Evening star., 1923-03-29

down for something i didn't d do
You're talking like fool" he
you down. You're dreaming Sobody
could know-nobody could possibly
Know"
"Perhans-" she said with
shrug. II don't care"
You do care he growled savage
~. You do care"
No, l don't. turned my back on
public opinion when II didn't matter.
l can stu turn II. now that IL does"
And your pride?' he asked dis
tinctly.
But she only threw her cigarette
into the fire and laughed. The thread
of communion was broken. II seem-
ed as though she meant to hurt him
or at least Was Indifferent to his
hurts. 1t was not SO much what she
said as what she neglected to say.
| II was as though she had come to the
confessional only to objurate the
priest. At least. that was how David
! TO say something TO help, but some
now the words would not come. For
the first time that he could remenl-
! ber he and Cherry were at odds.
Come, she said at last in a tone
i s."
She led the way down into the
small hallway. where David Sangree
! went before her to open the door.
! His face was set in stern lines. but
he said nothing more.
suddenly she thrust out a hand TO
him.
I'm little beast. Rameses Tell
me that ] am
NO" he said, touching her fingers
| lightly and releasing them
You'll try to think we'll Of me?"
I've never thought anything else"
he finished Gravely as. he opened the
door. And In a moment they were In
! the street
The house in 1S2d street was small.
, thc neighoorhood somewhat as the
despairtng Alicia had pictured Il. but
the removal OF the Mohun family
from its luxurious surroundings had
| been accomplished without mishap.
, II her mother took an attitude Of ST.
lent preoccupation and Bob was out
spoken as to what he called "a fool
proceediRg," Cherry met the situa-
plscency. To her the 18th street
house was haunted by a thousand gay
memories which she wished to dis
pei 1t would be easier. she thought,
to meet the world on even terms in
an atmosphere which would be a con-
! tinual reminder OF her new RESPONSE
bilitles. Alicia Mohun. OF course, suf-
, fered in the comparative discomfort
of the "stuffy" rooms. and OF the
small bathroom which she was now
obliged to share with others, and her
sensitive soul writhed at the sight of
the cheerless wall paper. the mantels
,of golden oak, the obvious quality Of
the slop pals in the yards. the gross
neighborhood which she could see
from her bedroom window. The
sounds sights and smells alike Of
Tended her. They belonged to a world
which she had long ago forsworn.
Bob growled constantly. but Cherry
paid little attention to him. John
Chichester. at her mothers request,
had found him job in a brokers
office downtown. and she saw nothing
f; of him all day and little at night
about him and talked with him kind
ly, but he only laughed at her fears
or evaded her with shrug. Misfor-
tune seemed to have made more def
more than their mother had he found
1t possible TO adapt himself to the new
conditions.
Cherry had settled into her niche
deed, had she been disposed to .criti-
cize on her own account. she was
i constantly disarmed by the peevish
| disparagement Of her mother. to
whose moods she could not give en-
couragement. Cherry's one sanctuary
! difficulty with one Of his legs,
which he oyercamc by the use OF
cane, and an occasional weakness
! which made periods of rest necessary.
he seemed to be slowly winning his
physically in any way he made no
! mention Of IT, and though Cherry
knew that his thoughts at times must
| be painful, his attitude toward her
and toward them all confirmed the
! impression that he had made in that
| interview when he had spoken as
! though with an inward vision In the
voice Of authority which his wife had
| not been able to deny. His face was
gray and still trifie drawn. but in
! his eyes and on his brow was a calm
f; ness that seemed to belong to state
OF mind which was superior to their
change Of fortune.
Indeed, he reflected a quiet courage
| which put them all to shame, rs
though, with Cherry, he could be most
! content ~in meeting the rigors Of the
! situation face to face. And there was
something else in his new attitude to-
ward life which his daughter could
not understands quiet confidence in
| himself and in the future. At times
his ideslism alarmed her. 1e had a
! spiritual quality like that Of person
near death, and the beauty Of his
| face, attenuated by his disease. had
some of the aspects of immateriality.
| If he had any regrets he expressed
none. He just sat most of the day
! gazing out OF his window at the brick
! houses opposite in an attitude OF deep
; meditation. sometimes Cherry no
| seemed to be. turned inward upon
| himself, as. though At the shadow Of
an irony. which was not altogether
personal She could not diSpel from