The Washington herald., 1922-10-09
The Beautiful
And Damned
By r. Scott Fitzgerald

to 90 without things. We have
spent a lot, though. since I've
been back"
"oh. shut up!" she said In irrita-
ton.
"why?"
Because I'm sick and tired of
hearing you talk about what we've
spent or what we've done. You
came back two months ago and
we've been on some sort of a party
practically every night since. We've
both wanted to go out, and we've
gone. Well, you haven't heard me
complain. have you? But all you
do is whine. whine, whine. I don't
care any more what we do or what
becomes of US and at least I'm con-
sistent. But I will not tolerate
your complaining and calamity
howling-"
You're not very pleasant your
self sonnet mes. you know"
I'm under no obligations to be-
You're not making any attempt to
make things different"
But 1 am"
Huh. Seems to me I've heard
that before. This morning you
weren't going to touch another
thing to drink until you'd gotten
a position. And you didn't even
"a ha
when he sent for you about the
suit"
Anthony got to his feet and
switched on the lights.
See here" he cried. blinking.
Pm getting sick of that sharp
tongue of yours"
We'll. what are you going to do
about it?'
DO you tn nix I'm particularly
happy" he continued. ignoring her
question. DO you think 1 don't
know were not living as We ought
to-
In an instant Gloria stood trem-
bling beside him
L won't stand t." she burst out.
Il won't be lectured to. You and
your suffering, You're just a pitt
+el "VAN4Ahb anu YOU Always nave
BEEN"
They faced one another idioti
cally. each Of them unable to i'm
press the other. each of them tre-
mendOuSly. achinEIy. bored. Then
she went into the bedroom and shut
the door behind her.
His return had brought INTO the
foreEround all their pre- bellum ex-
asperatiOns. Prices had risen
alarmingly and in perverse ratio
their income had shrunk to a little
over half its or ginal size. There
had been the large retainer's fee
TO Mr.. Haight: there were stocks
bought at 100. now down to 80 and
40 and other investments that were
not paying at all. During the pre-
vious spring Gloria had been given
the alternative of leaving the
apartment or of Gning A years
lease at S225 a month. She had
signed il. Inevitably as the neces-
sity for economy had increased they
found themselves as a pair quite
unable to save. The old policy of
prevarication wss resorted to.
Weary of their inca2ab Titles they
chartered of what they would do
oh-tomOrrOw. of how they would
stop going on parties" and of how
Anthony would go to work. But
when dark came down Gloria, ac-
customed to an engagement every
night. would feel the ancient rest
lessness creeping over her. She
would stard n the doorway Of the
bedroom. chewing furiousIy at her
fingers and sometimes meeting An
thongs eyes as he glanced UP from
"a Na1
her nerves would relax, she would
answer il with ill-concealed eager
ness. Some one was coming up
for just a few minutes"-and oh.
the wear ness of pretense. the ap-
pearanCe Of the wine table. the re-
vival of their jaded spirits-and the
awakening. like the mid-point of
a sleepless night in WI ch they
moved
: the winter passed with the
march OF the returning troops along
Fifth avenue they became more
and more aware that since An
thongs return their relations had
entirely changed. After that re-
f"wering of tenderness and mas
sion each of them had returned
into some solitary dream unshared
by the other and what endearments
passed between them passed, II
seemed. from empty heart to empty
heart. echoing holIowIy at the de-
parture Of what they knew at that
was gone.
Anthony had again made the
rounds Of the metropolitan news
papers and had again been refused
announcement by a motley Of Office
boys. telephone girls. and city ed
tors The word was: Were keen
ing any vacancies open for our own
men who are. still in France" Then
late In March. his eye fell on an
advertisement in the morning pa
per and in consequence he found
at last the semblance of an occu-
patton.
You GAN SELL,!,
Why not earn while YOU learn,
our statesmen make s50-s2OO weekly.
There followed an address On Madi-
son avenue, and instructions to an
pear at l o'clock that afternoon.
Gloria glancing over his shoulder
after one Of their usual late break
fasts. saw him regarding it idly.
Why don't you try it?" she sug-
Gested.
"oh-it's one of these crazy
schemes"
TT might not be. At least. it'd
be experience"
AT her urging he went at l o'clock
to the appointed address. where he
found himself one of a dense mis-
cellany of men waiting in front of
the door. They ranged from a mes
senger-boy evidently misusinE his