Evening star., 1922-07-23
Amother of The Stars Fivst-Rum Fiction
Series by Anserica'S Leading authors

greeting.
why. it's your husband-it's Mr..
But her words died on her lips.
Alice Gray's fingers closed like a
vice on her arm and the hand dragged
her aside. Something ugly and un-
pleasant flashed into Lucy's mind.
There was a whirling silence. dizzy
and her breath was still. Then, I'M
conscious and still chatting amiably,
Alonzo Gray and his companion
passed into the street.
1.-TWO, please-and in the coTner.
I like those upholstered seats" Alice
Gray composedly addressed herself to
the head waiter and serenely followed
him into the cool and fower-scented
restaurant.
Come, Lucy"
* X
r UCY, shaken, bewiIdered, the sig
IL niflcence of what had occurred
still half guess ed. mechanically
obeyed. Mechanically she ungloved
her hands. mechanically she pushed
stray locks of hair up under her hat,
mechanically she ordered. But when
the obsequious head waiter had muir
INJURED: "Bien, madame" and had de-
parted, she could only keep her eyes
on her plate and sit tongue tied, fear
full Of any comment she might hazard,
miserably conscious of what must
be her friends humiliation and dis
comiture. That unquestionably had
been Alonzo Gray. and the woman
with him had been-Lucy knew with
unmistakable intuition that the wom-
an was not OF her world. Alice had
seen it all: she had understood and
had saved Lucy from precipitating
frightfully embarrassing encounter.
And it had been AlonZo! Alonzo. the
devoted, attentive, considerate COM
panion-the sharer Of her marriage
vows-her mate, her man, her lawful
welded husband. About Lucy's head
came tumbling a castles walls and in
her ears there roared the sound Of
crumbling masonry. She shuddered
and bent her face closer to the white
cloth.
my dear-my dear" Alice Gray
laid her hand on Lucy's arm. You
mustn't feel SO badly. I understand
what's passing in your mind-but,
my dear, you mustn't concern your
self on my account! I know. I know
all about It,"
Lucy met her friends unruffied
gaze with widening eyes and parted
lips. Mrs. Gray smiled at her. a wry.
twisted little smile.
"Oh, yes, I know all about it, and
and / don't care. A1onZo is all
that need in a husband; he is con-
siderate. Attentive, deferential: he
likes to be with me and to have me
he does: he loves me truly. There
have always been women in Alonzo's s
life. This one happens to be clever
artist. Alonzo employs her as a
decorator. I even know her name.
She's Flora Balzanni. You know Bal
zanni, the opera singer? She's his
divorced wife-and is quite promis-
cuous. Alonzo has been-well-at-
tentive to her for more than a year.
OF course, he has no idea / know
anything about 1t and / wouldn't
have him suspect I've learned for
anything in the world. You see, he
wouldn't want to hurt me, and he
would think that if I knew, I would
be offended. But I have no more
feeling Of jealousy for this passing
fancy Of his than l would have for a
good cigar he enjoys after dinner.
Oh. I know my views are anything
but conventional. am shocking
YOU" Alice interrupted herself, smil-
ing a rather hard. cold little smile;
IT would shock most women. But
I believe altogether too much en-
phasis is placed upon fidelity in mar
riage. AS long as my husband in
no way jeopardizes my rights as his
lawful wife, why should I concern my
self with what he does outside his
home! Frankly, ! would rather have
him unfaithful to me in an occasional
way. as he is. than have him drink
!! himself into besottedness, as many a
man does, and bring home to me a
throbbing head. a nasty temper. and
a rancid breath. Alonzo satisfies me;
he more than adequately fulfills his
part OF life's companion with me.
I am thoroughly content. What else
matters?'
TIER own apartment smelled close to
IL Lucy when later the same day she
closed the door behind her. 1t seemed
cheerless. empty. desolate The mood
with which Alice Gray had infected her
all day dropped from her like a cloak
suddenly falling to the floor. She gazed
wearily at the familiar walls about her
there was the old faded sofa, the ugly
yellow-cased piano. the carpet with the
stain Of ink near the table, the table
itself with its missing castor; even her
fathers protrait hung askew from the
molding. In the bedroom were the
tumbled beds, and the kitchen smelled
Of stale food and dirty, soaking dishes
1t was just like her life. empty and
stale and drab.
She put away her things and set
about getting dinner, washing the dishes
whipping the unmade beds together,
setting the table. After all, her hus-
band was probably no worse than any
other woman's She made him a pan OF
hot biscuits, of which she knew he was
particularly fond.
At s o'clock she heard him come in.
She heard his creaking steps to the
closet where he always hung his hat and
coat; she heard him creak his way back
to the front room where she knew he
had thrown himself down on the sofa
and was reading the evening paper with
feet cooked over one hard. upholstered
arm. He had no word of greeting fol
her; he would have none; dark and
sullen silence would enwrap him fol
days to come.