Evening star., 1928-06-03

sense of being in prison. too, and it
suffocated her.
II would die II I had to stay there -
she said over and over again.
But she reminded herself that Harvey
was suffering this for her Never had
she loved him so much. The least she
could do for Harvey was TO keep all Of
! her promises-and more. Shed devote
her life to waiting for him; shed do
everything she could to cheer him.
| A LIFE Of devotion, she discovered
= presently, was hearty bore. Moth
/ ing to do but write to Harvey and Moth
/ ing to write but vows Of affection. II
/ seemed heartless to go over TO the club
/ and play tennis or do round OF golf;
/ but, after all, she must keep fit. And
| there va sure 10 be some one to press
| her into a luncheon or dinner engage
ment. Harvey didn't expect her to sit
at home and read or play solitaire
! Surely not.
OF course, she went to see Harvey on
/ the one monthly visiting day permitted.
But after the first time she had TO force
| herself TO do it. That grim place, the
warder within hearing, the distance
| across which she had to speak to Har-
| yey, and Harvey himself, his eyes hol-
low. his skin sickIy white. She was Ill
| for a day after every visit. Oh, she
| pitied him, the miserable creature she
| saw there, with all her heart. But IL
wasn't Harvey: not her Harvey. the man
she loved. She began TO change, to md
another self.
She saw Trude Gaines only at long
intervals. for Trude had cut out parties
| and play stuff altogether, but when
| Mollie decided to go 10 Florida for the
| two months Of midwinter she went to
Sc Trude.
"I know you hate the sight Of me" :"
she said. "All the same, know you'll
do what I ask. Not for me. but for
Harvey. I want you to go TO see him In
INV place. and tell him that I'm not
well, and that's the reason I went away.
| I'll write him that, too. If he thinks
I'm going away for a good time, it'H
make him more unhappy than II ne
thinks I'm sick"
"You want me to back up your lies
said Trude You've got a towering
nerve to ask me to DO tnat' Moihe
Rutter"
Mollie smiled, not a real smile. but
movement OF the face You'll do it for
Harvey. He needn't be any more I'M
happy than is absolutely necessary.
That's why. You think I'm a rotten
sort of person. don't you, Trude? II It's
any satisfaction to you, I'm not very
pleased with myself. But I've not got it
in me to be a great heroine. Some
people have steel in their souls, and
some haven't I haven't. Well, win
you go and see Harvey, or won't you?'
Yes" said Trude. She added, after
moment. slowly: Il don't like YOU,
Mollie, but now I'm sorry for you
That's something" said Mollie flip
PANTY. And took herself off.
She stayed away three months, in
stead Of two. So three times Trude went
to the penitentiary and saw Harvey.
Three times she made convincing ex-
cuses for the absentee.
You know. Trude." said the pale
strange wrath of Harvey. wistfully, Its
more comfort. somehow, to have you
come than 1t is to have Mollie, because
I've always so much to say TO her and
I can say almost nothing when she's
here. And then I'm fearfully blue
afterward. And it's hard TO write let
ters knowing they'll be read, I'm
awfully glad you came In her place
for long time"
Truly, Harvey truly"
yes, truly. You and I always did
understand each other. You know.
Trude, I'm getting awfully interested in
this place. What dyou think9 They
let me teach In the school! Can you
imagine me teaching men as old as dad
to read and wrtte2"
His old self came back into his eyes
as he talked.
IF there was only something could
do for you." she said, at last.
Maybe they'd let you send some
lie tsx ha
Trude7"
WHEN Mollie came back. Trude saw
how she had changed She was
more beautiful than ever. but her
beauty had lost its naturalnesS and its
youth. Mollie had given up the younge9
set, too, Now and then. she timed her
stay at home. so that she could see
Harvey. but these occasions came more
and more rarely. Yet she would not
cut off from him entirely And. when
the word went around that he was 10
be pardoned, she left a house party az
Sim Pardees Adirondack camp and
came home 10 wait for him.
He had served little more than two
years OF his term, His lawyers had
planned we'll and shrewdly. Quietly.
but very cogently. the pardon was
pressed. Presently tt was gwen.
Harvey Larimore left the penltentiary
to find his father waiting for him at
the gate. He looked up at the blue
fairness of the October sky and put his
hand across his eyes
1T doesn't seem true" he said. II
must be dreaming It,"
The elder Larimore sat with his frail
old hand on his sons sleeve, but he
kept his gaze straight ahead
You'll stop and see Mollie before We
go home9" he asked.
Harvey hesitated "Why--yesi"
So Harvey Larimore. feeling very
much like a ghost OF himself went into
the familiar livtng-room and found
Mollle alone waiting
They moved toward each other. he
held out his arms-and then~~they
dropped at his sides. They looked at
each other as people who do see some
curious resemblance 10 friend in some
strange face Molle spoke FIRST. Its
no good pretending IT'S over"
lie could not accept II so simply