Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-17
IheKey
TO.
Paradise
Il NezU Story
By
COSmO
Hamilton

h-r friends to see them, all laid o0S-
IA was Enid Cunningham VINO,
drawn Immediately to the string OF
pearls had read the card. ana crleo CUT ia
rreduleusly. Look, even her husband mas re-
Yosrnhered her birthday, 1t SEEMS" Lunch at
the pity dinner at Pierres, box party AT tne
orera-.he event had been celebrated as wen
as It deserved But Hobart, VINO. nao eNen
his wife that string, had gone Out OF Co"n :"
play golf. The presents sim covered ner tAoe
when she returned to the smart "ii'e AoI9e
called ironically. hcmc.
This was Lillian's fifth birthday as MIS-
r.,,r+is Hobart. but the first during any nouf
of which she had faced herself up. put DC
ca,,se Of something quite unintentionai' pei
hans in the tail of Ends remark, she Iouno
1nSlt looking at life through window the
existence of which came as great surprise.
IL wave on a view quite different from uie
one that she knew so well. Feace was SnSA.
and beauty responsibility. and content as wen
as almost uncomfortable lndinefence 70 1
fo1se excitement of the dull society rouno.
cre WAS PAINFULLY aware Of something IN II tnat
t,,pred at the strings of her heart, that gave
her a new and sudden sense OF soreness anu
dissatisfaction, inconsistencies ana UsAIS' 0
found herself saying, This Is not me. am
not living. I am only pretending 70 hve. W"
am missing, I-wl1o have all that want!
she heard her so-called husband as ne came
i'm tn 90 to his room. A thousand tunes sne
had heard the same footsteps at the same noui
and let them pass her door. But HleDous
Knowing why she slipped into peignolr, went
out and said, Hello"
~uRTIs was stu in golf clothes. HIS race
~ had caught the sun. Good morning ana
good night" he said. Have you had eooo
time todav7" There was q curious laugh m
his eyes.
wonderful Come and lock at my presents
Rlittering IN the light"
He did 50. uncomfortably conscious OF the
fact that he was q trespasser in that room.
quite shew," he said.
Something from every one. And even my
husband remembered my birthday, It seems.
Are you only just back?"
ayes. Two rounds Lunch and dinner as
the club then a game Of bridge Tne eoun-
trys a sight. Springs there"
and here" she said. Listen"
He could hear the young leaves turning ON
the trees in the park-the little town cousins
of trees. But he failed TO hear the strange
new turning Of the heart that wasn't ms
"Csood-night" He nodded, smiled and went.
The footsteps died away. mo, this isn't
re - che said what am missing? 1-who
lave so much?"
Curtis hesitated next morning outside the
door of her bed room on his way downstairs.
This girl whom he had married for love nao
not married but had been married 70 MN.
There Is 3 world OF 0lueFence. 11cA "a AA1"AAe
and scheming mother had brought that oeeo
about His abrupt proposal, after snort
acquaintance, had been so Immediately accepteo
that without conceit, he had argued tnat love
was a mutual thing. Later, on the honeymoon
hisa discovery had been made, and 30, with q
shrug Of the shoulders and the feeling that
creeps into q mans soul when ne Is nurt 70
the quick he had lived his own life once more
He felt an urge to go in. That wonderful
room was empty, but through the open windows
came the rustic Of young leaves. Spring nae
come to town little handkerchief was lying
ON the foor. He picked 1t up and found II
wet with tears II only 1t could speak! "A
wen bound book was open and upon 1t lay
an unsealed envelope which was addressed 70
himself He picked this up with greedy nano
as his eye caught some writing on the margin
Of the book. The words, The Key 70 Para
disc" had been underlined and against them
had been written "A child-boy or girl" ne
drew the letter from the envelope IS some
thing touched his heart It may perhaps nave
been hope. I'm going to Enid Cunningham
cottage at Sleepy Hollow" he read II want
to he quiet to think. I'm as and AM Of SUD-
den have looked life In the face"
1T was a man touched by . deep emotion
] electrified by O great sympathy, renewed By
the possibility Of realizing . dream, who walked
up and down his own room wrestling with
plan. It was o queer and whimsical plan. Sh'
had been married to him for money and houses
She had known him only O. . disillusaoneC
man. The simple good things in his nature
had been hidden behind his pride. What Il
he broke this wall? What If he were to forc'