Evening star., 1923-04-03


But she knew, too, how 1t was all
going to taste-eXactly as though
everything had come from the same
poland tonight she had no appe-
tite.
She made her way somberIy up the
stairs to her room. Her fathers door
was open. and she looked In. He was
standing by the window, peering out
and listening, it seemed. to the dimin-
ishing perspective of sound from John
Chichester's car. With an impulse
which she couldn't resist. she went in
and crossed rapidly to him. He heard
her footsteps and turned.
''Oh. Cherry. dear" he said calmly
She spoke TO you?" she asked i'm
| pulsively. She told you where she
was goingo"
He merely shrugged. Yes" he
And you had no objection?" she
gasped. IT hadn't meant to speak Of
this to you, dad, but it's going too
| far"
Mr.. Chtchester,s attentions. ] was
on the point of giving Muzzy piece
Of my mind"
I'm glad you didn't. That could
have done no good. Let her. go, II
| it makes her happy. l don't need
her"
But don't you realize? They're
seen together constantly, every day.
People must be talking"
Let them said Mohun, with a
shrue.
| And YOU don't care?"
| NO he said. calmly, "if he amuses
! her-for Gods sake let him
! His hebetude amazed and shocked
! her. People don't know your mother
! as do, my dear" he went on, calmly.
shes too good form to do anything
| improper and too lacking in tempera-
| ment TO want IT."
! Cherry froWned.
| II don't mean that I don't know
what / do mean, except that it's un-
! becoming, undignifed-to say nothing
But If 1 don't care, why should
you?"
| 1t was on Cherry's tongue to tell
| her father of the unpaid loan, for she
| knew that he knew nothing Of this.
but she realized that II would only
make him unhappy.
"Oh. all right. Dad" she said as she
: went out of the room. ''If Muzzy wants
TO make a fool of herself. it's no affair
| of mine, I suppose"
| But in her heart Cherry was very GER
| tain that she did not share her father S
Indifference. And that night long after
the light in her fathers room had been
i put out she sat up darning stockings
very thoroughly but very badly bale
! full fire in her eye she watched the
! hands of the clock swing around toward
midnight. The disconcerting events of
! the day with regard to her own fortunes
J had given her much to think of, but
| none bf them was SO much in her
/ thoughts as the selfish cffrontery Of her
mother. What her father said might be
| true. but Cherry decided that another
night should not pass without her
| mother knowing exactly what her
| daughter thought Of her.
Al the sound Of the iatchkey in the
! door downstairs Cherry quickly laid
| aside her work and rose. She meant to
| give her mother time 10 say her out
upon the landing. The sound Of voices
| IN suppressed tones came up 10 her
quite distinctly.
NO, You must go, Jack-rcaly you
/ JACK They were. indeed, progress
jrg. Cherry coughcd discreetly but the
couple in the hallway did not see or hear
| her.
"Oh. ! say. Alicia. Just a moment.
one more kiss. l swear you never were
So adora bIe.'
Cherry heard her mothers litter and
down the stairs. They saw her at the
sarIe moment and parted quickly.
Why, Cherry" gasp"d Alicia, staring
as, though at ghost II thought
asked you not to wait up for me"
| Il wasn't sleepy said Cherry. calm =
ly. There was something unCompromis-
ing in her attitude as she stood few
steps above them waiting Mr.. Chiches-
ters departure. lie was not slow TO
catch it's significance. for he spoke in
strictly formal tones to her mother.
Good night. So glad you could go.
| ''Thank you 50 much, MIR. Chichester
said Alicia. Good night
she cofsG the saE street door aid tRen
must have seen the. fire burning in
Cherr.'s eyes, but she gave no sign
Of comprehension.
You should have gone with US,
she began lightly as she moved to-
situation in the third act-"
But Cherry on the bottom step did
not stir.
Il came down here because /
wanted to talk to you, Muzzy," she
said quietly.
Isis anything wrong, dear?'
Iasked Alicia.
Perhaps you can best tell me
labout that"
| "Cherry, What Do You MeanY,
| Why. Cherry! What do you mean
| Cherry went into the parlor, where
she caught a glimpse Of her own face
and her mothers. side by side. in the
mirror over the mantel. The shadows
of weariness which had recently been
growing about Cherry's eyes had
deepened. To casual observer Alicia
might have seemed younger than her
daughter.
Just this said Cherry quietly.
Il saw Mr.. Chichester for moment
before YOU left. He told me that you
had not repaid that loan"
She saw her mothers lips close in
a thin line which eliminated all the
charm of their pretty curves, and her
eyes grow suddenly metallic
of that?"
repaid it at first. You told me ne fIa that
You would attend to it,
T. Doesn't it occur to you, my dear.
that I'm quite capable Of looking
IF it was your affair only, Rut II
isn That money went to paw my
bills as well as yours-it isn't your
aHalr only It's Dad's-and mine"
How? ! borrowed it. It's NV oh
legation. Your father knows notbin .
about il. Why should YOU worry so
'ong as Mr.. Chichester is satisfied n -,
worry just as Dad wouId-if he
! Alicia's brows drew together NET
him?'' eo ~ 'eii
Alicia was aware of a doubt which
had come into her daughters averted
eyes. Ne
81 don't want to. 1 don't want n
worry him. He's had enough already. >
She turned suddenly to her mother
her blue eyes alight with her frank
appeal. "Muzzy-how much of that
money is there left? How much have
iyou paid John Chichester? Won't Won
tell me?" '"
Alicia turned TO the mirror and toy-
ed with rebellious curl.
I've pair him something. He
wouldn't let me pay him any more.
was very consderate. he thought