The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-12-07

2 1
I be numbered among those that are
| termed universal
MARY STEWART CUTTING, JR.
Clauson stepped from his roadster
and held out his hand to Miss Rick
son. But with hand on either side
of the opening she swung herself
down, landed softly, gave him
warm hard little fist and thank you
almost gruff, and was up the steps of
her boarding house. The house itself
looked as II 1t had measles and Clau-
son drove off thinking what a fright
full life Miss Rickson lived; his ste
nographer by day and tenant of
scarred-looking boarding house by
night. And what brick she was
brown, rosy, businessllke little brick.
woman, too. Eyes that were deep
with what could be tenderness.
"None of that" said Clauson, and
turned into his own street.
He put up his car, walked the half
block to his apartment and while he
waited for the elevator, the thought
which he had kept In the background
abruptly enveloped him. seemed to
rush at him from outside: Suppose
Miss Rickson were waiting for him
up in fourth-fioor front. Romance of
sweetness almost forgotten might
be possible with Miss Rickson.
He hurried down the tiled hall to
his own door, burst In, shouted:
Hello Jepi" He was genuinely
shocked at himself He wanted to
make amends by tremendous home
coming such as he had, before now.
carried Off when he was too tired to
mean It,
Hello, darling" she said
He had swift look at the picture
which had greeted him so many
nights. The brownish room, the
heaped-up table-everything Jep did
seemed to take so much cloth or wool
or whatever 1t was-and of Jep her.
self in street dress busy at Lord
knew what.
She was measuring something. She
put up her face to be kissed, kissed
him, smiled absently. said without
looking at him:
",rhey sent me up some that the
moths have been In"
ooh, they did, did they?" said Clau-
son grimly
He made his preparations for din
ner and ms she came up the passage
he shifted dstastefully at an odor-
wax, rubber, gravy--the odor OF home
The familiarity of the pictures on the
passage walls oppressed hlm-signed
photographs, pergola Ell Captain.
A little gong was pecked at thrice by
the maid trying simultaneously to
dish tin the kitchen. Jep said.
"Ready, darling?' and came toward
him, picking threads from her skirt.
They went down the passage He
slipped his arm about her She had
his hand under hers. And when they
sat at table Clauson looked Mt her
across the soup and asked:
'Did l have my arm around YOU
Just now, when we came down the
passage7"
"Why, yes, didn't your" she said.
Yes, think you did, why7'
Nothing" said Clauson. II Just
wondered"
From time to time. at dinner. he
looked at her stealthily. Fifteen
years they had had together. There
were no children Suppose there
should be twenty-five, thirty-ilve years
more. And they loved each other.
But heavens above them both. how
dull they We're!
81 think I'll send that moth-eaten
stun straight back to Them" said Jep.
Wouldn't you, dearY
81 certainly would, darling" said
Gauson.
He thought OF the sacrilege Of
using holy words in that unthinking
fashion. He thought OF the absurdity
of asserting like sheep to something
which he knew nothing whatever
about. He thought of Miss Rickson-
what II some morning she should
bring In his letters and say, There.
DEAR with that good little way of
dipping her head and turning 1t side
wise without turning her eyes.
They considered the theater and
gave up going. They considered tele-
phoning for somebody to come in and
make up table and gave that up, too.
Clauson built fire and smoked and
Jep read aloud. Then they sat talk
ing. Once they disagreed on the
ethics of bit of gossip and had
spirited ten minutes. He didn't
quite like Jep when she argued.
When they sat silent Clauson thought
of Miss Rickson's restful way OF re-
Joining EXACTLY" to all his opinions.
He suddenly imagined her saying
Exactly. dear; imagined her sitting
here beside him; caught the zest, the
laughter. the thrill which talk with
her could concsIvably hold