Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-18
The End of Pretense

LNNALLI there came pause in the
i conversation and perhaps for n
moments time neither Charley nor
Aline spoke. Then suddenly Charley
looked up. There was an expression
Of determination on his face.
"Alinc." he said deliberately. don t
you think we've made a mistake"
"Mistake:" she echoed innoc"ntly.
although she felt cold little shiver
down her spine. ~ don't understand
About our engagement Charley
pushed relentlessly on. II don't think
we ought 10 go ON pretending any
''pretending what:'' Aline's tone
WAS still guilelessly innocent.
Pretending TO care" he blurted out
"Oh" Aline drew out the exclama
ton significantly. Are YOU trying TO
toll me that yor; don't care for me any
longer. Charley: that you're tired OF
the bargain?'
Charley was silent for moment.
Something hnd leaped up in MIN at
her words. something that he was deter
mined to stamp out. 1t wasn't that he
M longer cared for he did. He would
always care more for Aline than ne
would for any other woman. but he
had sounded her ont. he knew her
through and through. and he was deter
mined not to go on with things amy
longer. lie was silent for 50 long
that A!ine felt her heart contract
sharply. -. IT.,
well" she said evenly. "is that
IT," :.
Something like that" he brought
the words out with difficulty. and telt
like n cad after he had said them. but
lie wanted Al!ne to realize that ever!
thing was definitely ut an end.
.tline's tingcrna.!s dug into her. soft
pnns. She felt suddenly as Il she
wanted to scream aloud. Her prlHc
was deser,ine her. and she bad to
exer, every bit Of control that she pos.
something about Mabel Collins.
She had an insane desire to throw
Mabel's name in Charley's face: she
wanted to rant and storm. and Gil the
while she knew that she must sit
quietly in her chair and accept what
Charley had sn!d. She must not le,
him SUSPECT for an instant that he had
ieveled her pride to the dust. that he
had hurt her as she had never been
hurt before.
But it was almost impossible TO lc
this, She caught her red under.!ir
between her teeth and said over and
over 10 herself: "Be sport. Alinc
play the game. Don't be wilmer and
even then blind fury possessed her, and
she shook so that she wns sure Charley
must notice il. Then all OF sudden
she had control of herself. Temporarily
she had conquered. and throwing back
her head, she laughed. managing tc
throw nm !nsolent quality into her NOR
r,menr.
She rose slowly from her chair, AM
went over to Charley. VIII" had riser
20 his feet and was standing stiff an
uncomfortable beside his chair,
Without trcmor, and with hcl
eyes level, Aline held out her hand.
"All right Charley: We'll consider i
ended. After all, 1t was only bar
gain. There was nothing sentimental
| about II. No love letters to send back
and you ought to be glad now that
wouldn't let you give me ring"
Her eyes were very bright, and !
came to Charley suddenly that ther
would never br another Aline. II n
that moment she had been lcss hard
II there had been, sign Of feminine
weakness about her, Charley woul'
have thrown discretion to the wind
and caught her in his arms. lie wants
her at that moment ns he had neve
wanted her before, but he did no
Weld. He took the hand she held on
10 him, and held 1t for an instant i
his. The next moment he was gone
Ito be COntinuedJ