Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-04-18

and now she vas having her lunch
in the Grill. If she could only breathe
a little less violently-but she seemed
10 have no control ove her heavlng
breast, she could not even close her
mouth. Nobody suspected anything,
and if she could but control herself,
nobody would, she told herself des-
p~erately.
She never knew that the silent.
gray-haired waiter recognized her,
and recognized both the man and
woman who sat only thirty feet away.
She had not ordered coffee, but he
bought her . smoking pot. It was
not the first time he had encounter
ed the situation. Rachael drank the
vivifying fluid. and her nerves re-
sponded at once. q
forced herself to dispose Of gloves
and napkin in the usual way. Her
breath was coming more evently-so
much was gained. AS for this dead
~ cold and quivering sensation Of
nausea, that was no more than IA
tigue and the frightfully cold wind.
So it was Magsie. Rachael had not
been seven years A wife to misread
Warren's eyes as he looked at the
attitude together, an attitude Of won
dcrful, sweet familiarity with each
others likes and dislikcs under all
its thrilling newness. Rachael had
seen him turn that yer glance, that
s,nilinE-eyed vet serious look .
Oh. God! it could not be hat he
had come to care for Magsie! Her
hard-won calm was shattered IN a
second. she a Whiting and CULVER
ing again. Her husband. her own
big. tender, clever Warren-but he
was hers. and the boys-he was hers!
Her hushand-and this other women
was looking at him with all her soul
in her eyes. this other woman cared
all the world might see how she
cared for him-and was loved in re-
turn!
What had she been hearing. lately.
rof Magsie: Rachael began. dzzi.y to
recall what she could. MaEsie had
been ION the road" she had had a
small part in an unsuccessful play
early in the winter. Rachael had been
for some reason unable to see it. but
she had sent Magsie flowers, and
she remefbered now-Warren had
represented himself as having looked
in On the play with some frienGs, one
ty poor stuff. So little had Magsie
and Massie's affairs seemed to mat
ter. then. that Rachael could not even
remember the name of the. play, nor
Of hearing it discussed. The world
in general had not seemed inclined to
make much of the professional. ad-
vent OF Miss Margaret Clay, and pres
emily the play closed, and Warren in
answer to a careless question from
Rachael. had said that they would
probably take it on the road until
spring.
And then, some weeks ago, she had
asked about Magsie again, and War
rem had said: IT believe she's in
town. Somebody told me the other
day that sic vas to have a part in
one of Bowman's things this winter
ITS amazing to me that Magsie
doesn't get ahead faster" Rachael
had unused, No more was said.
And how pretty she was, how young
she was. Rachael thought now. with
a stabbinE pain at her heart. How
earnestly they were tAlking-no or
binary conversation. Presently tears
were in the little ~actress's eyes; che
had no handkerchief. but Warren
had. He gave It to her, and she SUR
smiled At him, like a pretty child, In
Rachael felt. actually sick With
shock. She felt as II some vital cord
in her anatomy had been snapped,
and as II she could never control these
heavy languid limbs of hers again.
Her head ached. A lassitude seemed
to possess her. She felt cold. and
old, and helpless in the face OF %
much youth and beauty.
Magsie-and Warren.G- She must
accustom herself to the thought.
They cared for each other. They
cared-Rachael's heart seemed to
shut with an icy spasm, she felt her
self choking and shut her eyes.
Well. what could they do-at
worst? Could Maggie go out now,
and get into the Gregory motor car,
and say, Home, Martini" to the
man? Could Magsie run up the steps
of the washington Square house. gath
er the q OF the days news from
the butler in a breath. and. f1ingtng
off furs and wraps, catch the two
glorious boys to.her heart?
Not However the situation devel-
oped. Rachael Wa sttn the wife.
Rachael held the. aAvantase. ana
| Whatever poor Maes1e's iuf1uence
80 sarE# 5L.9a-4H E.HaEl- HuagF..HF