The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1930-07-04
CHAPTER VII-Continued

"What has friendship got to do with
business?" Loring asked, and his own
face flushed with resentment. Il tell
you I've got to make new contacts If
we're to bring a different kind of
clientele into the Office. Besides, l
didn't disapprove of Will knowing
him. 1t was only his taking you to
that dive. Do you think 1 would mix
LILLIAN up with that crowd?"
II can't see any grand difference"
retorted Ernestine Lillian isn't a
baby. She's your wife, anyhow. Be-
sides, the Pastanos are all right-all
of them. 1 know them we'll, and the
two girls are as fine as any have
met. There's not month passes that
we don't visit them, or they don't
call. Mr.. Pastano admires Will. He
once hurt my feelings, and he's been
making it up ever since. We've been
friends without asking about his polit-
ical activities or how he makes his
money"
"It's all very well for you to take
an attitude with me-" declared Loring,
-'but I've come home with the deter
mination to make money-and lot of
it. Chicago is rich. I may as well
take some of it as others. And if an
acquaintance with a powerful man like
Pastano falls to my luck, I'll pursue it..
VIII would want me to-"
"Will would" admitted Ernestine.
but her looks were cold. you've
changed, Loring. You used not be so
ambitious"
1--WE acquired new sense of
values" he admitted. "Of course I'm
not saying at all that man should
stick at nothing to make money.
That's a mistake, and no good any,
new. But I've been around-I saw
one thing everywhere. 1t is the pas
sion for the possession of money-as
much as man can lay hands on"
Don't, be silly, Loring," said his
wife mildly. Look how happy Ernes-
tine is, and she's as broke as broke"
81 am happy" declared Ernestine.
'Yes," admitted Loring, shut that is
because your capacity for happiness is
great. Your pleasure in your marriage
and your child wouldn't be spoiled at
all by more comforts"
II don't want anything changed"
.''Not now-not at this moment. But
If you'll be honest with yourself, you'll
find that one reason for your content
ment is your great expectations for
the future. You feel that your condi-
.tion is only temporary. Come now,
Ernestine-isn't that so? You are
confident that there will be money for
you and Will, when Peter grows older,
and Wills work develops into more
Importance. Being poor can be a
game if it's only an interlude. But If
you had to look forward to nothing
else"
The truth of his logic hurt Ernestine
unbearably.
II don't care whether VIII ever makes
money or not" she declared passion
ately, almost in tears.
"You think you DON'T" said Loring
inexorably. But VIII wouldn't say
that. Every man wants money
every woman wants her man to have
it. It's symbol Of power. If Will
doesn't get 1t he'll feel that he's failed
your confidence in him."
Ernestine found herself trembling.
Lillian picked the baby UP and dan
died him and spoke quietly to Loring.
"'You are disturbing Ernestine and it
isn't bit nice OF. you. All this shout
ing makes me wonder If you doubt
your own ability"
She took the baby and put him in
his mothers arms.
Loring apologized.
"It's a bad habit Understanding
my own thought in an argument. It
dosn't mean a thing -sophistry pure
and simple. know you are sincere,
Ernestine. Don't pay any attention to
me-"
The talk fell into safer lines, but
Ernestine was no longer happy. Lor-
ing got out his car, and, with Lillian
and Ernestine in the back seat with
the sleeping baby, he drove to her
home. They left her now as they had
left her in Erie street, disrupted, un-
happy and at odds with win.
She was awake when Will came in,
and she fixed light supper for him
and told him all that Loring had said,
with some small editing.
Hes a capable lawyer, / suppose"
Will said. "And if Ruby wants to give
him work to do, and Loring wants to
do it, what's the difference? He's not
the only lawyer that would like to get
his fingers into Pastano's pie. But
anyhow, I've got something to tell you
Underwood's going to New York, and
fuckers to be head Of the art room. =