Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-10
TWENTY-FIVE INsTALLMENT.

"IME moving on now, relentleSSly.
Eddie going to dancing school.
Tommy building automobiles in
l. quantity, growing richer all. the
time, carrying Kirby up with
him, and Wesley. The leisurely days
gone: talk now of drive, of efficiency,
complaint of pressure.
Wesley was a tired man, prematurely
old. Sometimes Missile thought he felt
this. He would make an effort to talk
to the boy, but his attention would flag.
Missile had accepted her life. AT night
sometimes she dreamed of Kirby Phelps;
that curiously faithful heart OF hers
would not let go of him. But when she
saw him, as now she occasionally did,
there was no attempt on his part to
remind her of that brief episode OF
theirs.
Just how much she had built on
Kirby she did not know until she lost
him. Lost him, ironically enough. not
by death or tragedy, but to another
woman.
One cold January day Missile took the
carriage-Wesley still considered motors
bourgeoise-and drove out to the coun-
try club, and walked over the frozen
links.
When she went back to the club
house. Kirby was there, sitting alone In
a big chair by the fire. Il was thinking
of you, Missile"
He got up, drew a chair for her. But
he did not sit down.
What were you thinking?"
st was wondering if you could see
nv feeling for you, what it is and al-
ways will be. And yet try to under
stand something I want to say"
It can understand anything from you
Kirby"
Let me put my case, Missile" he said.
st have loved you long and we'll. have
-reverenced you. loved you too well
to try to keep you when you came to
me. I knew you wanted your boy; you
are that sort No lover, no husband,
could compensate you If you lost him.
And I have lived on the husks OF love
ever since. Don't misunderstood me,
] am no plaster saint, but l nave done
my best"
He paused, but she had nothing to
say. She was waiting with the terrible
patience of women, for what was
coming.
IT have found a woman who cares
for me-" he said, almost abruptly.
"Ands I need home, a home and
children. J am lonely Missile"
Once more she had the queer con-
striction. the sickening breathlessness
She wanted to shrek aloud that she
was lonely, too; to beat her hands on his
chest and implore him not to desert
her, not to take away her dream once
more: to beg him to stand fast and
save her from all the empty years to
come. But her lips were stiff. She
could not move them.
Does that shock you, Missile? Or
hurt you?"
She found her voice.
NO" she said 1T is very natural.
I am glad you are being honest with
me- After all, can give you nothing"
You have given me great deal, for
long time"
rs she-young?"
I'm her twenties. She is rather Ike
you"
She flushed, but she was still out
wardly quiet.
'I am not committed. I know, as a
man does know those things, that she
Is willing to marry me- But wanted
to see you first. I wanted to know II
there was any other hope, and wanted
to be honest with you
II never had any hold on you, KIRBY
dear. You have always been free"
II have never felt free, nor wanted
TO-" Then he made a last impulsive
gesture to her, caught her hand and
held it to his cheek. IF had only
kept you, my darling, when you came
to mel"
Some inkling of her tragedy must
have come to him when he touched her
hand, icy cold as it was. But her eyes
were steadfast, her face quiet.
II want you to be happy" she told
him. Ard 1 cannot be selfish. I have
had you to myself for long time"
She left him composedly enough, went
home TO her house. to her life. She
heard nothing from Kirby. The
Winter dragged on. and Spring came.
There had been no announcement
nothing. Then one night in May she
went into Wesley's room to open the
window She stood there, breathing i'll
the early Summer night. AS her eyes
grew accustomed to the darkness, she
saw that man was standing quietly
across the street. For a moment she
felt that their glances crossed, that the
eyes in the shadow below were fixed or
her intently Then the figure moved
away with quick nervous footsteps
Kirby's walk. She waited breathleSs
until he reached a street lamp, but hi
did not pass under it. She could moi
tell whether it was Kirby or not.
The next morning at breakfast Yves
ley opened an envelop, stared at the
contents and then grinned as he passed
it to her. She was aware of his eyes