The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1923-10-12
sethef. and sometimes lunched In
eech othor'S rttnhens

gethef, and sometimes Iunched In
each others kitchens.
Mr., Gray was an Interior decora-
tor; he was often away for several
days at time when he went to super
wise the work on some rich mans
country home. He returned home.
always, with trifiing present for his
wife: a bangle, pair of silver
buckles, lacquered box. or perhaps
only handful of jonquils. Frequent
ly he took her out to dinner and the
theater. and once, to Lucy's positive
knowledge. he had inveigled her down
town In order to buy her hat,
That had seemed 10 Lucy the
apotheosis of conjugal devotion. Her
own husband had never brought her
home Unexpectedly present in all
his life. Once in great while, she
induced him to go with her to the
| theater or the movies. He had never
commented on anything she wore, or
took the smallest notice of hat or
gown
Lucy, considering her own lot and
the happy circumstances that We're
Mrs Gray,s on this particular morn
ing. said TO herself with considerable
bitterness that while she was in no
danger of coyeting her neighbours hus-
hand, she did long with all her soul
1 for some degree of contentment with
her own. And upon these reflections,
came Alice Gray. her sweet, composed
face free OF worry, her serene beauty
glowing today with unexpected In
! terest.
Alonxo had telephoned. she ex-
! planned, that he was obliged 10 go TO
| Boston; he would have 10 be away
for several days, and he wanted his
! wife to accompany him. Could she
arrange her affairs to be ready TO
leave with him on the late afternoon
| train1
Could she7 Alice Gray's eyes
| danced with excitement as she caught
| Lucy's hand There was nothing TO
! detain her: she had never visited
\ Boston, she thought II perfectly
sweet of Alonxo to want her to go.
There was the whole day before her
In which 70 get ready; she needed q
| new hat, veil and bag. and she
urged Lucy to come with her and help
her pick them out.
Lucy could not resist. She was not
small enough to refuse TO share this
| friends pleasure even though she
felt the injustice of Alice Gray's hav-
| ing so much and herself so little. And
| the bitter feelings Of the early morn.
ing were forgotten, as she hastily
| piled the unwashed dishes in the sink
| TO soak, gave an Indifferent glance at
the unmade beds, thrust head and
arms into her trim tailor skirt. and
reached for the smart little yellow
straw hat which she had only been
| able TO wear once since she bought IL,
| q month before
Later, seated beside her radiant
| friend on the top of Fifth avenue
bus, the spring sunshine flooding the
city, the street gay with fsshionably
dressed women she caught something
| of Alice Grays exhilaration.
The two women threaded the aisles
of department stores, priced fabrics
| and exclaimed over the novelties.
( Alice Gray bought charming hat,
4 the veil, and neat little handbag
/ with nickel clasps, and Lucy INDUCED
1 herself In mueh-needed electric iron.
/ In huoyant spirits they made 1els-
urely progress ut late luncheon hour
/ TO one of the smart, new French res.
( taurants on Park avenue.
And almost in the entrance way,
about to pnss through the revolving
glass doors TO the street absorbed and
gaily chatting together they encoun.
dressed woman a happy exclamation
burst from Lucy and she started for
ward with delighted greeting
why It's your husband--it's Mr..
Z Gray"
/ But her words died on her lips.
Alice Gray's fingers closed like wise
/ upon her arm, and the hand dragged
her aside. Something ugly and TN
pleasant flashed into Lucys mind.
/ There was whrliug silence, a dizzy
/ ing moment while her pulses raced,
aud her breath was sim. Then, I'M.
conscious aud stIll chatting amlahy.
Alonzo Gray and his companion passed
into the street
Two. please and In the corner.
| like those upholstered seats" Alice
Gray eomposedly addressed herself to
| the head waiter. and serenely followed
restaurant.
Come. lucy"
Lucy, shaken. bewildered, the sig
! nifcance of what had occurred still
half guessed mechanically obeyed.
Mechanically she ungloyed her hands.
mechanically she pushed stray locks
of hair up under her hat, mechanically
she ordered But when the 0bsequious
head waiter had murmured: "Blen,
I madame, and had departed, she could
! only keep her eyes on her plate and
sit tongue-tied, fearful of any comment
I Of what must he her friends humili-
alton aud discontinue. That unques-
tlonably had been Alonzo Gray, and
the woman with him had been--Lucy
knew with uumlstakable intuition, that
! the woman WAS not Of her world, or Of
the world of decent women. Alice had
seen Il all she had understood, and
had saved Lucy from precipltating a
frightfuIly embarrassing encounter /!
MY dear-my dear" Alice Gray
laid her hand on Lucys arm. You
mustn't feel SO badly ! understand
what's passing IN your miud-but. my
dear you mustn't concern yourself on
my account ! know; know
all about it,
Lucy met her friends unrulIied
gaze with widening eyes and parted
lips. Mrs. $ray smiled at her, wry,
twisted little smile.
ooh, yes. | know all about II, and
and don't care Aonzo is all that