, 1922-09-07
The Little Blue
Bowl
By LILY
% N MeCLure NeMananer syndlealel

tally At her brothers home, that the
entire atmosphere WAS alien to her.
that she did not iii in and last aud
most of all that Kitty, inns wife, VAS
of a different social class. Kitty with
her expansive bosom. bad grammar,
loud voice and booming laugh, had
dragged Jim down to her level. The
whole neiEhhorhood was akin To Kitty
and the house and children belonged
specifically To her. The grceu-and-red
rope pOrtieres and lowered carpet
told that.
Even the arm spring sunshine
failed to penetrate that numb feeling
of despair that settled ON Iris as she
lay, pale and weak, bundled up in an
old steamer chair in the back yard,
1t would he months before she would
be strong enough to 20 away and earn
her living again, many months. and
perhaps she would never be able to
fill her old position again. She had no
money, no home, except this of kitty's.
Iris could not call it Jlm's.
To have come for Il weekend visit,
the very first line Jim had married,
to be taken violently i'll, to 'lie weeks
in kitty's guest room with its pink
and-green wallpaper-that had been
her fate. She congratulated herself
that she had peer able to keep Jim
from knowing, knowing nov she
longed to get away, how everything,
most of all Kitty, had made her feel
out of place. desperately unhappy.
Doctor Bowen had understood. That
had been the one crumb of comfort,
an embarrassing crumb, that was de-
MED her now, for old Doctor Wells
was back again and his young assist
ant was released from the case.
Iris stirred restlessly under Jim's
old steamer rug that Kitty had tucked
around her. Why did Doctor Bowen's
not coming affect her so much? Was
it because he was the only link to the
other world, her world of so-called
nice people and refinement. hat was
left her; Even in her position in the
city there had been Il constant strug-
gle to keep above the surging mass
that seemed almost to sweep her of
her feet and with them-a constant
practicing of self-control, not 10 enjoy
their company, rather to he lonely at
times tina lose her footing in The
certain circle to which her family had
always belonged. Jim had stepped off
that rung in the social ladder when
he married Kitty and lazily enjoyed
the security and Importance of his
new position.
Kitty, red faced, came from the
kitchen with an immense basket of
wet clothes and Iris hastily closed her
eyes to avoid talking. She shivered
when Kitty's booming voice rent the
air in conversation with a neighbor,
crushed her fingers in the palms Of her
hands when her name was mentioned,
her physical condition discussed.
shes asleep owe there" Kitty
called in a hoarse stage whisper.
"lookin' mighty peaked. What she
needs is cheerin' up. Sam. she's too
down-hearted, never talkin. Wait till
/ get this wash done. I'm going to
bake some lemon pies that1l make an
undertaken smiler' And her loud
laugh made Iris cringc. What would
this discriminating Kitty tell Sam
Moore next, this man who was ever
lastingly leaning over the fence talk
ing with Jim or Kitty
Something made her open her eyes.
Doctor Bowen was coming across the
lawn. Her heart began to pound and
she was suddenly painfully conscious
Of the wretched bathrobe Kitty had
enyeloped her in, and OF Jim's old
cap Kitty had pressed on her head.
She heard him explain to Kitty that
he had just dropped in unprofession-
ally to see how Miss Long was pro-
crossing II fairly writhed when Kit
VS. voice responded heartily. Just
the thing 20 cheer her up. doctor,
there's, u camp chair. and make her
laugh. that's what she needs -
He came over to the cuu%valescent,
drew the camp chair close ia her
steamer chair.
"You are not getting well AS fast
as You might" he was saying In low
grave tones. somewhere else. an-
other environment more suited to
you.' he ventured and stopped.
at Is impossible" she answered
quickly and then blushed, you must
have realized that | am penniless-
that"
With a swift movement lac caught
her hand, II cold trembling one Iris,
| noticed everything | know how all
this"-he touched the old n and
nodded toward the Tapping clothes
"is |repugnant to you, how that your
sister-in-law reacts on your nervous
system. Iris. didn't you feel that |
nnderstoOdY That | knew you be-
longed IN u different place among dif.
ferent people, Dear. It hurts me 10
see YOU ia that old cap just as II
makes me wretched to think Of that
Kitty administering to your needs.
Iris, let me take you away. My moth
er's home Is beautiful. OF such lavish