Evening star., 1925-12-13
BY F. SCOTT FITZGERALD

| But I assure you that our affairs are
Il matter entirely between my husband
and me. If you have no objections,
DR.. Smith, I'd much prefer to discuss
/ scmething-less personal"
DIR. Smith nodded heavily and po-
lftely. He made no further attempt
| to open the subject, and dinner pro-
ceeded in what was little more than
a defeated silence. Luella determined
that whatever happened she would
adhere to her intention of going out
tonight. She would stay In the living
room for a short moment after dinner;
| then, when the coffee came, she would
excuse herself and get dressed to go.
u X X
| RUT when they did leave the dining
room. 1T was Charles who in a
! quick, unarguable way vanished.
have letter to write" he said;
| IN be back in a moment" Before
/ Luella could make a diplomatic objec
| ton, he went quickly down the cor
ridor to his room, and she heard him
! shut his door
! Angry and confused. Luella poured
| the coffee and sank into a corner of
! the couch.
/ Don't be afraid of me. Mrs. Hem
! pie. said DIR. Smith suddenly. "I as
, sure you this was forced upon me-
/ IN not acting as free agent
/ I'm not afraid of YOU" she inter.
! rupted. But she knew that she was
! lying. She was a little afraid of him.
! II only for his dull insensitiveness to
! her distaste.
Tell me about Your trouble" he
said suddenly. and very naturally, as
| though she We're not a free agent
! either. He wasn't even looking at
her, and except that they were alone
| IL the room, he scarcely seemed to be
! addressing her a all
/ The words that were in Luella's
mind. her will, on her lips, were, "Ill
do no such thing" What she actual
! ~ said amazed her. 1t came out of
her spontaneously. with apparently no
! cooperation of her own.
| Didn't you see him rubbing his
lace at dinner?' she said despairingly
| Are you blind? He's become so ir-
! rltating to me that l think I'll go
! mad"
! II see" Dr. Smiths wrinkled face
nodded heavily.
Don't you see I've enough Of
home She leaned forward. her breast
| rising and falling. Don't YOU see how
bored l am with keeping house, with
the baby-that everything seems as IL
| IL going on forever and ever? I want
! change, want excitement: and I don't
care what form it takes or what pay
| for it. so long as it makes my heart
/ beat"
| II see"
Light steps came down the corridor.
and the maid with a rather frightened
expression on her face tiptoed into
| the room.
! Mrs. Hemple-''
! Startled at the interruption, Luella
turned quickly.
Can I speak" Suddenly her face
/ |,
/ training. Mr.. Hemple. he's sick'
! He came into the kitchen awhile ago
and began throwing all the food out OF
! the icebox. and now he's in his ROOM
crying and singing-''
! Suddenly, Luella heard his voice.
! x
CHARLES HEMPLE had had a ner-
- vous collapse. There were 90
years of almost uninterrupted toll be-
| hind him. and the recent pressure at
| home had been too much for him TO
! bear. His fatuous alteration of his
/ wife was the weak point in what had
! otherwise been a strong minded and
| well organized career--he was aware
| of her intense selfishness. but il is one
of the many flaws In the scheme Of hu-
man relations that selfishness in a
| woman has an irresistible appeal to
certain men. Luella's selfishness eX-
listed side by side with a childish
beauty. and in consequence Charles
Hemple had begun to take the blame
upon himself for situations which she
had obviously brought about. 1t was
an unhealthy attitude. and his mind
had sickened. at length. with his at
tempts to put himself in the wrong.
After her first shock and the mo-
mentary flush of pity that followed it.
.Luella looked at the situation with
impatience. She was a good sport
she couldn't take advantage of
Charles when he was sick. The ques-
tion Of her liberties had to be post
poned until he was on his feet. And
so when she had determined to be
wife no longer, Luella was compelled
to be nurse as well. She sat beside
his bed while he talked about her in
| his delirium-about the days of their
engagement. and how some friend had
told him then that he was making n
mistake and about his happiness in
the early months Of their marriage,
and his growing disquiet as the gap
appeared. Evidently he had been
more aware Of it than she had
thought-more than he ever said.
"Luella!" He would sit straight up
in bed. ''Luella! Where are you?"
I'm right here, Charles, beside
you" She tried to make her voice
If you want to go. Luella. you'd
better go. 1 don't seem to be enough
for you any more.
She denied this. soothingly.
1--WE thought it over, Luella, and ]
can't ruin my health on account of
you-' Then quickly and passion
| ately. after little pause: Don't go.
, Luella, for my sakef don't go away
| and leave me! Promise me you won't
! I'll do ANYTHING Won saw il YOU won't
go"
His humility annoyed her most; he
| was a reserved man. and she had
| never guessed at the extent Of his de-
! votion before.
I'm only going for a minute. It's
DIR. Smith, your friend. Charles. He
came today to see how you were.
don't you remember? And he wants
to talk to me before he goes
| You'll come back?" he persisted.
! "In just a little while. There-lie
! quiet
-, She raised his head and pumped his
| pillow into freshness. A new trained
nurse would arrive tomorrow.
/ In the living room DIR. Smith was
waiting-his suit more worn and
, shabby in the afternoon light. She
| disliked him inordinately. with an il
logical conviction that he was in some
way to blame for her misfortune, but
he seemed SO deeply interested that
! She couldn't refuse to see him. She
! hadn't ever asked him to consult with
the specialists, though. A doctor who
vas SO down -at-the-heel probably
didn't know his business.
Mrs. Hemplc." He came forward,
holding out his hand, and Luella
touched it, lightly and uneasily
Il want to congratulate you on the
way you've taken hold of things, Mrs