The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-20
"A Delightful Narrative Of Domestic
Life by a Popular Magazine
Writer.

OrOdu grin upon his uPSs
so-that's itr' he said "And
why. pray, Mrs. Fix-it. do you de-
sire me to marry Leila Vale1''
"Well, there's every reason, Phil
lots OF them. In the first place,
you're not happy: I know you're
not. You're living a wretched sort
Of existence; you have no family,
no home, nothing. Crossing the
bay every night is an awful rui.
sance; there's no necessity for it.
You ought to have lovely home
out here near US. Then, again,
you're not the kind of man that
can get along without having
someone to look after you. You're
just like pa-and some woman's
bound to get hold Of you and make
q fool Of you. on. you can laugh.
Philip Baldwin, ali you want to,
but I know you like . book. and
you're like putty In woman's
hands. Now, Leila Wales suited
to you in every way. she's beau.
tiful, she's got style, she knows
just how to do things. she's popu-
lar, she's clever, and has a real
position here in. society. Beclxie
Merfweather's her cousin and
Beckie says
Philips brows contracted in sur
prise.
His Surprise.
Her cousin? why, l didn't
know that. I've never heard they
were related"
Then you're the. only person
that doesn't know it! How do you
suppose Leila gets along? She
81 : y s. ~
hasn't got q penny OF her own. and
has a dreadful tine making ends
meet"
He was interested.
You'd never think it," he com
mented.
well. would you? That's one
Of the wonderful things about Leila.
She's got courage-that girl has.
I've never known her to complain
about anything. She does social
work for Beckie. and sometimes
and one or two of the others have
something we can pay her for do
ing, like lists and things, and oc-
casiona1ly she gets up children's
parties, plans the games and makes
the favors. you know. Beckie's a
little mean to her, I think; she
gives Leila an allowance. Of course.
but it isn't half enough and Beckie
could make it three times as much
II she wanted to. often wonder
how Leila manages. Now she likes
you an awful lot-she,s told me so
and / think she'd work awfully
hard toto please you, and really
make a success Of your married
life. She knows all sorts OF the
fight people, and with your money
back OF her she could pick anu
choose. Phil, it would be the sanest
thing you ever did in your life"
She paused to study her broth
er's face. but he did not answer.
He was trying to think Of Leila
Vale as his wife.
phil. dear'-Lucy slipped from
the chair arm to his knee and
wound her arm around his neck
docs that girl-does Mary Row
land still mean 50 much to your"
Philips face famed. That name
out of the past was like a twinge Of
an old wound.
Listen, Phil Lucy went on
hurriedly. "I want to tell you
something; you remember old Mrs.
Tom Carmichael, who lived at the
Pleasanton? She's In London now,
working for suffrage. you know
and she met Mrs. Rowland one day
m fha straof bad n In@ta. R.1--n
her a few days ago. She asked
Mrs. Rowland about her daughter,
and her daughter, Mrs. Rowland
said, had--had Joined the Carmel
ties, Phil, I'm awfully sorry-I
didn't know you'd feel so badly.
had to tell your felt you ought
to know about 1t. and that If any
hope OF her stood in the way Of
your marrying Leila, you could put
it forever and ever behind YOU"
Lucy's voice went on in anx-
ious explanation, but Philip did
not listen. He saw suddenly
Mary's tall statuesque figure, the
linked hands, the downcast eyes,
the pale noble countenance, the
aristocratic profile. 1t was like
her to become a nun; it was just
the thing she would decide to do.
A Carmelite, shut irrevocably from
the world, and from him! With
calm elaboration she had chosen
the contemplative life to escape
her own weakness. to put between
herself and temptation an impas-
sable ha rriaY