The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-14

surance which made her years
older than the girl I'd grown to
love and trust, no. matter how
things looked. I'd have trusted
the woman who looked UP to well
come me as entered her office.
but ia have felt that my love was
an Intrusion on her life.
She was tense,s yet controlled.
She was gracious. yet reserved.
: Aren't we giving you the space
you .want-or are the layouts diff
ferent from what you expected?"
she asked after q brief moment Of
personal chat.
II haven't come to complain"
/ replied, feeling on the defensive
and bound to explain my coming.
I'm glad" Mabel said hearth
~, and it was the first hearty
note in. our desultory talk. I'D
hate to feel I was giving you less
satisfaction than you got when
Carl Booth was here. I'm begin
ming. to. take charge Of most of
his work. OF course, he wanted
to serve Loren Haldane, I'm, sure
you know I want to serve you"
"You needn't protest" I began,
feeling hurt in spite Of myself.
/ know your loyalty. I came to
! see you--just to see my friend,
Mabel"
"I-was-afraid II was that"
she brought out slowly.
"Afraid?" I repeated, trying to
grope my way through, the nebu-
lous something between US.
Seeing you reminds me" said
Mabel, as il that were complete
explanation Of everything.
"Then you don't want to see
me-" I stated colorlessly.
"That sounds cruel" Mabel said,
tudiciously. "I don't want to seem
unfriendly. But I've a right to
protect myself Anne. you can't
need me. Your life is full. With
work and friends and the place
you're earning, you can't miss me-
"our friendship. was real. We
went through a hard struggle to-
gether," I answered grimly, deter
mined that, Mabel shouldn't treat
a big thing light.
I'm meeting new people through
my work." Mabel stated categoric-
ally. II am handling the adver-
Using accounts now. I'm having
new contracts. I'm being swept
away frpm-all my old ties. divers
at school. Everything's different.
The people meet now take me at
the worth Of my work, and I can
forget, II -
"If-what?" I insisted. -
"If don't see anyone to remind
mel" Mabel brought out doggedly.
"I-see -" began, but Mabel
broke in passionately:
Anne, forgive me! I'm not un.
grateful. I'm just-afraid. I'm
not asking to be happy. I'm just
asking to forget how happy I've
been. can't stand-remember-
ing"
"And make you remember"
said. accepting the situation as
began to glimpse it through Mabel's
eyes. II can see that isn't fair.
I'm going now. But our friend
ship isn't going to end here"
"Oh, Mono, it mustn't" was
wrung from a pallid-lipped Mabel.
1T you ever want me-you know
where to find me- said. turning
in the doorway. "I'll always be
there"
Then I ran away from the misery
and hunger in. her face. I hated
Wayne Parkinson in that moment.
For I felt that struggle as she
might. MabeTs chance Of happi-
ness was lost with him.
After the moment Of high
tragedy, revealed to me in Mabel
Storrs' office over at Haldanes,
the days went by in a simple
round. Once or twice Loren Hal
dane dined with us. He spoke of
Mabel Storrs in glowing terms.
He told of the letters he was get
ting from 1rma. who seemed con-
tent to stay with her sister. And
casually he mentioned the friendly
way Envy Mason had Of dropping
into his office and driving him:
home in her little blue car.
She's a sweet child and she
does much to cheer the loneliness