The Washington herald., 1922-05-08
Corttnued from Yesterday.

Traverse pleaded.
Jane sighed and looked up into
her lovers face with radiant Joy.
You think 1 am-the one? she
questioned coyly.
The one-" he declared positive
ly. but you have not answered my
question. 1 am proposing to you
will you marry me?"
Mr.. Roberts proposed to me to-
night" Jane told him honestly.
Traverse seized her fondly'
Jane. look at me. answer me
will you marry me at once-to-
morrow"
Yes" Jane breathed softly.
After a thrilling pause, he de
manded
Promise me that you will not
return to Roberts house"
But mother is there, and, OF
course. 1 must go back. We can't
change into gypsies too suddenly,
Jane laughed happily.
Il don't suppose so-but tomor-
row you'll come into town and
"And?"
What do people usually do when
they start to get married. Bu7 a
! ring and a license. and a couple OF
railroad tickets for a honeymoon.
ehg'
II don't think any novel 1 ever
read explained all those details,
Jane remarked Eravely.
He laughed and reminded her,
Remember what your mother
said about novelists who write
lives they could not live? Hypo-
critical auuhorsl They create
women without souls-without
morals-without babies"
Yes"
DO you know that set me to
thinking? She analyzed that cou-
pie of mine. They had no children
that's why they flew the nest"
Jane wanted to pinch herself
to make sure that this man with
whom she was walking arm-in-arm
was really Norman Traverse, the
famous novelist.
Your mother is great" he went
on enthusiastically. II like to
study mothers and daughters"
And what was your observation
o OF us?" Jane challenged.
"Aristocratic old lady-a little
fussy-better days-modern daugh-
ter-darned good looking"
why Mr.. Traverse" Jane
laughed
He stopped. and confronted her
in the middle of the dark path.
MY name is Norman! Give me
the password, Mr.. Traverse. in
deed, Is that the way to address
ones future husband?"
Please" Jane laughed
Quick! The password! For
every second of delay, there is an
added penalty"
Norman" Jane surrendered-he
kissed her-they passed on.
There is a silence in the woods
that seems sacred and solemn.
Ones voice breaking the tranquil
lity seems a sacrilege. so he drew
very close in the dark and spoke in
whispered tones. He told Jane of
his early life. and the struggles in
his career as a writer.
Traverse had been a poor boy
a messenger in a newspaper office.
He went to schools nights. He
wrote because he saw everyone
about him writing-he learned the
magic of words, He was soon a
reporter-then a special editorial
writer.
Il think IL was my experience in
courts that made me cynical Day
after day-divOrces and divorces,
And there were cases that were
worse, 1t made one loathe life.
and hate birth! l watched those
men and women, l was their hard
judge! i wrote about them. 1 never
forgot them. Dreams and night
mares of their sins drove me to
a ~ ok a1
Z thing that gave the public such a
shock ii made me a fortuneI
was heralded as a realist, as a
daring sex writer. But 1 was only
-ghat your mother said-a hypo-
critical author! l saw only the
sears-the beautiful garments of
/ declared was ravelingi 1 should
have known women like you-and
your mother" he sighed.
rDidn't you know any nice old
fashioned girls?' Jane asked.
NO. 1 worked nights at the
paper until 1 got rich on that book
Then 1 met society! God
forgive me- Women like Bess and
her friends are worse than their
sad sisters in the underworld"
"Bess? Gerald's wife, you
mean?"
Yes. Bess is a ibertine wife.
She lives for money and a good
time. She thinks Gerald is bound
for life to provide for her. Gerald
used to have pretty good
time down Wall street-stocks and
bonds Then during the war he
was out. He tried to economize,
but Bess drove him into debt, and
to drink, With her chittering and
chattering and silly society, that
woman has driven him to the
devil"
He was drinking tonight" Jane
admitted
Yes and drugs. I took him
away last summer-out West with
me-on a ranch. / tried to bring
him back I got him to- take up
writing to steady his nerves. The
boy has talent. but the stun misses
somewhere-it doesn't selll"
Il should think your name would
help" Jane suggested.
Nothing helps-but the right
spark Bess has ruined any chances
he may have had He is weak. She
ssps his very soul, Her demands
for money and constant entertain
nnent have sent him to ruin. You
see ne loves her. in his weak way
think they both realize that life
is rotten, but their philosophy Is
to live IL plumb to the core!' They
koth smoke and drink. There are