Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-04

Cherry gaspcd in desperation. :.
Just because man comes OF good
people he's a & G.ntleman," she said. "be:
cause he dresses we'll, has money and
doesn't have to work with his hands
because his manners in public are those
Of other gentlemen. That's all that
matters"
II don't understand"
"lll try TO tell you il you don't
mind my speaking plainly"
! There's n code Of the gentleman In
John Chichester's set. He can get as
drunk as he pleases, provided no one
but other gentleman see him drunk or
! get drunk with him; he can keep his
inistresses, provided only other gentle.
men know the mistresses he keeps.
There is only one rule in the code. lie
mustn't throw his vices into the faces
OF his ballroom friends. the women re.
lations Of other gentlemen---'
Cherry"
"It's the truth. 4 man Of your set
can do anything. provided he isn't fla.
grantly disgracefui in public. No one
questions his habits or his private life.
know. So does everybody. There
arc people who look down on that sort
Of things. but not IN our set-not the
wOrld-yOur world and mine. Imagine
barring your door TO John Chichester
Just because he kept the actress Wanda
Delaney!''
CHERRY: You don't believe that
story"
, Eyes. I do. And about his drinking.
lie used to b. carried out Of the Olymi.
pian. night after night"
my deur. who mas been telling you
nll those tales:" said Alicia, much dis.
Urbed.
Everybody. You've heard them
too. You must have" said Cherry,
facing her mother with spirit.
"One hears tales about every one"
said Alicia cautiously. "You can't ex.
pect man of John Chichester's position
10 get of scot free. Besides with his
temptations one could hardly expect him
to be an angel"
"No, I don't expect him to be an
angel--or any man." said Cherry.
but / don't want the man I marry
especially II I marry him in premedita.
tiOn-to be a niddlc-uged wreck, u
hollow shell who marries at last just be.
cause there's nothing left for him to
do"
CHERRY! How can you speak Of
Mr.. Chichester like that"
"He IL wreck. You know It. He's
like n squeezed Orange--or dried fruit.
! don't like his mustache or the jerky
way he has with his hands. Oh. I
couldn't marry him, Muzzy, TO love.
honor and obey him. l don't love him.
! can't honor him and I shouldn't obey
him. I'd like to for your sake.
: would. But it's too much to ask OF
} me. Even to save us. Put yourself in
my place. Muzzy." she pleaded. I'm
young-with all my life before me.
want to live. want to be myself.
want to be happy. Haven't ! got a
right to be that"
''But. my dear. why should YOU be.
licvc that you will be unhappy with
John Chichester?" asked her mother,
cropping desperately among her conven =
iional fatuities. Marriages Of this
sort are always arranged in France
In other cOuntries-and among rRoyalty
D all over the world. Some Of the mos,
successful marriages the world hal
knOwn---'
Successful snid Cherry scorn.
fully.
, "Yes. Please listen. I speak the
truth. You dream OF love. All youni
girls do. But that sort Of fascination
;. doesn't last. 1t rarely outlives tn,
nOneynlOOu-tnen SnNreS the IAte Ot ~
r other violent emotiOns-burns itself oul
with Its own fire and ends in disillusiOn
; ment and Indifference. The reason VIII!
D most husbands and wives aren't d.
q vorced is because they become a habi
10 each other, even their faults. thei
imperfections. You will never find |
. man without faults. Iou Yourself vii
. not be too casy to get along with. l
. will be much safer for you TO marry
Q man old enough tc know his own MIND
Q even IL he isn't perfect. who by hi
- kindness and devotion will offer 70,
3 something better than a mere youthful
fascinat ton thing more enduring
i the wcll-being. the happiness whicI
t comes Of a perfectly ordered life, ever.
, comfort. every luxury---'
g The sophistry of the argument passe,
u over Cherry because she knew that
r came from her mothers mind, not from
| her heart. und she listened wistcully
Y hoping to feel in her mothers eager
4 ness some warm note OF affection. Bu
her concern had the complacency O
complete self justification. 1t was O
, Cherry as John Chichester's wife tha
she thought the summit of her wOrltll
ambitions. not OF her own daughter