Evening star., 1923-04-03

to what is going on under his nose.
oh"
II might as well tell you what I
think. II will clear the air / know
you ought to know better than I do
what is the right thing to do. But
II you think that spending practically
all Of your time with John Chiches-
ter, both here and il other places, ac-
ceDting his attentions. forgetting
what you owe to Dad, using Chiches-
Cherry
''1 mean it. It's rotten Of you.
hate to say it, but it's true. Up
stairs there. before l came down, I
didn't mean to hear-to see-but 1
his arm around you---''
The spots of rouge emerged from
the sudden pallor Of Alicia's face,
tragic mask in motley.
.u,,,,!, %YTu listened" she gasped. You
"No. I coughed. But you didn't
even hear me. couldn't help that,
could r.
Alicia "It is not true what you
say-there was nothing to see-noth-
ing-that you shouldn't have seem
Then why get so excited about it?"
SAID Cherry calmly.
Her mother had cross the room to-
ward the windows, struggling for her
calm.
Unjust suspicion-From You:"
Its the way you spoke-the un-
Just SuspiCion-from you
She turned again. her breast heav-
ing, pacing the floor.
II don't understand you. Just be-
cause seek relief in occasional peas-
ure from this horrible atmosphere
which suffocates me-you impute
these unworthy motives. You shame
me-you shame yourself in shaming
me. What have ] done to deserve
this from you? oh, that you could"
Her voice had been breaking. and
suddenly she threw herself upon the
sofa sobbng bitterly.
In the old days her tears had al
ways moved Cherry's heart. Cherry
was sorry for her now, but it was
| just pity. Cherry couldn't resist the
impression that those ears were not
the holy ones of outraged dignity
that Alicia wished her to imagine
them. but merely the outburst Of u
childish petulance and anger at hav-
mig been found out. Alicia had for
the moment forgotten that Cherry
| had seen what she described. Per
maps she wanted TO forget it.
ou-you are an unnatural child"
the b-best years OF my life in bring
! ing you up-g- giving you everything
in the world to make you h-happy?
D-dfdn't I slave for you all 10
| m-make place for you in the world?
=. Was II my fault that your father
| rallied? And now you turn against me
:. you to whom I've never denied
J anything that you wanted-you, who
did as you pleased-without question
| who still do as you please"
! She sat suddenly upright, leaning
upon one arm. her hysteria concen-
| trating anew in reckless abandon
! of fury.
You! What right have you 20 quns-
| tion me-for my harmless pleasures
she went Onto put a disgusting
| NATIVE 10 a moment OF mistaken
meaning-you who visit mems apart
| ments at night"
| "MuzZy,"
| It was Cherry's turn to be startled
/ She had fallen back q pace against
the mantel. staring pallidly at the IN
nerved woman who faced her with
/ this accusation.
| "Muzzy. Hush: Stop"
( 'Wcll-you see .. I know" she
! cried shrilly. David Sangrce Why
you chose him Of all men to visit. God
"AIuszy. Hush: stop: DO you hcar?'
Alica stared at her for d moment
and then bent her head
! The instincts Of good breeding came
| to each OF them at the same moment.
i and then bent her head.
| The instincts Of good breeding came
| to each of them at the Same moment,
warned them OF the brutality Of their
| meanings Neither spoke for a moment.
! Aiica hid her face in her handker
| chief, sobbing again. Cherry stared at
her. dry-eyed, breathing hard, but
deathiy quiet.
at last.
There was no reply and she repeat
cd the question.
who told YOU this? Mr.. chiches-
ter
Tonight. I didn't believe it. I dc
Tended you. But you were seen by
Its quite true. I did visit David
Sangree's room at night"
oh"
You can inapute a rotten motive II
you like" Cherry said. and smiled as
the though of David came 70 her.
,'Only you don't know David Sargree.
Alicia straightened, still dabbing at
her eyes She looked her age now, for
the most of her youth was on her
handkerchief. Her face was haggaTd
and mottled with tears.
Il only know that people arc talk
ing" she said. Her tones were still
cold-resentful. 1t was terrib."
thing for deccnt. girl TO do-what-
ever your motive.
Cherry's reply was obvious but She
made none. She only turned away
from her mother and leaned with her
elbows upon the mantel her lips COM
pressed. The conversation had passed
the bounds of understanding-of
; decency. She heard the rustic OF
Alicia's silk underskirt as she rose.
| gave reply to her formal good
night and listened TO her footsteps
as she climbed the stairs. For long
| while Cherry stood there. her eyes
closed, trying to think. Then, turning
! out the sputtering gasiiGht. went
heavily up the dark stairway TO heF
room. Her mother and John Cni-
chester. She wouldn't believe Il
! she couldn't There was but one
thing for which she could be thank :
ful-that her father had not heard