The Washington times., 1923-09-22
A Delightful Narrative Of Domestic
Life BY q Popular Magazine
Writer.
Writer.
By Charles G. Norris.

- - -
QUARTER of an hour later
when they were speeding
- toward the station, Philip
aid:
''I can't marry Leila Vale. I
guess you understand that's the
reason I'm running away.
Wilbur drove On silently for
some moments.
"I don't know but what you'd
ha . fool to marry her" he said
re1scttpely. Il hate to see q man
eailroaded into marriage.
Damn these women, anyway.
They're always grating on some
GOOD fellow. They picked you out
70 work of Leila on you. don't
blame you for bncltng. LeiIa's :
iae.been. don't know what
you'd set out Of marrying her"
PhiIip was taken aback.
@oh.. / IKE Leila ven enough. =
Ne said quickly IN her defense.
sI guess that's the trouble,
1ut ! can't marry her; I'm NOR
I'm not kree.s =
wilbur. shot him glance.
Yeu mean that English girI?'
Philip frowned and shook his
head.
IGo: III ten you al about It In
day or 20. Wen get together
ahd have tax. III want you
90 help ma
The last few minutes Of the
drive. they raced the train to the
station. As Philip ciatnbered
upon the rear platform and feiv
the tumbling trucks beneath his
feet as the train gathered
momentum. he drew q great
breath of relief. The sense Of
escape came to him from trenen-
o0us satisfaction.
AT the Love Nest.
He felt wen repaid for what his
abrupt departure cost him. when
he reached the peakedroofed
cabin among the pepper and
acacia tresss He thought to sur
priss ATrs Grofenber1. and tip
toed 60 window. caufioualy pear
ing in. Iamp-light streaned in
= diverging rhomboid Of light
from the open bedroom door. Hs
could zee nothing more. He
slipped around the corner Of the.
house. stepping carefully upon the
sod to avoid the crunch OF his
fest upon the pebbIed pathway.
Through the further window he
caught sight Of her. She lay in
bed, her hands folded quietly, one
ncross another, her head sup
ported by an extra pillow. her
body stretched out straight, the
feet together. The warm light
from the lamp beside the bed
touched her sallow face kindly;
two thin silky braids OF iron-gray
hair lay upon the pillow; her pro-
file cut out sharply by the strong
light. was flung grotesquely in
black imagery upon the bare
wall; the eyes were lost In deep
wells Of shadow. the nose pro-
truded. gaunt and prominent, the
lean pouch of loose skin hung like
O, limp bag beneath the chin.
Philip watched her for some
moments, surprised to find her
lying 500 quiet, so unoccupied.
For an instant the fear gripped
him she was dead. but as he in.
tently watched. his heart grown
.GtilI. her moving fingers re.
assured him. Fearing he might
staftIe her. he walked some
distance away from the house
! before he hallood. He had
brought some provisions from
{ . .delicatessen store at the sta
tion in Berkeley. and these hs
{ carried in q great paper bag
|, beneath his arm. It was nearly
8 o'clock and he was weary and
hungry; the prospect of Mrs.
Grotenberg getting supper ready
for him while he loiled near by
: in a kitchen chair. chatting and
6 smoking. had held for him the
promise Of contentment after his
long trips on trains and boat.
She met him at the door, a
wrapper flung over her night
gown.
{ Phillip His name rang with
surprised delight. She threw her
arms about his neck and dropped
her head against his coat, choking
with happy emotion. As he held
her to him with his free arm; he
was concerned to feel how thin
she was. She had been a wide-
hipped. robust woman when he
first knew her; now she was slim.
almost frail. He could feel her
gibs beneath his fingertips.
Awake a brace-take .