Evening star., 1922-09-24
BY BERNICE BROWN
A Story Of the Young
Lawyer Who Was Tempted

times with indifference. Now hi
yeArned toward 1t, somehow, as one
does toward a person. It had becom.
Across the street from tho window
OF Judge Truman's library Lily Sedel.
meyer looked down. 1t was hot IN
the judges office and she was bored
In August, she decided, one is mos;
oppressed by the futility, the defeated
longing of existence. ITS a dull
world" she thought, and then hel
eyes found Stephen.
A stab Of fear went through her
She, too. had known the news the
evening papers would contain. and
she knew Stephen Douglas. Well, he
deserved all that was coming to him
Stephen put his suitcase down, took
OF his cap and mopped his forehead
His face was white and his eyes
frightened her.
"Gosh," she thought. youth is 9
terrible thing. It can suffer 60"
For a long moment she watched
him. She wanted to call to him, tc
go down to him. but she did not move
She saw him signal the interurban
trolley bound for Gladbrook. She
saw the gates close behind him. He
was gone.
Then the door to the ONCE opened
and Constance Truman stood in the
doorway. Father here?' She looked
charmingly cool and lovely in pale
green linen. She made>Lily think OF
the iris that grows in the shade OF
the willows. No wonder Stephen
loved her.
Gone. Lafe Bellows took him out
to the Country Club an hour ago"
oh" She waited moment
Couldn't 1 drive you home, Miss
Sedelmeyer? I've got the car here"
Lily did not move from the window
Thanks. IL can't leave yet" For
a long moment her eyes searched the
face Of the girl before her. Then she
came to a decision. Miss Truman
she said. "this is none Of my busi-
ness, but I'm going to tell you"
Again she stopped. stephen Doug
las Arm is busted and he's fred. II
wasn't a very pretty bankruptcy, and
It won't be a quiet one. 1t wasn't
his fault, Of course-their methods,
mean-but he doesn't believe that
now" Her eyes did not falter. II
saw him minute ago. He got On
the Gladbrook trolley. I suppose he
was going back to Green Mountain.
Home, you know. as somebody said. is
something you somehow don't have
to deserve"
Suddenly Lily turned away toward
the window and her voice was un-
pleasant Maybe girls like you who
are well bred and sheltered would
think what I'm going to say was out
Of bounds" She lifted her thin
shoulders ironically. Il wouldn't be
any Judge" Then she turned back
to Constance. you can overtake that
trolley at Gladbrook. He's got to
wait there for an eastbound one to
Green Mountain. You could reach
him in an hour-if you cared"
Another long moment the two
women stood facing each other. Then
Constance Truman came a step
nearer. 'It is out Of bounds-what
you suggest" she said finally. Her
face was grave. But I don't think
/ care if it is" Then she looked up
at Lily and smiled, a little shyly.
you've been very good to me, Miss
Sedelmeyer."
Lily turned away again toward the
window. "Yes." she said finally, II
have"
X X X X
0N a bench, SCARED with dozens Of
" Idle initials, outside the Glad
brook waiting room, sat Stephen
Douglas. It was that last moment
of sunlight after the sun has gone
and the west is f1ecked with clouds of
burning copper. Eastward and west
ward for endless acres stretched the