Evening star., 1923-03-18

strickep-aftcr he had crawlcd hOilp
like sGme poor sick animal to die
tended hands, touched by the genuine
ness of his emotion.
Il thought you wouldn't mind my
coming here TO tell vOu how sorry | am
about your fathers 'msfortune-and
yours
It's very sweet of you Do sit down
here" and she indicated the divan in
the corner. It's all very sad. of course.
Father seems better. but it's going to
be long affair. God knows whether
he'll ever be hit for anything again.
They. do give US hope. but then" she
added. they would. It's thing they
do. Her fingers in her lap clinched
nervousiy at her handkerchief III
YOU gould only Sc him. she went on
Poor dear Twisted 50 pitifully. And
he always seemed 50 strong-So vi
tai" He4 voice fell a note lower to
conceal it's trembling. as though she
Were ashamed of q wea kueSS
There's nothing I can do? 1t would
De great privilege to be able TO help
him or you"
NO, nothing. Everything is be-
ing done. Every one has been very
kind to mother-to US all. But no
body seems to know much about the
the other thing-the business It's
almost as though they were afraid
10 talk about it, as though they want
ed to hide from IL auw BAD it is.
long and 50 hard while We"
Her voice broke in quick sob
bing gasp and she couldn't go on.
Poor Cherry" he found himself
muttering again as he laid his fingers
over hers But the touch Of his hand
seemed suddenly to let loose the
forces of her own self-scorn.
Don't pity me-" The words came
bursting forth in q rush. while she
struggled for self-command. Not
me. I won't be ditied. | who"
Her voice broke again. None of
Of us She went on almost fiercely:
He tried SO hard-suffered for
months under this terrible strain
while we've were too selfish to
notice him-when we might have
She halted for breath. both hands
on her leaping breasts as she tried
10 calm herself.
alarmed at the signs of hysteria.
How could you have known-?'
81 ought to have known if II
hadn't been so wrapped in my own
pursuits. Hadn't l seen him coming
home at night dead beat, so tired and
gray-looking? Why shouldn't 1 have
known if I had loved him? I ought
TO have guessed. He didn't tell US
his troubles. He wasn't that sort.
Perhaps he didn't think we were
now what was in his mind. We
weren't worthy, He knew that we
weren't"
please. Cherry
Let me talk. I've wanted to talk
10 some one. Let me tell YOU I've
got to speak to some one. | can't
sneak to them. I couldn't reproach
them at such time. when I was
more to blame even than they" She
made a swift motion of protest as he
began to speak. NO. Don't try TO
maize things easier for me. You
have done l understand him better
than- i mean | was close to him
in many ways. There must have
been times when he wanted me and
didn't tell me so because he thought
that he might interfere with my
pleasure. Il ought to have known
that, too. And I didn't. 1 rarely saw
him There were times, l know
when l might have made 1t easier for
him in a thousand ways-little ways
that a man understands-big ways
that might have saved him. And L
= didn't"
Her voice quivered with pain.
He wanted me. He called for me
when he was stricken-after he hat
crawled home like some poor sich
animal to die. Good God. He called
for me and 1 wasn't there l was
Strength. courage, lf-command nc
longer served her, for she broke, al
the reserve forces Of her long hours
of tireless watching yielding to the
strain of sudden emotion. She bent
forward beside him, her head in her
arms upon the cushion in a passion
of self-abasement. Except for q
stifed sob or two she made no sound
But quick convulsive movements ol
her shoulders showed how deeply she
was shaken. Her grief was the more
painful to Sangree. because he knew
that she was not one who habitually
wept.
Few men know what to do with "a
womans tears and Sangree stared al
her for a moment of embarrassment.
And then with a quick impulse he
leaned forward and put his arm
around her gently while he whispered
! at her ear:
Don't Cherryl Don't!'
But she didn't seem for the MON ent
% be aware of him, though the heav-
fnE OF the shoulders was gentler and