The Washington times., 1923-09-22

her and pressing his lips affec-
tionately to her thin hair. "Cut
It opt-dont give way like this.
Buck. up woman. or III spill
some OF this chowder ali over
you
She kissed him hungrily. cling
ing to him. halt-laughing, half
crying.
Whatever brought you homer
she demanded, holding him from
her, gazing with love and anxiety
into his face. 'fWas the party q
failure? Didn't you have q good
TIMER
ssure. thJ party was all right.
I just got to feeling I wanted to
see you.
You didn't You didn't?,' Her
tired face was transfigured.
Fact! / got tired OF their
chatter and yelling. and thought
It would be q lot nicer up. here
with you f1sstng over getting
something to eat. See here: I
brought q cold chicken; do you
think it,ll Be any good?'
Mrs. Grotenberg put her hand
TO her heart and closed her eyes
to steady herself against the
exquisite emotion that flooded
her. She wrestled Tor composure.
then opened them brightly. look
ing up eagerly into his face, pre-
pared to catch his mood, to enter
gaily into any plan Tor the
evening.
But she was still flustered, still
too excited. she breathed rapidly.
holding his big hand in one Of
hsrs, the fingers Of the other
pressed to her forehead Ia an ef.
fort to concentrate.
Now. Just 8 moment Flip; LET
me think = second. I'ye got to
set into something decent. You1I
have to wait 1 minute tin /
change. look such hag!
Take of your things
and put whatever you've got
there On the kitchen table. Light
the stove and put the kettle on
MI It first. you lxnow-and I'm s.
with you just as fast as / can
Flipyou never did q
sweeter. kinder thing in your life
than to come home tonight to
your old woman. You're the best
man God ever made.
But later he found her In tears
again. Supper was under way.
and the clean pine top Of the
kitchen table was set with knives
and forks. cups and saucers. nap
kins and tumbIens. He had been
busy carving the cold chicken.
while she watched the toast
browning In the gas oven. Pres.
emily he missed her. AS he
straightensd up, he heard a half.
smothered sob in the next room.
He found her leaning against the
high wooden mantel above the
empty fireplace, her handkerchief
tightly pressed against her mouth
and nose.
What the devil" he began
mildly. He was frankly puzzled.
He saw the violent physical eft.
fort she made. then, for self
control. Her back. was toward
him; the spine stiffened, the
shoulders heaved, her body from
the waist up achieved a small
contortion. She turned to him.
smiling through glistening tears,
her lips tight shut, shaking her
head as though freeing herself
from the emotion that for the
moment had overcome her. She
came to him. and laid her head
against his shoulder, until she
was able to speak.
lou could never understand
what makes me cry. Flip" she
said at length in quivering tones.
I'm strange woman. I've
tasted all kinds Of bitterness ana
hardship. I'm not used to han
ptness, - I guess-not happiness
like you have brought me. What
have I ever. done to deserve the
devotion Of a big fine felIer like
,you2 I'm old-I'm moth.
ing but husk-no, don't inter.
rupte mel can't hold
you'll know that. You're young
You want what's young and
fresh I have no right to try and
keep you, for myself. I love Won
too much to stand in your way.
You may not see it yourself, but I
am older. Flip, and I know. Han.
piness has come to me, too late: I
,cannot-nlay not live to enjoy II.
It's been a long unhappy strug,
gle for me. shall be glad when
1t is over. . But now. Tn,
going to set you free. Comins
back to me as you have tonieh,
OF your own accord has given rnt
the courage need. know nov