The Washington times., 1922-01-15

but you had forgotten them,
hadn't your
"oh. for goodness sake don't
argue. I'm sick Of being forestalled
at every turn"
His mother loved the flowers
loved him for having thought Of
them-loved him for having remem-
bered her birthday in time to order
them the day before, 20 that she
should have them quite early in the
morning.
Amber's present didn't come till
next day. Lady Rose loved her and
realized that she couldn't be ex.
pected to remember her mother.in.
laws birthday till It arrived, when
Adrian had brought her round to
wish his mother many happy re-
turns Of the day. The whole Incl.
dent made him furious.
The silent battle between husband
and wife continued. He became
daily more unstrung and she seemed
daily more unconscious.
Under q Shady Tree" had had
q great success and he was invited
to be the guest Of honor at literary
dining club with speeches after din
ner. Adrian loved an after dinner
speech. The atmosphere Of dessert
and port and cigar smoke. the mix.
ture Of muzzy geniality and exuber.
ant wit delighted him.
Amber chose the night in Question
to 60 down to Millet. She babe a
tender farewell to her husband and
he sailed forth exhilarated by his
independence and the prospect of
an excellent dinner in excellent
company. The evening was a great
success and his speech a positive
triumph. but as he walked home
and tried to remember what he had
said phrases Of Amber's stuck out
In his mind till he couldn't be sure
whether he had used them or not
All night long they ran through his
dreams like semi-consciously
hummed tune till he forced himself
to wake up-only to find them as
persistently haunting his thoughts
Finally unable to bear it any
longer he got up, dashed into his
clothes. examined Bradshaw. rushed
to the station and caught the train
to Millet.
There he found an old brougham
Drawn by a single decrepit old white
horse with an even older coachman
on the box. mfr. Rose, sir?" he
inquired. This is the Millet Court
carriage; one Of the carriages" he
added with pride. Miss Amber
Mrs. Rose that is. begging your
pardon. sir. said but what you might
ne coming tnls morning..
His thoughts were In a whirl. He
didn't notice the box hedges. the
blaze Of tulips. the transparent
house. His face wns white and set.
he strobe through the garden gate
unseeing and unswerving straight 70
where his wife sat on a stone seat.
How did you know j was com.
mgr" his voice strained.
She smiled. II kind Of felt you
would"
WHY"
We'll, there are things you have
wanted to say to me for a long time.
aren't there?"
Resolutely he ignored this final
touch In the nightmare. Yes"
he said. there are things 1 want
to say to you. want to tell YOU
that you have ruined my life. You
with your understanding, YOU have
cut me off from the un expected
You have covered up this and ex.
plotted that, you have unanswered
my deficiencies, you have fore.
stalled my impulses. haven't
been able to think or feel or lct
for myself. have ceased to exist
as an independent person. am
your creation. YOUR p,lppet. iod
has never had to forgive, for He
has never been understood"
He stopped breathless, and then
for a moment everything was blot.
ted out by his vision Of her as shs
stood there, a lavender parasol
over her head her face IN blue
shadow, the sun catching in her
hair. And all around her he
seemed to see wave after wave Of
bluebells. And then he heard her
low. thrilling voice:
MY dear" she said, forgive
neil 30 understand"
Copyright. 1899, by George II. Doran Coz
.in''G'- fine chapter from Priu
: = "ok win appear
p ..ay in The Washington