, 1923-12-12
CHAPTER iv-continued.

IortaDI screening TOg OF MOOD. Inc
cab turned into Fifth avenue and be-
came a scale in the creeping serpent
of vehicles that glided, paused. and
glided again past the thronged pave
mcnts. Prosper contrasted everything
with the grim courage and high
pitched tragedy of France. He could
not but wonder at the detached frivOl-
lty of these money-s3enders. these
spinners in the sun. How soon would
the shadow fall upon them. too. and
with what change of countenance
would they look up! To him the Joy
seemed almost childish and
yet he bathed his tagged spirit In 1t.
How high the white clouds sailed, how
blue was h midwinter skyI How
the buildings lowered, how quickly
the people stepped! Here were the
pretty, painted faces. the absurd silk
stockings. the tripping. exquisitely
booted feet. the swinging walk, the
tall. upspringing bodies of the wOmen
he remembered. He regarded them
with impersOnal delight, untinged by
any of his usual cynicism.
1t was late afternoon when Prosper.
obedient to n telephone call from
Betty. presented himself at the door
of Morena's house, just east of the
Park, Off Fifth avenue; n very beauti-
full house where the wealthy Jew
mad INDUCED his passion for exquisite
things. Prosper entered its rich dim
ness with a feeling of oppression
that unanalyzed mood of hot and cold
feeling intensified to an almost I'M
pearnble degree. In the large carved
and curtained drawing-room he waited
for Betty. The tea-things were pre-
pared; there would be no further need
of service until Betty should ring.
Everything was arranged for an unln.
terrupted tete-a-tete. Prosper stood
near an ebony table, his shoulder
brushed by tall, red roses, and, felt his
nerves tighten and his pulses hasten
in their beat. 1.-THE tall child . =.
the tall child . ." he had called
her by that name so often and never
without a swift and stabbing memory
of Joan. and Of Joan's laughter which
he had silenced..
He took out the letter he had lately
received from Betty and re-read 1t
and, as he read. a deep line cut be-
tween his eyes. you say you will not
come ack unless / can give you more
thar i have ever given you in the
past. You say you intend to. cut your
self free. that l have failed you too
often, that you are starved on hope.
I'm not going to ask much more pa
tlence of you. l failed you that first
time because l lost courage; the Sec
ond time, fate failed us. How could /
think that Jasper wOuld get well when
the doctors told me that l mustn't al
low myself ever q shadow Of hope!
Now, / think that Jasper, himself, is
preparing my release. This all sounds
like something in a book. That's be-
cause you've hurt me. I feel frozen
up. l couldn't bear 1t II now, just
when the door is opening, you failed
me. Prosper, yea are my lover for
always. aren't you? ! have to believe
that to go on living. You are the one
thing in my wretched life that hasn't
lost Its value. Now, read this care
fully; l am golns to be brutal. Jasper
haS pNsh uhluitnlui W me. 4 KNOW IL.
I have sufficient evidence to prove 1t
In n law court n I shall not hesitate
TO get n divorce. Tear this up, please.
Now, of all times. we must be ex-
traordlnarily careful. There has never
been n whisper against us pnd there
mustn't be. Jasper must not suspect.
A counter-suit would ruin my life. l
must talk 1t over with you. I'll see
you N alene-just once-before /
leave jasper n begin the suit. We
must have patience for just this last
bit. II will seem very long . :"
Prosper folded the letter. He was
conscious of n faint feeling of sick.
ness. of fear. Then he heard Betty's
step across the marble pavement Of
the hall. She parted the heavy cur
tains, drew them together behind her,
and stood. pale with Joy, opening and
shutting her big eyes. Then she came
to meet him. held him back. listening
for amy sound that might predict In.
terruption. and gave herself to his
arms. She wns no longer pale when he
let her go. She went a few steps away
and stood with her hands before her
face, then she went to sit by the tea
table. They were both flushed. Betty's
eyes Were shining under their nutter-
Ing lids. Prosper rejoiced In his W
emotion. The mental fog had lifted
and the feeling Of faIntness was gone.
you've decided not to break away
altogether them" she asked, giving
him n quick glance.
lie shook his head. "Not II what
you have written me is true. I've had
such letters from you before and I've
grown very suspicious. Are you sure
this timer" He laid stress upon his
bitterness. 1t WINS his one weapon
against her and he had been sharpen.
Ing II with n vugue purpose.
"oh." said Betty, speaking low and
turtlvely. Jasper IL fnlrly caught. |