Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-06
The Bl0,v Falls

!INHAI very night the storm burst.
= Mr. Foster did not come home from
tie Office until nearly q o'clock. and
then for an hour afterward he and his
wife were closeted in the library.
When Mrs. Foster finally came out.
her eyes were red with weeping, and
she went directly to Aline's room and
knocked at the door.
A!ine sprang up from the couch.
where she had been lying. and faced
her mother with wide. frightened eyes.
"Well:' she exclaimed.
Mrs. Foster dropped Imply into a
We'll. it's happened. Aline." she
said in n very low voice.
What has happened? Tkll me!
Tell me exactly what Dad said
Your father has lost a great deal
OF money. we can't 80 on, Aline, not
as we are.'
20, mother, what do you mean? Not
that we can't keep the house, not that
things will be changed.'
Change to Aline spelled chaos. All
her life she had had everything she
wanted. she had been INDUCED, petted,
spoiled. And now like thunder bolt
out OF the blue, this terrible thing had
happened. 1t was terrifying, looking
into future where the lack of money
would be the first consideration. and
vet 1t was something that had to be
faced.
Mrs. Foster nodded slowly.
Yes. the house will have to 60.
| Your father will need every cent OF
tn l. H.,
through"
Aline's mouth trembled. "And vel
be poor?" she said shnkily. She looked
so like frightened child sitting there
that sudden tenderness welled up int
Mrs. Fosters heart. Up to that mo
ment she had been thinking of her
self. and Of how difficult it would b.
to begin things all over again at he
age. But now she saw the TRACED
through Aline's eyes. and she realize,
that it would be more difficult for Ain
than for any one else. Youth is s
intolerant. and from childhood they ha
all combined to spoil Alne. so tha
now, what were actually luxuries Ain
accepted as necessities.
Don't look like that. dear" Mrs
Foster said quickly. "Things migh
be great deal worse. We're no
going to he so poor that there won
be enough to eat. 1t simply mean
retrenchment, that's all. and thin
how much worse 1t would be if every
thing had been swept away"
Aline's eyes wandered around he
room with its expensive enamele
furniture. its dressing table littere
with costly trifles, its mirrored doors
Through the half open door she coul
glimpse that glttering whiteness G
her own private bath. Soon this woul
all be taken away from her. Her beau
tiful home that she had always love
so much would belong to outsiders.
passion Of revolt rose in her and wit
: it there came terrific resentment TO
ward her father. She had trusted him
they had all trusted him, and he ba
. had no right to gamble with thei
, safety.
I'D rather die than sink to med,oc
rity," she burst out passionately. {.
couldn't stand it to live like Phylli
does, the sOrdidness of it would driy
me mad. o, mother. isn't there any
!. thing we can do to save the house
How can you sit there and take thing
80 calmly? ] should think you'd b
furious with dad, am. I don't thin
: l can ever forgive him"
And Aline flung herself down anon
, the pillows and burst into tears.
/, Mrs. Foster came and sat beside her
: stroklng the short silky black hair an
, trying to calm the tempest of rage thu
shook Aline's body from head TO fool
; But Aline was past comfort. At tha
moment she did not even want to 2
on living.
, | Tnm,Apenw-Tha nl> r., f,..k