The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-19

case she has accepted MIN, 90 you
know the day they've fixed for their
marriage? II would be awfully con.
venient to know"
WELL" said Mrs. Falling seri.
ously, 81 don't know exactly, but I
should say he proposed to her the
other day when you were staying
at May Headcorn's, and she refused
him"
But" said Mrs. Neale, ceasing
20 smile. do you mean all this?"
YES" said Ms. Falling; 'it's like
this. You know It's all over be.
tween him and Mrs. Caldecot?"
II had heard something about
them. though wasn't sure"
"Of course 1t wouldn't get to
Devonshire. But IT'S Off. my dear.
Mrs. Caldecot> was dining some.
where where I was. and dom,
know her very we'll; but she was
so cheerful, she was the life ami
soul OF the party. and I said to my
self, that woman's done. Well, that
was just after you came back. He
dropped her at Cantrel Court"
But what makes you lhink--and,
of course, Patricia doesn't know
anything about this?"
mol" said Mrs. Failing. she
doesn't know, but she feels.
haven't got any daughters; you
have. that's why you don't under.
stand them"
oh" said Mrs. Neals after .
time. II see. You think that she
refused him and now he won't take
no for an answer-and that's why
he's taking her about such Z lot.
I really ought to do something. Mi.
Ecent; only Chris has been worry.
ing me such . lot lately"
"Dont do anything" said Mr..
Falling impressiveiy. 1T seems to
me q very good match; he's
thirty-nine. yes. and she's twenty.
II does make q difference. I know.
But like that he won't get sick o!
her 30 early. He's quite, we'll of.
He's Just sold fourteen hundred
acres at Seton Manor for . very
good price, my dear. And he'll be
IN the Cabinet. Besides. you'd be
getting her out Of the way for when
you marry CHRIS.
Mrs. Neale laughed. One couldn'.
be offended with this gadabout
Also the last point Of view appealed
to her
At the very end OF April, for the
first time since their parting, Rod
bourne Unexpectedly met Mrs. Cal
deceit. 1t was at one Of those
colossal at-homes in . house easily
accommodating four hundred guests,
where about six hundred had come
and brought their friends. Half
way up the stairs he tried to turn
round and go away. but the incom
ing crowd would not let him. So,
ultimately. he was forced into the
drawing room. exchanging grins and
elbow jabs with crowd that
shrieked IKE parrots.
Suddenly a drift In the mob car.
ried him against a marble pillar
bearing a bust. Against the pillar.
upon which she rested gloved
hand. Mrs. Caldecot was leaning.
while she talked to q fresh-faced
boy. Though separated BY two wo-
men they saw each other. Mrs.
Caldecot faltered and . rush o.
blood went up to her forehead. She
began talking nonsense to the boy,
who looked up at her with adorins
eyes. He was eighteen and had
never met anybody so beautiful as
Mrs. Caldscot-
Rodbourne found himself smiling
mechanically. His heart was beat.
ing. He knew that he must 60 IN
to her, shake hands, be normal. But
he couldn't get to her Just then be.
cause the two women were in the
way, and so for q moment he looked
at her. awaiting his chance.
The flush had died away; Mrs.
Caldecot stood exactly under the
chandelier where we're burning
some dozens OF lights. The white
glare struck her directly upon the
forehead for she was wearing a lit
tie Russian looking hat Of black
velvet with scarlet trimming. There
was no brim to protect her. She
stood Cabling to the enhancing
boy. while the light flung upon her
chin shadows from the slightly
pendulous cheeks emphasized the
vertical folds about her mouth and
darkened the sagging chin. When
at last Rodbourne managed to get
to her they had very little to say.
Their hands released each other
easily. She told him she was quite
well. He said he hadn't taken the
Harbor Job after all. She said that
perhaps he had been right. Then.
that she must hurry away.
Rodbourne paused for a moment
in Port:Ian Square. His emotions
we're conflicting. She was very dear
to him still; 1t had been good to
clasp her hand, but he was on.
pressed by the marks he had seen,
by a sense of ravage. She was old,
She had grown old-not as a wife
grows old. very slowly. in the sama
house, in the performance OF the
same tasks. In the pursuit OF the
same interests. II had not hap
pened like that, In a way one coull
forgive II one noticed 1t. She had
Just grown old
He stared through the ratings