The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-08-02

gether, and sometimes lunched In
each others kitchens.
Mr.. Gray was an interior decora.
tor; he was often away for several
days at a time when he went to D
wise the work on some rich mans
country home. He returned home.
always, with a trihing present for his
wire: a bangle, a pair OF silver
buckles, a l%acquered box, or perhaps
only a handful of jonquils. Frequent
~ lie took her out to dinner and the
theater, and once, to Lucy's positive
knowledge, he had inveigled her down
town in order to buy her a hat.
ina had seemed to Lucy the
apotheosis Of coujugal devotion. Her
W husband had never brought her
home unexpectedly a present in all
his life. Once In q great while, she
Induced him TO go with her to the
theater or the movies. lie had never
commented on anything she wore, or
took the smallest notice of hat or
gown.
Lucy, considering her own lot and
the happy circumstances that were
Mrs. Gray's on this particular morn
ing, said to herself with considerable
bitterness that while she was In no
danger of cOveting her %neighhor's nus
hand, she did long with all her soul
for some degree of cOntentmept with
her own. And upon these reflections.
came Alice Gray. her sweet, composed
face free of worry, her serene beauty
glowing today with unexpected in
tereSt.
Al0nzO had tPlephoned, she eX.
planned, that he was obliged to go to
Boston; he would have to he away
for several days, and he wanted his
wife to accompany him. Could she
arrange her affairs to be ready 10
leave with him on the late afternoon
train?
Could she? Alice Cray's eyes
danced with excitement as she caught
Lucy's hand. There vas nothing I o
detain her; she had never visited
Boston, she thought ii perfectly
sweet of AlOAAO to want her to go.
There was the Sh0ie day before her
in which to get ready she needed n
q hat, a veil and a bag, and she
urged Lucy to come with her and help
her pick them out.
Lucy could not resist. She was 20
small enough to refuse to share this
friends pleasure even though she
felt the injustice of Alice Gray's hay
ing so much and herself so little. And
the bitter feelings Of the early morn
ing We're forgotten, as she hastily
| piled the unwashed dishes in the sink
to soak, gave an Indifferent glance at
the unmade beds, thrust head and
arms into her trim tailor skirt, and
reached for the smart little yellow
straw hat which she had only been
able to wear once since she bought it,
a month before.
Later, seated beside her radiant
friend on the top of a Fifth avenue
bus, the spring sunshine flooding the
city, the street gay with f~ashiOnably
dressed women, she caught something
of Alice Gray's exhilaration.
The WI women threaded the aisies
Of department stores, priced fabrics
and exclaimed over the novelties.
Alice Gray bought a charming hat,
the veil, and a neat little handbag
with nickel clasps, and Lucy INDUCED
herself In a m~uch-needed electric iron.
In buoyant spirits they made a .leis-
urely progress at a late luncheon hour
to one Of the smart, new French res
taurants on Park n
And almost In the entrance way,
about to pass through the revolving
glass doors to the street, absorbed and
gaily chatting together, they neOun
tered Alonzo Gray and a handsomely
dressed m A happy exclamation
burst from Lucy and she starred for
ward with a delighted greeting.
why, it's your husband-it's Mr..
Gray"
But her words died ON her lips.
Alice Gray's fingers closed like a wise
upon her arm, and the hand dragged
her aside. Something ugly and un-
pleasant flashed into Lucy's mind.
There was a whirling silence, a dizzy
ing moment while her pulses raced.
and her breath was still. Then, un-
conscious and still chatting amiabiy,
Alonzo Gray and his companion passed
into the street.
1.-TWO, please-and In the corner. I
like those upholstered seats" Alice
Gray composedly addressed herself to
the head waiter, and sereneiy followed
him into the cool and fiower-scented
restaurant.
"Come, Lucy
Lucy, shaken, b~ewildered, the sig
nificance Of what had occurred still
half guessed, mechanically obeyed.
Mechanically she ungloved her hands.
mechanically she pushed stray locks
OF hair up under her hat, mechanically
she ordered. But when the obsequious
head waiter had murmured: "Bien,
madame" and had departed. she could
only keep her eyes on her plate. and
sit tongue-tied. fearful of any comment
she might hazard. miserably conscious
of what must be her friends humili-
alton and discontinue. That unques-
tionably had been Alonzo Gray, and
the woman with him had been-Lucy
knew with unmistakable Intuition that