Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-07-12
Understanding

THEIR eyes met and held for a mo.
j ment in the half light. and then
Harkness bent forward and kissed her
lull on the lips.
"Good night"
He felt her fingers clutch tight at his
hands. and then relax. Good night
Jimmy"
She stepped from the cab. and Hark
,ss cave the man the address of his
Ast As the cab started off he saw that
a. was still standing on the pavement
watching II.
Love! As he leaned back lie wondered
~hv people called love the greatest thing
Il the world. 1t was the destroyer. a
1sstroyer more powerful than denth.
Il bsd taken little Lois, whose life had
i,hsrto b .s., like a cup Of champagne.
III verye and sparkle. and made her q
roman saddened and heart broken.
isd himself And Audrey
He felt a great pity for Lois as he
Infected on It. And pity Is akin to
Constance took Audrey home in the
krishtness Of the morning following on
Fairness last night at the Eros. and
during the whole Of the journey down
N Seyenoaks hardly q dozen words were
exchanged between them. At the gate
a. tbe cottage Aunt Ella met them. and
htr kind eyes had n question IN them
sS they looked from Constance to
I,J..r and hack opnin
"Audrey stayed last night with me,
aid Constance, briefly. "You had her
vire?"
"Yes." Aunt Ella was obviously un- =
sasy. She could read the tragedy writ
ten in her. sisters eyes. could see the
marks which agony had left on Audrey's
Ace. and she feared more than she
dared admit even to herself.
They went inside and Aunt Ella dih .
IDENTIFY suggested that Il cup of coffee
might be refreshing after the journey
Il was brought. and after the maid had
left the room Constance said very
quietly to Aunt Ella:
Audrey has discovered all about the
Eros. Ella"
Aunt Ella put down her cup. She
thought that Constance might have
spared her in the presence Of Audrey.
She did not Immediately understand tina,
Constance was afraid of Audrey. was
afraid Of fighting this matter Out
alone with her daughter. but wanted her
sisters quiet but efficient support. Aunt
Ella ventured on a timid observa ton.
1T would have been better to have
tod her at first"
Constance nodded. Audrey got to her
feet. as though to leave the room, but
Constance put out her hand.
Don't 20. Audrey" she said. "Your
aunt knows everything"
Audrey sat down. Constance said
ELLA, will you tell Audrey what you
know Of the Eros? 1t might be better
than If told her."
Aunt Ella wiped her spcctacles. These
somewhat tense situations were no,
her natural atmosphere. She had been
made for the quiet backwaters If life,
where burned cake or a spoiled joint
OF meat was the greatest trouble yet.
somehow, AS Constance, with nll her
weariness patent in her expression. sur.
rendered the affair to her, she felt q
strange steadying of her nerves, n still.
quiet throb Of gentle confidence in her
heart.
She spoke very softly and carefully,
and In every word was the ring OF
truth. She told Audrey of the starting
ot the Eros, Of how it had gradually
nfed itself in the social scale and
moved to the house in South Audley
Hreet; told of her mothers struggles
ana her bitter fight to keep the faint
Of reckless gambling from the club.
!, Although Aunt Ella did not realize it .
!ne story was clover!y related. While
Y diG not hide anything, 1t yet showed
lne Eros az a monument to the credit
q Constance instead of n reprouch. As
!ne story was unfolded Audrey began
. wonder II she had Judged her mother
narshly. Yet she felt she must ask
one question when Aunt Ella had fin.
ffom me?'
They knew what she meant by
Nerything." Hardness was covered
" mat. rs well as the Eros
Nphstance answered the question.
because l was coward. Audrey. |
~ ~ wanted you to be untouched by all
,Is' knew you thought me better
w.. ;sn ! am; and ! was afraid. As for
;srAhess, l speak of him without any
,aent 10 hnrt your feelings. When nc
.e s..t ~ Knew at once that the affair
,,'n ,Mn MN could not and must NOT con-
Hue' AT the moment ! was unable
see my way clearly. I accepted him
a as stranger while I thought the thing
III. In the meantimp-you know
"1St m, happened and what he did"
vni.ne me lie sounded as truthful as Aunt
her head. ~ "'" AZURE" oeh'
'ae asked quietly.
Ane?" ~" 'e ''o'"i"S eise' dear. can
al three of them were silent, md
ofing that silence Audrey tbourht
witty Her mother Ind erred NOR.
,,Irr.tt ,r Cut only erred in not telling her
vbo' 'uahg at the outset. Beyond that
Sn was Sne to blame her mother?
h, ,.rr LUZ an; Constance had done II all
M,t" ".I H. had siooped. II she had stoopcd.
Hsrtnase,i, e might be lifted higher. And
tsmsnSs' Audrey realized whnt n
.r r,,tEns mn.nS decision had been thrust on
a. j.h'r m;,n at the moment of that meet
w. WIN In darkness. II. In the stress
IN. !" .t sne mad chosen the wrong course,
GnIe ne entirely to blame?
ancs ms gently. ~ a"" "''''u |o"
,,Nr Mamma. am sorry I made Won nm.
Mil yo, t,,'ease don't think blame you.
lnsv you, u 1t Is really my fault. I
.In.oing m..hing at all of the world, and
1lrn ne'VSsu TO find 1t filled with chill
Mia whona ."a see: really, I was only n
lsthinv "sh n ! left the convent. ! knew
N NV men and women. | only
indss %Ie by', I'm afraid | was narrow.
Ior sn., ! could not allow for things,
IIIcbH bHna n a tolerance for other peoDle
I'M konis kon'es with experience. But now
dear.ro ro'pnihning png to see the world in a
msht' ] realize that life is
"Same, but something very real.
Aet a chill inlIuureS voice faltcred. "I'm
w looked down at Con.tnnco f,r