing for Billy. Y
OF some Of these things the woman
who sat idly before the library fire
was thinking. as the quiet evening
wore on. and the purring of ths
flames and the ticking of the little
mantel clock accented rather than
disturbed the stiffness. She wassunY
happy with a cold. dry w-retchedness
passion or Of hate; The people she
met. the books she read, the Gowns
she planned so carefully, and the So
clal events that were her life, all-alI
were dust and ashes. Clarence was
less a disappointment Inc a shame to
per than an annoyance; he neglected
her. ne Inundated her, true, but this
meant Infinitely less than that he
her youthful completeness and arts.
bored her; the sympathy of a few
close friends bored her as much as
the admiration and envy Of the many
who were not close. Cards, colt, din
ners. and dances bored her. Rachael
thought tonight Of a. woman she had
known closely. a beautiful woman,
too, and a rich and gifted woman.
quietly ended it all. had b9en found
by Mortified maids in her 'sray-and-
silver boudoir lovelier than ever, i'm
tdxed and peaceful beauty, with the
soft folds Of her lacy gown spreading
like the petals Of a great flower about
her and the little gleam Of an empty
bottle in her still, rinEed hand. +. -.
A voice broke the library stiffness.
Rachael reused herself.
~ NAa' rs H. i1eIod She asked.
Doctor Gregory? ASK him to come
in. And ask Alfred-is Alfred still
downstairs?--ask him to 60 up and
see If Mr.. Breckenridge is awake.
This is very decent Of you. Greg"
she said, a moment later. as the doc
torN came into the room. 1T doesn't
seem right to interfere with your din
ner for the same old stupid 'thinr!"
Great pleasure to do anything for
(-nIl R9rhAAVo tina ~AvvAk~~>- ~
promptly and smilinsly with the al
most perfunctory courtesy that was a.
part of Warren Gregory's stock in
trade. You don't call on NE often!
I wish you did"
She said to herself, as they both sat
down before the FIRE. that It was prob
ably true. Doctor Gregory was no.
t%oriously glad Of an opportunity II
serve his friends. He had not at ali
regretted the necessity Of leaving his
dinner partner at the salad for 4 pro-
f%essdonal call. He al quite ready to
enjoy the Breckenridge tittng-room,
the fire, the lamplight, the company
of a beautiful wonaa Rachael and
he knew a other we'll, almost in
|tiraately; they had been friends for
many years. She had often been hts
oned his dtnner-parties At the club,
for Warren Gregory's only woman
relative was his old mother. who was
neither of an age nor q type to take
any part in hos social life.
He was forty.handsome, dtsnihed,
with touches Of gray in his close
clipped hair. but no other sign OF
years in his face or his big. well.bu
He had clever, Ane eyes be-
hind black-rimned glasses, q sur
geon's' clever hands, a pleasant voice.
He lived with his mother in . nne old
house on Washington Square, In New
York City. and worked as ~tirelessly .as
II he were a nenniiess beginner ut his
rich woman's heir. and already recok.
n1zed Is genius In his own lire.
All women liked him. and hn4 liked
them all He isn't them bookA, smafk-l
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