Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1925-10-16

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rold, you told me all the time she
would come back. You said"
Prudence gave him furious look.
~ did not" she declared quite pas
sionately. "Oh, for visit. of course
but to bring all her things and stay
forever, l never dreamed of such a
thing. can't tell you how surprised
/ ami"
But Prudence you said"
Prudence glowered him into silence.
Nov, Jerrold, l know what / said !
knew she would come for visit.
but this is really coming home, and |
couldn't remotely fancy such lovely
thingl"
They went upstairs, the three of
them, TO Jerry's lovely room, and Pru-
dence and Jerrold stood about, get
ting in the way, while Jerry unpacked
/ the bags. the boxes and the trunk
Everything was exhibited, exclaimed
over admired.
And while she unpacked she told
them of New York, of Graves Nc
Dowell, and the lessons in Art. of
Rhoda. and her passionate devotion
! to her work. She told them of lovely
Aimee, and the trashy column of So
| ciety scandal she wrote for daily
paper. When Prudence asked about
the girls in the house with her, The
resa, and Mimi, Jerrys lip quivered,
her eyes Swallowed, as she said:
"I'll tell you about them after a
little. I'm coming to that"
She told them of her conquests in
the city, her gay flirtations, her pro-
posals. She showed them the little
marble faur the Russian sculptor,
Korzky. had done for her. She exhib-
tied the autographed novels and books
of poetry, warmly inscribed to her by
authors and poets of dozen nation
alities She displayed hundred little
| testimonies of her triumph in the city,
a triumph social If not artistic.
at isn't the laborers who are slave
driven" she declared warmly. "They
don't need unions to protect them. 1t
is a genius union we need, something
to keep geniuses from working them
selves to death. There was a vio-
linist in our building-mother, tell
you truly, that man began to work
before l was up, and was at 1t every
night when went to bed. There was
a composer at Rhoda's-once / was
staying all night-at two o'clock in
the morning we heard, oh, very softly,
a little tripping melody on the keys.
Rhoda said 1t happened often-ran
| through his mind during the night, I'M
| til he got up and worked 1t out of his
| system-using the soft pedal not to
| disturb the others. There was a young
writer across the alley from us
| whenever | went out, or came in. /
| could hear that dull thud of her type
writer, twelve o'clock, one O'clock. two
o'clock. A union for genius. that's the
need of the century,"
At half past two in the. morning
| Prudence and Jerrold were still sitti1 g
enraptured. spellbound. on the wide
day bed against the wall. listening as
| Jerry talked. And when at last the
| trunk was emptied, she turned slowly
| to the great crate she had brought
with her all the way, so carefully, so
| tenderly, and released the safety fas-
| Jennings on the end. Then she drew 1t
out slowly, the shadows deepening in
her eyes-Theresa's gallant ocean
Rider" with eyes like Jerry's own.
Jerry's parents stared at it, ex-
claiming, marveling at it's beauty.
"It-it looks like you," Prudence
whispered.
"The eyes-tAey are NINE AS they
were when 1 went to New York, when
she first saw me-Theresa "-Jerry
choked over the words. Let me tell
| YOU"
| She hastily switched out the bright
| lights leaving only the one soft Roman
| candle burning on her dressing table,
for Jerry did not wish to pain them
with the emotion her vivid face could
not fail to reveal. And she came
across to them, piled cushions on the
| top of one of the three steps which led
up to the raised day bed, and Struggled
in between them.
do you want me TO go out?" Jer-
iOiu OAeISu generously, 4Scilhs bAue
this was to be the climax Of Jerry's
| confidence.
Jerry smiled at him, drew both his
knees impulslvely within the clasp of
her arm. "Oh, no, father, of course
not"
And then she told them of the house
on Rellly's alley. Of Mimi, with the
golden hair and the silken gowns, of
xerrible, tragic Theresa in her attic
room upstairs.
II felt just like a mother toward
that GIRL" she declared brokenly. She
told of Theresa's rare talent, Of her
strange intensity, her impatient, Inn
! pulslve kindness.
| Mother, she killed herself"
Jerrold let his cigarette go out. III
another feverishly, let 1t go out again.
| prudou0o haJd Torrv In q close orm