Evening star., 1922-11-12

&AIs Dahl, tuiS nHoCh, CdIHG 10
himself. The shackles of twelve
months Of bottled-in restraint fell
from him.
Are your" he answered. We'll.
I'm damned II I'm glad to meet you"
Il understand" The voice was gen.
tie. almost compassionate. you will
be glad later on. 1 think-very glad.
Snail we sit down. all of us?"
The thing took chair. And the
back Of the chair cloudily revealed
itself as submotif for the half
materialized torso of its occupant.
Mechanically, moving jerkily, Mr..
Balm followed suit; he likewise took
a chair. Mrs. Balm. uttering choked
whimpering sounds down in her
throat. already had fallen upon a
couch and was huddled there. 1t was
just as well the couch had been
handily nearby, for her legs would no
longer support her.
Her first husband-we may as well
call him that-turned to her.
Control yourself. Evelyn" he bade
her. There is no occasion for any
excitement. Besides. those curious
sounds which you are now emitting
annoy me. l haven't long to stay and
l have much to say
He cleared his throat---the process
might he followed with the eye as
well as by ear-and proceeded:
II have been endeavoring for months
past to bring about this meeting. In
fact, ever since shortly after your
second marriage to this gentleman
have striven to return to earth for
the one purpose which brings me to-
night. But 1t was dfficuit-very
difficult" He sighed a visible sigh.
TT is not permitted that I should ex-
plain the nature of the obstacles. I
merely state that they were very
great. AS you will notice, I am not
able even yet to attain the seeming
solidity-weight and specific dem
sity-which I craved to take on. So
just came along in the somewhat
sketchy and incomplete guise in
which you now see me.
My reason for coming is simple.
I desire to see justice done. Where
l was / could not rest in peace know
ing that you, Evelyn, were lying 50
outrageously and. what was worse
making me an unwilling accomplice
as it were. to your lying campaign.
Evelyn, you have been a foolish
wicked woman. You have done this
gentleman here"-including Mr.. Balm
with a wave OF a spectral arm-"a
cruel wrong. But what. from my
point Of view. is even worse, you have
done me a grave wrong as we'll.
may be only a memory may say
that that. precisely, Is what l am
but even a memory has its feelings
its sense of responsibility. its obli-
cations to itself
VERY well, having made that point
clear. 1 shall proceed: Sir. for nearly
a year past you have been inundated
by the constantly presented image OF
a fabulous creature. Your peace OF
mind has been seriously affected. Be-
fore your eyes 1 have been held up as
paragon-I And I resene the
slander on my name. 1t has been an
insult which no self-respecting
memory should be compelled to stand.
Sir, l wish you to know the truth. ]
was not a paragon, and ! thank God
for it. 1 was not the perfect husband
this woman would have you believe.
was fussy. faulty. crotchety-and l
am proud of it,
"Oh, Arthur Mrs. Balm. under at
tack, was reviving. was rallying to
her own defense, as powers Of CO.
herent speech returned to her.
Don't oh. Arthur me-" he snapped,
but listen: And you. too. Sir. If You
will be so good. We quarreled fire.
quently in those years Of our married
life. She complained of my brusque