The Washington times., 1921-04-05
BY Kathleen Norris.
Author Of "Mother,o sThe Heart Of
Rachel. "Sisters" and Other
Famous St0ries.

RAchel,@ ~StSters" an4 Oteer
Famous Stories.
<<K OTHING like walkingw Sid
ney said unnaturally. ss
they entered the woods.
~ love it," she responded, In the
same key.
mind il I talk business?" he
asked, after a silence.
She glanced at him; felt a chill
premonition at her heart. DO"
she said cordially, fearfully.
"It's this" Sidney began speak
ing, she could tell from his tone.
with uneasiness, Helena has made
good with these Rosses-you know
that So think tho thing to do 10
to get her to New York and get her
hunchedw
"New York." Patricia echoed, stu
pidly. 1t was all that her suddenly
CONSTRUCTED heart and mind could
II think so,- he decided. uncon,-
fortably.
"How--how soon. Sid?"
"Next month. Just after the holi-
days"
Patricia made no answer and they
walked along in silence. They had
come out of the club woods and
were descending upon tho town
when he spoke again.
pat. I've got to say something
and 1t makes me feel rotten. It's
. hard thing to say. You know
how I admire you. You're the most
beautiful woman I ever saw, and
know--I ought to know-that you
are as sweet and as wonderful as
you are beautiful-
~
proudly. She felt SO choked that
she could not speak.
II know" He accepted the re-
buke. I've no right to say any
thing" he said. I've held you
all these years, I've kept you from
many a better man, Pat; l know
that. But, Pat I'm going away
now. perhaps forever. And want
to be free"-
It was said. She felt az II she
had known 1t must be from the
beginning. Her world was going
20 pieces about her. her senses
swan.
Yet she somehow walked quietly
on. hands clasped in her muff.
beautiful head erect and her voice
was quite itself when she spoke.
You know you have only to
ask, Sidney"
Then silence. They were in the
city streets now.
You'd rather have me tell you
so honestly, wouldn't your the
man said awkwardly.
Infinitely"
Silence again.
Let it all be as IL it had never
been. Sid," said Patricia, ending
It. I'VE have had some happy
times To her own fury. her
voice thickened. and she could not
go on.
We've had the most wonderful
friendship that ever was" he said
enthusiastically. The girl would
have been glad to stab him to the
heart, as he was stabbing her.
"But-but I think we'll both ad-
init now that II wasn't the real
thing" he went on, with a mans
eagerness to convince himself that
he had inflicted no wound. mot
since the early days, anyway
JUST WHAT I'VE MADE HER
They had reached the entrance 20
the Palmer home now, and she was
standing above him on the shall
low stone steps. A cynical smile
curved her mouth.
"And you've found the real thing
now. EidneyT''
Ee glanced up. flushed. and
frowning. looked away again. "No
hope there" he said heavily.
mo hope for Sidney Hutchinson
with the Sensatone Palmers!" she
said in light irony. He looked up
suddenly reproachful.
"What have 1 to offer her. Pat?
Sensatone Palmers? Why, she's
just as sweet and clever and re-
fined and-yes. and popular, too
as any one of them. And she's
worth a million-more than a mil
lion"
spare me-" she said with
bitter laugh. "She's just what I've
made her!" And giving him her
hand she added easily. "Goodbv,
them"
He took her hands eagerly,
would have prolonged the fare
wells. But she had borne enough.
A few seconds later she was quiet
ly mounting the steps. and had
been admitted to the preposterous
portal, and without one backward
glance was gone.
But self-control lasted only un-
Gil she reached her room. The hot
tears were running down her
cheeks as she flung aside her
wraps. and presently she sank be-
side her bed and gave them free
vent.
Patricia did not often cry, but
long checked tide was loosed now,
and she was carried away by the
passion of her shame and anger.
She cried for a long time. Then
she stopped for a few minutes, and
looked curiously at her hands, and
at the deep depression her elbows