Evening star., 1935-07-29
INSTALLMENT XIV.

A N ANALYST Of human re-
n action to calamity would have
"A shown, In the MachAnello
L "A category. a definite trend to
mental and. perhaps, moral deterior-
alton. In this, however, Paul defied
precedent. His acceptance Of his lot,
though In itself confession OF the
strength of the blow dealt him on that
doubly tragic night in November, was
almost philosophic in its doggedness.
Other than the sting Of hrst reali-
zation Of the hopelessness Of his po-
sition, there had been no tendency
to despair and the headlong plunge
to drink and dissolution. popular
panaceas to . soul-sick mind.
Newspaper publicity accorded the
accident had been glarins, At first
limiting . foul play, then correcting
itself with o ruthless but faithful re-
production Of Jessie's pathetic fare
well, which, addressed to Paul, had
been found on her dressing table the
next day. The staring eyes OF the
curious, strainins at him from the
crowds at the viennese ball room; the
discussion that he knew was upon
the lips Of his friends and their
gathering places-these inevitable
gauntlets rendered him sensitive, but
q hasty receivership and reorsani-
zation of his demoralized wits saved
him much agony of mind and en-
abled him to accept the attempts at
solace, offered by his intimates. at
their face value. And that, in those
first dark days. proved his salvation.
He made no attempt at a reconcile
alton with Ina. Her suit for divorce.
filed through a Dallas attorney, was
uncontested. She had asked no con-
sideration, not even payment Of the
LAWYERS fee. He signed the waiver
and sent it back by first mail.
He displayed no trace Of self-ar-
raignment for his part in Jessie's sui
eide. He felt none. When he went
to Omaha after the child he learned
that In the four years the boy had
been in the home Of his grandparents
Jessie had visited him but twice.
His first sight Of the boy was \
shock. The child was himself, In
miniature, except as to his fair color
ing.
Paul did his best He devoured
on the care OF children and
strove to apply them to the last de-
tail. He absorbed advice from the
many ready sources, eagerly, and
much of 1t was conflicting. He lived
in constant fear that he was over
looking some indispensable phase OF
the tots development. His new-found
patience, his constant attendance,
his Unborn tendency to share every
thing on common ground. as with an
adult companion, won him affection;
the occasional use of the dark
closet" measure won him respect.
The mischief, the vernacular, that
the boy picked up from members Of
the orchestra, some of whom were
always at the apartment, he de-
nounced publicly. but within him, he
applauded the lads quickness.
He worked hard. He made no
apologies for. he sought no advantages
from the peculiar twist Of fate that
had made him a figure Of interest
In the intrusive-eyed world In which
he lived and labored. They watched,
they marveled, then wronsed him by
labelling his gesture an attempt 1T
Retributioni The word
was not In his vocabulary.
On the night Of June / the dying
echoes Of the Bunton signature, an
adaptation Of Victor Herbert3 Gypsy
Love Song" marked the close Of the
Viennese run. A few nights before
Bunton had outlined the bands Sum-
mer program to An attentive group
during an intermission.
Were done here the 1st," he told
them. The Sd we 60 to Dallas for
= week. II We click we may 20 back
later. Then back to town And the
park. Simple, Is 1t not?"
They were forced to admit it. He
swept them with an approving glance
and waited for comment.
aDallas-TexAs?" said Paul, In the
tone of one who fails to catch d
name in an introduction.
Yes confirmed Bunton. Dallas,
Tex. The Lone Star State. The
Alamo. Fields Of snowy cotton. Oil
wells, gushing oil. Ma Ferguson.
rexas-got the idea?"
Other gentlemen. Of the ensemble
voiced opinion. Some seemed pleased
1t the prospect confronting them.
others murrnured disapprovinsly; still
,thers were Indifferent. Dallas or
spitzbersen-wfy hasgle over . words
Dallas. eh2" remarked willy oFists. ]