The New York herald., 1922-09-17

ucSSiteu HeT some thirteen years carrier,
vanished from sight, and most people as
sumed he was dead. Claire had lived on
sedately in her old quiet home,A outwardly
beyond reproach; but presently Bob Rod
bourne, a rising young member of Parlia-
ment, had come into her life, and while
they were always most discreet and no
shadow of public scandal touched them
situation, and it was customary at house
parties and week-ends to invite the one
where the other was expected. Now it
happens at the end of thirteen years. while
they are staying at Mrs Headcorn's place,
young girl, Patricia Neale, happens to
form one of the party and attracts Rod
bourne's notice by her "unpowdered inno-
cence." The man is quite blind to what is
happening to him. But Claire Caldecot,
who has only just begun to notice new
faint shadows in her own cheeks that are
not yet wrinkles, yet seem to draw down
the corners of her mouth, sees clairvoy-
antly the beginning of the end. And when,
by series of sheer mishaps and impulses
"a romping game, girls awkward
stumble, mans sustaining arm around
her. and the next instant his lips impetu-
ously pressing hers, just as Claire chances
to come back for forgotten book-her
world crumbles and she realizes that the
end has come. She knows that Bob is
still fond of her; she could hold him for
some years yet by his sense of loyalty;
but she isn't that kind of woman.
After ALL she tells him, what is it
that l have always wanted for you?
That you should be Free and proud and
strong. Oh. I'm not lecturing you, but
you know l don't want those silly little
things that people call proper pride and
decency to come between us. 1t
wasn't your fault. The trap was set
before you went into it because you
had to have what the trap offered. It's
not your fault that you're young and
strong, that you want to i've, and that
women love you. No wonder women
stuck TO me so long. Z. Remem-
Der me kindly whenever you think of
me, and l know that will be often. Say
goodDy to me nicely and marry her"
Many women might. under the first daz-
ing shock of blow like this, have tried
to take like high minded attitude. The
real test of character comes later when
loneliness and memory and the encroach-
ing touch of age sap the courage. 1t
would be futile to attempt briefly to sum
up with any approach to adequacy the
slow consuming tragedy of the ensuing
months under the triple tension of Rod
bourns approaching marriage to Patricia,
the insistent attentions of another life
long admirer, Stephen Britford; and lastly
the unexpected return of her missing hus-
band. Geoffrey Caldecot With Britford
another type of woman might have found
substitute for happiness and at least a
refuge from loneliness. But Claire is of
the type who can give herself once legally
in marriage; and then when marriage
turns into a grim farce she can give her
self for love. But beyond that she can
not go. She may think she could. she
may even, as Mr.. George records on one
occasion, tell herself:
''Oh, what fool you are. He's very
nice; he likes you; and it isn't as if
you were an immoral woman Oh. why
aren't you easy? Why aren't you one
of those women who'll let men pick
them up in a restaurant? They find life
simple. Don't be a moral woman If
you can't be loved. be amused" But
Mrs. Caldecot was a moral woman, and
whatever the past might make up against
her. whatever the future might reserve,
she couldn't help being a moral woman
Just what complications the return of
Godfrey, the husband. looking older, sod
den and rakish." brings into the situa-