The Washington times., 1928-10-03

Lyle Barstow fingered over her
toilet, added a touch of rouge TO
her pale lips. She wanted to
look especially lovely, for her son.
Curtis had always been sweet
heart to her, as well as son.
She had kept young for his sake.
you're my girl" he used to say,
laughing. bringing her flowers
or bonbons.
Lately he had forgotten that.
! He was neglecting her. And she
IF it were someone else
wouldn't care she thought.
Someone from our own set.
Kathleen Hughes. No. she's such
a selfish thing-but someone. Not
q girl out of de Guitry's shop"
She was going to speak Of it.
after dinner. 1t was hard to find
Just the right opening. Curtis
was restless. uncommunicative.
II was in F'rancine de Guitry's
shop today" she said guardedIy.
And instantly he was alert. in
ter,-sted- see joan"
No. talked TO F'rancine-"
His nose went hack in the
newsps per.
she came end sat on the arm
% his chair. drew bis smooth
head back against her bosom.
~CuTtis-''
M-mm-'
Curtis on the one night you're
home won't you talk TO mother?
We 20 seldom see each other any
more. Of course. I'm getting to
be an old woman
Now you're fishing" he smiled.
'You know you put all the young
girls in the shade.
She looked down at her slender
ankle in its cobwebby gray stock
ing, to hide the small. gratified
smile she couldn't suppress. She
began again. Curtis. you won't
mind If I speak very frankly
about Joan?"
She felt him stiffen. but she
went on. Il do admire her, ire
mendousIy. She is making a brave
stand and for her own sake. as
Well IA yours m ydear, don't
you see you can't help her by
taking her out so much
81 wasn't trying TO help her.
Merely enjoying her compa NY"
lie was getting that set look
about the mouth that always
meant trouble.
Yes, dear. but is 1t quite fair
to the child? 1t will he misin-
terpreted, of course. and in your
position, can you afford -
Then Curtis answered In all
the years Of his life he had never
spoken to her like that. 1t wasn't
that he forgot the Difference and
Eentleness that she had always
taken as her right. He was as
gentle and smilingly affectionate
as ever. But he utterly. com.
pletely. disregarded her wishes.
He hoped she would overcome her
prejudice against Joan because it
wasn't worthy of her. II would
grieye him very much to feel that
she didn't also love the girl he
WAS going 10 marry. He fully
Intended 10 marry Joan. She was
his ideal OF clean. unsp0iled Amer.
lean wOmanhoOd. She was beauti-
ful. she was intelligent. size was
charming and sweet-tempered. His
mind was fully made up. And
that was that.
For the first time in fifteen
years Mrs. Barstow cried herself
to sleep.
Bill Martin threw down his
book. Damn the thing
Amen murmured the young
man with his feet on the table
Lets turn in. It's almost morn
ing" He yawned and stretched
eleepily. You should have been
with the gang tonight. Ruth was
going good. Great little girl.
Filed her papers for divorce; did
tell you?"
She did, Bill sat up. all in.
terest.
She sure did. Yep, she's gonna
he Mrs. Relic Keyes. What have
you got to say to that, you old
scoffer!'
Does she know what your dad
Said?"
About the allowance? Huh!
You know dad When | bring
that little girl into dad hell pull
in his horns. We'll. | told her
wed have TO starve together. but
she said she guess she'd rather
etarve with a guy like me. than
I've on the fat Of the land with