The Glenwood post., 1924-02-07

the Myrta he called who spoke. Nor
did she turn. From among the pillows
her voice rose, formal and precise
the voice Of Mrs. Redmond, the public
woman's voice.
"What Is ity' she inquired.
Redmond paused midway across the
room. His air, his look, eager and
anxious, altered, too.
"You all rlght?" he questioned.
A pause. She still did not turn,
and In the pause he stirred uncomfort-
ably. Then from the bed came her
voice. its note, as before, still precise.
"All right? Why do you ask,
pray?"
Uncertainty, he took a step toward
her.
"Why, you see, you didn't come to
your breakfast" he faltered.
Again she replied, this time with
change, note of petulance in her
voice.
I'm breakfasting here" she said.
II know-but the meeting-tonight's
your time" he faltered again.
Another pause. Then, from the pill
lows the reply. 1t came slowly, as If,
with the effort, ponderously.
'There is to be no meeting" said
Mrs. Redmond.
"What" interrogated Redmond.
A movement of restless impatience
stirred among the pillows.
Il have called 1t off-canceled It,"
Perplexed, he ruffled up his brows.
"You have postponed it?" he in
quired
There was again a movement among
the pillows, sharp, vehement, visibly
emphatic.
II have told you once" Mrs. Red
mond said as sharply; "there is to be
no meeting. That is enough, isn't it?"
sch uttered crisply.
"Myrtal" exclaimed Redmond.
Swiftly he fastened to the bed. In
the same haste, the alert alarm bred
Of his concern for her, he laid hand
upon her shoulder.
"Myrta e. My dearl"
"Let me alone, pray" Mrs. Red
mond directed annoyedly.
lie lldlu On HSI SDOulucE bu0 5uOOh
away. With the same movement she
drew the coverings about her. This,
too, she did with cold, formal delib-
GRAFTON whose dignity was unmistak-
able. Now, however, wonder. trepida-
tion, too, had the better Of Redmond,
and he missed the majestic rancor of
the gesture.
"Myrta, what's wrong? What's hap
pened? Tell met" he cried.
She turned then, momentarily tense,
her features vital with the emotion she
still strove to repress Her voice
harsh, she spoke-Mrs. Redmond.
"You, of course would not under
said
Redmond gaped.
ENDED What's ended?"
"Everything-for the time. anyway"
she replied. I'm done for, that's
enough, isn't it?"
Done fort"
Her lip for an instant curved bit
terly.
"You heard mel" she returned. you
don't suppose for moment, do you,
that I could run now for that office I"
She laughed harshly. "This year?'
She laughed again, the laugh more
rasping; and, his jaw dropping. agape
Redmond stared at her.
'Myrta !"
Among the pillows she again gave
her shoulders shrug.
"Bahl Fancy facing those WON
en- nowl"
The women she meant he knew.
They were those other women, her as
sociates-public women like Mrs. Red.
mond herself. Why, however, she
could not face them Redmond had YET
to grasp. Startled, he caught swiftly
Mt his breath. Then, as he stared dowr
at her, the thought, the suspicion al
ready that morning engendered In his
mind, saw in her strained, embittere6
face the answering echo, an afiirma.
tive.
Shame! -.
"Myrta," said Redmond. his voice
thick, "what have you doner
"IT'
She looked up at him sharply, toss.
ing from her brow the thick, bronzed
masses of her hair.
"What! You mean you don't-don't
understand"
"What's wrong, Myrta? Tell me-"
said Redmond, stoutly. "I'll help you,
TIL stand by you, dear. If It's trouble
If even It's wrong"
"WrongT'
Eyes, II even shame"
He got no further. A laugh, sharp
and intolerantly bitter and disguised,
came from among the pillows. 1t
caught Redmond midway In his words
and left him, like stranded fish, gasp
ing impotently.
"You dolt, you numbskullI" said
Mrs Redmond.
She told him then. 1t was to Red
mond. too, the news was, MS II she,
Mrs Redmond. had reached from the
bed and felled him to the floor. He