Evening star., 1922-02-19

| slowly, I'm no Turk. a woman has
as much right to her own way after
marriage as before. Perhaps more. If
| Mabel likes to flirt a bit-why that's
Mabers affair. 1 cant forbid her to
firt. And what good would it do me
! if did,
"H-m-m." said Mr.. Durbrow.
/ Involuntarily. john Palmer clenched
| his fists.
II happen to be stronger than Ma
BEL" he said. "But I can't use my
physical strength
! "Of course not Mr.. Durbrow said
hastily. THAT would be fatal. She
! would hate you. Besides no man can
do that. 1t isn't doie. But you could
suggest a preference to her."
! John smiled at Mr.. Durbrow.
I you mean-suggest a preference
| for her soeiety?'
| We'll, John. after all-you're her
husband"
| "Yes. That's just why can't say:
| Mabel. I'd like to have dinner with
you myself occasionally You see
! that was the implication when mar
/ ried her. And If she doesn't choose to
dine with me, it's just her way of say
| ing that she'd rather dine elsewhere" "
| Mr.. Durbrow frowned more deeply
than ever.
| John" he asked. why couldn't you
have a talk with Mabel-just such a
| frank talk as we've been having
! without any reserves on either side?"
John Palmer rose and paced back
| and forth across the room. Mr.. Dur
I s,ak -
] sidering this plan. But he saw also
how difficult it was for a sensitive
boy. like John. to face the prospect Of
absolute frankness, such frankness as
he, Mr.. Durbrow. had grown used to
through long practice of it.
| He rose end put his hand on John
Palmer's shoulder.
| my boy" he said. "you don't know
women. You don't understand women.
II do. Women are difficult to manage
But they can't beat frankness. They
like to be elusive and evasive. That's
their game. But they can't play it if
you're frank. Try being frank with
Mabel
'I will try it, said John Palmer
''Ill talk to Mabel tonight"
| Mr.. Durbrow held out his hand.
| Good" he said.
| They shook hands.
II know Mabel" Mr.. Durbrow said
After all. she's my daughter
I "Of course" said John Palmer
| "You can be gentle with her-you
must be gentle. But at the same time
| you can be frank"
"of course" said John Palmer
"Just a little frankness." said Mr..
Durbrow.
| They shook hands again at the door.
y \ X
| John PALMER sat for a long hour
} after Mr.. Durbrow had gone, sat
| in front Of his fire until long after
midnight. He sat there thinking how
lovely Mabel was-when she wanted
! to be. He sat there until Mabel came
home.
She came and sat on the arm of his
| chair and rumpled his hair.
| He looked up at her. She smiled.
He smiled back. He couldn't help
! smiling at Mabel when she smiled at
him. He loved her.
| "where have you been?" he asked,
! and took her hand in his.
| That was what her father had rec
: ommended-frankness with gentle
| ness. He wanted to know where she
! had been. He wanted to know all about
\ It. Therefore he would ask her, at
the same time taking her hand to
show that he was asking in friendly
| spirit.
Mabel raised her eyebrows express
| sively.
What a question: she said.
She said 1t lightly: she said it as if
it didn't mean anything at all. But 1t
was an obvious evasion. John saw
that. That was like woman. That
was like Mabel. But he kept on.
"what q perfectly simple question"
| he said evenly. He was not angry.
He spoke gently. But his words had
| . sort Of edge to them in spite of him.
His tone was the tone that expects
IA answer.
mabel slipped OF the arm Of his