Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-01-04
SUZANNE'S
TEST FOR
MORTIMER
32-S%&-@-S2-@-62-H-&-Nl
"a by D.. J. walsh.l


please notice, I'm asking no Ques-
tions."
The girl in the fur coat nodded alb
stractly. She had been looking out
Of the limousine window at the pass
ing landscape, but now her gaze was
fixed on the broad, tweed-clad shout
ders of Andrew, Walte's chauffeur.
THANKS for not asking questions"
The man laid his glOved hand over
hers. "Don't thank me for doing
things you asked me to, Suzanne.
Won't you believe me when say that
my one ambition In life is to please
you? I mean 1t, am happy right
now because l am with you and do
ing as you want TO, although 1t is cold
and rainy and we might be dining to-
.gether at the Waldorf-just you and
me-"
The girl did not reply. They had
been driving since early morning In
the luxurious big car that bore his
monogram. During all those hours
she had talked very little. Her pref
ty lips were drawn In straight line
and once she had buried her face In
the soft collar of her coat and wiped
away the tears.
The chauffeur drew up to the side
of the road and stopped.
Engines missing sir" he advised
Waite, touching his cap But I'll Ak
1t in moment"
'Lordy, but isn't this desolate," said
Waite as he drew the rug closer about
his companion Suzanne, talk to me.
Cold? Hungry"
She shook her head negatively.
"Happy%
"l'm always happy when I'm with
you, Mort But-but maybe-I won't
be with you-very much-after to-
day."
Suzanne, why talk in rlddlesf
Haven't proved l love you? Haven't
proved to you that everything have
is yoursY"
"Yes, | believe you. But when
claim what you have, 1t means that
that you will have to claim that
which is mlne-and you might not
fit into your-life. Oh, l am doing
the right thing | ami When | first
met you l didn't think anything about
| It. But since you have loved me &.
and | love you ! want to be hon.
est with you. Always honest. Today
is the real test OF your love. You
| have only known me six months.
am an actress. So far as that is con.
cerned my slate Is clean. have moth
ing to apologize for. But-you know
nothing about me and you are Nor
timer Waltel Your family frlghtens
me to death, Mort. Your mOtherl She
was very sweet that day at the Plaza,
but she looked clear through me and
IL wonder if-she found me and L
wonder if-she found me wanting.
I am not forgetting for a moment who
you are, but It is not because you're
Mortimer Waite-Of one Of the proud
est old families in Philadelphia; not
because your fortune ranks foremost
in the East that I love you. II is be-
cause you--are you. I would love you
II you were-anything, but ] want to
be honest with you, and please remem-
Der. no matter how the test comes out.
was hOnest-because loved you"
It WIS past noon when they en-
tered the tiny little town in the Al
eghenies to which Suzanne had d.
rected the chauffeur. II was dingy,
smoky little hamlet nesting In
mountaIn-encircled basin in the heart
Of the coal district. The girl shud-
dered as they rolled down the narrow
main street, dlngler and darker than
ever In the cold, thin rain that was
beating against the unpaved roadbed.
Lets eat, Suzanne. There's a place
over there that says corned beef and
cabbage, and I'm starved"
For the first time the girl laughed.
"Al right. But how | wish | had
picture Of you, Mortimer Waite,
banker, eating cOrned beef and cab
bage in the Palace cafel And tell
Andrew to wait for us at the hotel
over there on the corner. We won't
need him until we start back"
Waite turned to his chauffeur and
gave the necessary instructions, and
Andrew disappeared In the direction
OF the frame one-story building on the
corner graced by the name "hotel."
"Still asking no questions" laughed
Waite as they walked down a mar.
row, muddy street after lunch II had
stopped raining. but heavy clouds
hung in the sky and 1t was cold and
damp. He swung her over mud pud-
die and they balanced themselves on
n board that tipped dangerously into
the mire.
"Just like dropping an orchid into
a mud puddle" he laughed.
Row after row Of dlnv, small cot
tages inclOsed with picket fences.
There was no grass about the stoops,
only mud and imprOvised sidewalks.
Suzanne stopped at last, her hand on
a rIckety gate. Desolation, poverty,
squaldness lay before them.
A small boy opened the door and
peered out as the two approached the
porch.
"susle," he shrIeked. "Susie is com
ing, nav, Susie Is here"
The girl bent and kissed him. "Hel-
10, George. My goodness, what dirty
face and you promised me when
was home last that you would keep
clean"
The boy hung his head. But !
didn't know you was comm, Susie,
honest didn't and nav didn't nelth.
err, cuz she's washin'."