The Arvada enterprise., 1924-01-24
eHAPTeR lV-contlnued,

u,
CAP turned into Fifth avenue and be.
came scale in the creeping serpep,
Oh 'ehicles that glided. paused, an,
ghded again past the thronued nav,
ments. Prosper contrasted eyerytbin~
win the grim courage and high.
pHched tragedy of France. He could
not Dut wonder at the detached frivoI
Wy Oh these moneySpenders, these
splnners In the sun. How soon would
the shadow fall upon them, too, and
with what change Of countenancc
would they look up! To him the low
BUSINESS seemed almost childish and
yet he bathed his tagged spirit in ii.
How high the white clouds sailed how
blue was the midwinter sky! How
the buildings lowered, how quickly
the people stepped! Here were the
pretty, painted faces. the absurd silk
stockings, the tripping, exquisitely
hooted feet. the swinging walk, the
tall. upspringing bodies Of the women
he remembered. He regarded them
with impersonal delight, untinged by
"AS VI His uSudI CynlClSm.
1t was late afternoon when Prosper
obedient to telephone call from
Betty, presented himself Mt the door
OF Morena's house, just east OF the
Park, off Fifth avenue; a very beauti-
ful house where the wealthy Jew
mad indulged his passion for exquisite
things. Prosper entered its rich dim
ness with a feeling Of oppression
that unanalyzed mood Of hot and cold
feeling intensified to an almost un-
oearable degree. In the large carved
and curtained drawing-rcom he waited
for Betty. The tea-thlngs were pre-.
pared; there would be no further need
OF service until Betty should ring.
Everything was arranged for an unin:.
terrupted tete-a-tete. Prosper stood
near an ebony table, his shoulder
brushed by tall, red roses, and felt his
nerves tighten and his pulses hasten
in their beat. 1.-THE tall child F..
the tall child :" he had called
her by that name so often and never
without swift and stabbing memory
Of Joan, and Of Joan's laughter which
he had silenced.
He took out the letter he had lately
received from Betty and re-read it
and, as he read, a deep line cut be-
tween his eyes. you say you will not
come back unless can give you more
than I have ever given you in the
past. You say you intend to cut your.
self free, that have failed you too
often, that you are starved on hope.
I'm not going to ask much more pa
tience Of you. failed you that first
time because lost courage; the Sec
Ond time fate failed us. How could l
think that Jasper would get well when
the doctors told me that mustn't al
low myself even shadow Of hope
Now, think that Jasper. himself, Is
preparing my release. This all sounds
like something in a book. That's be-
cause you've hurt me. l feel frozen
up. couldn't bear It II now, just
when the door Is opening, you failed
me. Prosper, you are my lover for
always. aren't you? have to believe
that to go on living. You are the one
thing 10 my wretched life that hasn't
lost Its value. Now, read this care
fully; I am going to be brutal. jasper
has been unfaithful to me. know It.
I have sufficient evidence to prove II
In q law court and shall not hesitate
to get a divorce. Tear this up. please.
Now, Of all times. we must be ex-
traordinarily careful. There hns never
been 4 whisper against NJ and there
mustn't be. Jasper must not suspect.
A counter-suit would ruin my life.
must talk II over with you. I'll see
you vnce alone-just once-before
leave Jasper and begin the suit. We
must have patience for Just this last
bit. It will seem very long :"
Prosper folded the letter. He was
conscious Of a faint feeling OF sick.
ness, Of fear. Then he heard Betty's
step across the marble pavement Of
the hall. She parted the heavy cur.
talns, drew them together behind her,
and stood. pale with Joy. opening and
shu itIng her big eyes. Then she came
to meet him. held him bnck. listening
for any sound that might predict In.
terluption. and gave herself to his
arms. She WAS no longer pale when he
let her 60. She went few steps away
and stood with her hands before her
face, then she went to sit by the ten.
table. They were both flushed. Betty's
eyes were shining under their fiut'cr,
Ing lids. Prosper rejoIced In his own
emotion. The mental fog had lifted
and the feeling Of falntness was gone.
"iou've decided not to break ava!
altogether them" she asked, giving
him a quick glance.
lie shook his head. mot II what
you have written me liz true. I've had
uuch letters from you before and I've
grown very suspicious Are you sure
this timer" He laid stress upon his
bitterness. II was his one wenpon
against her and he had been sharpen.
ipg Il with a vague purpose.
unh vuId pstty sppukl Ing low and