The Washington herald., 1922-08-17
The Beautiful
: s,.s~ And Damned
Cosrsmues from Yesterday.
By F. Scott Fitzgerald.


smiles that guarantee the heart
behind 1t, is 20-karat gold. Being
young and credulous. thought he
had some discretion. SO I kissed
him feryently one night when We
were riding around after q dance
at.the Homestead at Hot Springs.
IL had been a wonderful week.
remember-with the most luscious
trees~-spreading like green lather.
sort-of. all over the valley and a
mist rising out Of them on October
moorings like bonnres lit to turn
them brown"
"Hew about your friend with the
ideais?" interrupted Anthony.
1T seems that when he kissed me
he began to think that perhaps he
could get away with a little more,
that i needn't be respected like
this Beatrice Fairfax glad-girl of
his Imagination"
swhat'd he dor
mot much. 1 pushed him OF
sfxteen-foot embankment before he
was well started"
Hurt him?" inquired Anthony
with a laugh.
Broke his arm and sprained his
ankle. He told the story all over
Hot Springs. and when his arm
healed a man named Barley who
liked. me fought him and broke II
over again. oh. il was all an awful
mess He threatened to sue Barley.
and,&Barley-he was from Georgia
was seen buying a gun in town.
But before that mamma had
dragged me North again, much
against my will. so l never did find
out all that happened-though 1
saw Barley once in the Vanderbilt
lobby"
Anthony laughed long and loud.
What a career. 1 suppose
ought to be furious because you've
kissed so many men. I'm not,
though"
At this she sat up in bed.
It's funny. but I'm so sure that
those kisses left no mark on me
no taint of promiscuity, I mean
even though a man once told me in
all seriousness that he hated to
think I'D been a public drinking
glass"
-He mad his nerve"
81 just laughed and told him to
think of me rather as a loving cup
that goes from hand to hand but
should be valued none the less"
Somehow It doesn't bother me
on the other hand IT would, of
course. il you'd done any more than
kiss them. But 1 believe you're
absolutely incapable of jealousy ex-
cept as hurt vanity. Why don't
you care what I've done? Wouldn't
you prefer it II I'd been absolutely
innocent?"
IT'S all in the impression II
might have made on you. My
kisses were because the man was
good looking. or because there was
a sfick moon. or even because I've
felt, Vaguely sentimental and a
latle stirred. But that's all-it's
had utterly no. effect on me. But
you'd remember and let memories
haunt you and worry you"
Haven't you ever kissed anyone
like you've kissed me?"
"No."s she answered simply. "As
I've told you. men have tried-oh,
lots of things. Any pretty girl has
that experience. -. You see.'
sne resumed, "it doesn't matter to
me how many women you've stayed
with In the past. So long as ii was
merely physical satisfaction, but
i don't believe l could endure the
idea Of your ever having lived with
another woman for a protracted
period or even having wanted to
marry some possible girl. It's diff
ferent somehow. There'd be all the
little intimacies northumberland
they'd dull that freshness that after
all is the most precious part of
love-
Rapturously he pulled her down
beside him on the pillow.
oh, my darling" he whispered,
"as II j remembered anything but
your dear kisses"
Then Gloria. in a very mild voice
Anthony. did 1 hear anybody say
they were thirsty"
Anthony laughed abruptly and
with a sheepish and amused grin
got, out of bed.
with just a little piece Of ice in
the water" she added. "Do you sup
pose could have that?"
Gloria used the adjective little"
whenever she asked a favor-it
made tie favor sound less ardu,us
But, Anthony laughed again
whether she wanted a cake of ice
Of marble Of 1t, he must 60 down
stairs to the kitchen Her
voice followed him through the
hall: And Just q little cracker with
Just little marmalade on 1t. :"
'0h. gosh" sighed Anthony in
rapturous slang. shes wonderful,
that girl She has it!!"
when we have a baby" she be-
gan, one day-this, it had already
.been decided, was to be after three
years-'T want 1t to look like you"
Except its legs" he insinuated
slyly.
oh, yes. except his legs He's got
to have my legs. But the rest OF
him. can be you"
Ny, nose7'
Glo&ia hesitated.
well. perhaps my nose. But GER
tainiy your eyes-and my mouth
and guess my shape of the face
wonder; I think he'd be sort oi
cute II he had my hair"
My dear Gloria. you've appropri-
ated the whole baby
We'll, I didn't mean to-" she
apologized cheerfully.
Let him have my neck at least
he urged. regarding himself grave
ly in the glass. You've often said
you like my neck because the
Adams apple doesn't show. and. be.
sides. your neck's too short"
why. 1t Is not" she cried in.
dignantly. turning to the mirror
ltistust right. I don't believe I've