Evening star., 1928-05-24

moving her eyes from Helena eyes, Siie
CROPPED for chair and sat down Botn
girls were pale and breathing hard
Patricia's face expressed only bewllder-
ment and amaze. Helena tried to laugh.
4 thought you ought to know" she
said.
Il can't believe 1T" Patricia amended
the phrase For she did believe 1t, and
even In this first aStounded readjuSt-
ment she began to understand a hun
dred things that had puzzled her for
long time
Sid's affectionate. reluctant vague
ness about their marriage, his almost
apologetic attitude. the indef1niteneSs
and mystery with which their whole
future had been deliberately shrouded--
all these things were comprehensive
now.
I'm no more his sister than you are, V
Helena went on. His sister Is married
and living in Brooklyn. My name is
Perry, Alice Perry, and I only met him
when he went to Paris. was in the
same building that he was. down and
out with pneumonia and no money
and I was almost starving,
II had gone over there to study music,
originally. for the comic-opera stage
but think I would have died II 1t
hadn't been for Sid! Poor boy l never
should have let him do it. But he was
lonely too; he wouldn't take less than
the real thing, and we were married.
Il guess 1t was legal. although the
whole thing was so mixed up and con-
fused; there were papers We never got
and ceremonies were never bothered
about. I kept house for him and got
well. and my family sent me $500 to
come home. went back on the stage.
and was doing well, when / happened to
be near Deerbridge, and-like fool
I suddenly thought would stop and see
Sid, and perhaps find out how We could
annul the marriage.
so landed here and had to come
down sick again on his hands-poor
Sid But now I'm leaving him for good
and all"
II remember!" Patricia said slowly.
She could perfectly recall the late
August day when Sidney had telephoned
her. who do you think has turned up.
Pat? MY small sister. Come
around and meet her! She's got a
frightful cold, poor kid, and she's tired
to death
Your sister!" she had echoed II
thought she was married, somewhere In
the East
"This--Explains Things"
She was" he had answered. but
shes on the stage now, using her old
name. She's only going to be here for
a few weeks, so don't say anything about
the marital tangle!'
And she had duly gone and met the
sister and had cup OF tea. No ques-
ton had ever risen In her heart; Aunt
Hattie had said that she perfectly re-
membered the Hutchinson baby girl. 20
years ago. Some one else had COM
mented that she was entirely unlike
Sidney. that was ALL
"This-explains thingst" she said.
with a rueful smile.
But the thing is. has he told her?"
Helena said anxiously.
Told Beatrice?" Patricia echoed
thoughtfully. II wonder"
He cares this time!" the other
woman admitted.
"oh. yes," with a great sigh. Patri-
eia added the fact of Sidney's marriage
to the other accepted facts of life. He
cares now" she agreed. sadly.
And would she run away with him,
Pat?"
she might" Patricia pondered. II
think had better tell Mrs. Palmer and
Dan. and We can all watch her. It's
poor kiddy Its her first affair. She's
not like the other girls. She'll take 1t
hard"
sid loves her" the other woman said
simply. He's mad for heri And he
isn't TO blame, Pat. No, really, he
isn'tl" she added. as Patricia flung up
her head impatiently His heart was
never In 1t! ] knew that! He's just
one OF these extraordinarily generous
men who blunder into things like this.
Try-try to forgive him. Pat!''
Over the beautiful face that Helena
was anxiously watching. crept q rather
bitter and rather pitiful smile. My
dear Helena" Patricia said slowly, both
hands on the smaller woman's shoulders.
"the time when II matters to Sidney
whether or not forgive him has gone
by! The question now Is whether she
VIII forgive him! I'm sorry for her.
I'm sorry for them BOTH"
Ten minutes later she went down the
dark, empty Railways for the last time
She passed "O'Callaghan. Robes" and
the flower store. where the flowers were
all hidden by great arabesques OF frost
on the glass. She went into cold and
frozen East Cathedral avenue. The
strests were deserted: bitter wind was
blowing: the sky was low and ominous.
And In her soul Patricia felt the
bitter wind, the darkness and the
storm.
fTouyrisht. faesl
Continued In Tomorrow's STAR