Evening star., 1928-05-25
Tangled Lives.

Tangled Lives.
TIVE familiar Winter warmth and
closenaSS and odor of MrSi Rog-
ers' house seemed TO steady Pa
Il tricla'S confused senses. Here
was the old atmosphere. the coal
fires. the fuSsy furnishings, the women
murmuring over their fancy work II
had been the girls home for five years;
she was uanquilized by its very sordid-
ness. She mounted quickly to her own
room and began TO pack.
There was little to do. She could
cften pause and sit. thinking. thinking.
thinking, her eyes fixed blindly on
space. her breast rising occasionally on
a great. sighing breath.
Beneath her The warm. domestic life
of the boarding house flowed on: out
side the window a few vagrant snow
flakes fluttered down through the bare
maple boughs
Helena Sidney's wife! And Sidney
loving Beatrice! The old order of
things was changed forever now. That
he had held this relationship. however
iuiiferently. toward Helena, and that
he could love Beatrice so madly. already
had hurt him in Patricia's estimation.
though she cid not realize 1t yet.
But she felt shocked and sore and
weary; she was conscious of a deep
spiritual exhaustion; she longed for the
Sinplicities of life for truth and peace
and carefree laughter again.
What we're they all 10 do next2
Helena would be gone out of their
lives forever in a few hours. But Sid
ney. Would he really seek his free
dom and wait for his tawny haired,
passionate young goddess and her mil
iio1s?
A.
cided that the loveSick Beatrice would
join her brother on his trip around the
world. And perhaps they would meet
Sidney Ii New York next year-"if
Dan ever forgives him!" she interrupt
ed herself with doubtful shake of
the head
And Patricia's self. She knew that
she would be asked to keep the lonely
mother company. So that In April,
when she had thought to be married
10 Sidney in New York, she would find
herself at the once-abhorred Castle,
reading aloud the letters of Dan and
Beatrice Palmer.
"As early as we can vel go to the
farm" Patricia concluded, for herself
and for her old employer
For she loved this spot under any
circumstances. loved its clean grass and
spreading oaks and mild-eyed cattle.
and Just now ii seemed a real haven
TO her troubled spirit. Long, lazy days
Of reading and tramping and dream
ing. long nights of sleep and an utter
and sublime indifference 70 the code
Of Pomeroys and Pages-that was
what she needed
And meanwhile" her thoughts ran
on, Dan viii have time to get over
his first rage at Sid and may consent
to let them marry. And II not. Sid
will 20 70 New York some day and
be the greatest Of the portrait painters.
and women will flock to his teas and
wonder what the tragedy was in the
great Hutchinsons life"
She shut the lid Of her trunk and
glanced about the dismantled room.
But it is a funny world" she sum-
married..
There was knock at the door. Mrs
Throckmorton at the telephone, please
TO speak to Miss Chesebrough.
The girl went downstairs TO the In
stTunlent
"Pat." said her aunt's voice. anxious
II. you've not forgotten that we all
! leave fer Mountainhead at 1:30. have
you7 It's after IL now. / called to
make sure that you and the Palmers
are TO be on that train"
MY dear, all the more fun."
We'll. Mfr Palmer and ] are coming.
Eus Beatrice had bad headache at
breakfast, and she may"
Bit you two are!" interrupted Mrs.
Thgccknlorion.
"Oil, positively, Aunt Annie"
Seen Together.
"The things all went last night" said
. her aunt in a Yelieved tone. Blankets
ard food and everything. There'll be
six 0i you youngsters besides myself
snd Afrg. Talbot. Cecil wired the sta
! tasn master 10 meet us and get fires
s;artad My dear. you'd laugh at Ro-
bert2~-Sile's taken quite fancy 10
/ your Mr. P.--gou know whom mean.
And that reminds me Of the real reason
/ ttlst ! teIephoned. when Ticky Raj
ston Meflt 70 the station 70 reserve our
iaer With Sidney. They didn't see him"
"Ae the gtatiOu?" Patricia asked.
AT the station. What do you sup
pose Etey were there for2"
b "Tley may haze been buying Our
tickets" Patricia suggested, or they
botn 4nnay have decloed 10 come 10
your house party and have gone 10
make reservations. They we're riding
together"
no, they didn't get tickets for Noun
tainhead." Mrs. Thfockmorton an
sseFed for Ticky thought Of that
Wasn't II Smart?~~ioT him, ] mean.
knc the ticket nnan said that the gem
ilar1an had got tickets for PeniDerton.
fPemDerbon?" Patricia echoed, with
c2guing curiosity.
"PenbeFton iG that little place where
Harry Eyre and Sidney had cabin
ore Summer" Mrs. Tbr3ckm0Fton said
"Its right oycr ihe ridge from Noun
tsinhead, and when heard that
wondered il there was some confusion
shout our party tonight"
"Bo. don't think 80" Patricia
answered slowly,
Pat" said her aunt. are they en-
RageG SD bid that girlI"
Tie girls heart thumDed lmc0ns
foYtaDlg No / know they are nOti"
sire answered lyiltsisatingiy.
"Iickg said theg seemed ab&orbed
sad every one Is wondering -'
On II: teli YOU what il was"
pstgicis SAID suddenly, Ia relief:
"Beleua Hutchinson leaYes for Chicago
tllis afternoon, afld fid Wss probably
making some Anal arrangements for
her That was H. Jlcky probably got
u sli mixed uD That's @i9Y Sid isn't
going ~ the house party you know,
lie has " tee his sister Of. with the
Roses"
"J4oay2"
"Yes. abe ia&t Told ms And, by The
way, Aunt Annie. ii / should atay to
say 9ppe -by ~ her, ! nlagv~'
NOV P4tUclat"
"Ch I'm csjmiug only meant that
the PalneIs aud ! might come up ~
M9HHtainhead !atef III the Gar
Well ~ long AZ you come" her
sHnt conceded aud The conversation
SBA ended
its e,gnihcanoe daBued gradually on
Patricia a. she went baek " her pack