Evening star., 1926-10-10

George Eliot wa s kind and polite tU
him still, and she had certainly sue
"eeded lately in restoring her old
time system to the household. but tn"
old, loving Comradeship was gone
Bill came to the conclusion that Sh"
no longer loved him and here was ne
holding her against her will, ruirinsi
her art. Well. I've would let hey go.
lie waited until the first of Sep
temher to hroach the awful subject.
Tho book he had decided was prob
ably slated for Autumn puh!iCati tior
and he wanted with a kind OF bitter
magnanimity to give her her free
dom coincident with her triumrhan'
entry into the hall of fame.
At dinner that night he bareiF
touched the delcctable food that wa
served him. George Eliot merely
toyed with her own. an expression ot
actual CiStaste on her face. lie had
been noticing for some time that she
was not eating as she should. 1t was
time that something was done. Her
life with him was killing her. After
dinner they drifted into the living
room. and Bill. taking long breath
plunged into his subject.
I've been thinking" said Bill. try
ing to be calmly impersonal above the
throbbing of his heart, that maybe
YOU and i
lie paused again and took Il short
turn around the room.
"WeII?" George Eliot encouraged
him, coldly. What have YOU been
thinking?'
Bill glanced quickly AT her pale
face with it's hostile. blue eyes AMI
called himself u fool for caring.
Just this" he blurted out. sudden
IL angry. You and ] are not get
ting on. You're unhappy and so am
I. Let's quit. I'm cramping your
style. haven't the right To-
Don't try that line" interrupted
George Eliot bitterly. What YOU
mean is you--you want to l-leave me-.
Well. don't let me stop you. hut don
tell me you're doing it for my SAKE,
It's been plain enough for months
that you've h-hated me. Unhappy y
right. You've been Il perfect fiend
to me ever since | asked you to buy
me Il car"
George Eliot's voice shook, but She
got 1t under control.
You hated me worse and worse
when you thought l was doing some
thing to earn the money for 1t. You
lust didn't want me to get my own
way, and when YOU saw that
could do something-you got worse
still. II had thought you would be
d-but--but-" Her voice
broke and choked with tears.
Bill, completely dumfounded. nav
ing forgotten that she had ever so
much as mentioned a car. took q step
toward her.
"George---'' he began. but she
stopped him with an upflung hand.
Don't come near me, you t-t%-
rant" she cried hotly. Don't touch
me-
But. George" pleaded Bill. miser
ably, II didn't know why YOU were
doing anything. I'd forgotten all
about the car. I'll get it tomorrow.
Don't cry like that. l can't stand
it. I'll do anything you say-buH
Won the car and-get out. If YOU
like I"
Yes" sobbed George Eliot. you'll
do a lot of things now. Get me car
tomorrow. WE'LL. you're q little late.
| wouldn't d-dare drive it anyway. !
d-dont want your old car. The
WHAT" cried Bill sharply. "Are
you ill? What doctor? What do you
mean"
She buried her nose deeper into her
handkerchief.
"A lot of good a carl don't want
it. l'n-we're going to have IA
baby. wouldn't dare
"A what?" shrieked Bill.
"A baby. And you t-talk about
leaving me. You don't care, j sup
pose. about your own chchild."
"Oh, George, don't-don't, dear.
Dearest. Please. / love you so. Take
me back again. Give me another
chance. I'll he good. You can write
your head off and ] won't say q
word. You can have your art-any-
thing-car. art, baby-anything-on
try to love me again.
"I never stopped loving you, you
poor idiot" exclaimed George Eliot.
Indignantly. II thought YOU didn't
love me"
Great Heavens" said Bill. and
gathered her up in his arms and cud'
died her there.
ct WANT him to look and be eN-
actly like you," said George
Eliot, dreamily, after n while.
And if he wants to be an" tBill
gulped. but he was game). "an art
list, writer, or anything like that, !
won't try to stop him. That's
promise
"He hasn't a chance. my dear. IN
the last of the Quinns. The genius
thing perished when it got TO me"
But your-your book" suggested
Bill carefully. The subject was still
thin ice.
"Oh, that" She drew away from
him and looked at him gravely. IT'S
out. Bill. I got the first copy today.
Do you want to see it?"
Bill smiled bravely. He felt u little
sick. but he answered with vigor.
Sure. let's see it"
George Eliot reached for Il small
package that lay on the table. She
united all the knots carefully and
drew the volume from It's wrappings
with what looked to- Bill like loving
| fingers.
There" she said. putting it into
his hands. There it is. and il was
, an awful job. too
| Bill took the slender. blue book
gingerly and slowly turned to the
| title page.
This is what he read:
Three Hundred Tried and Trusty
Recipes, 10y Mrs. William Emery"
tCs.s.I-.It 1921