The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1936-07-17


money in Chicago, gave to their wives
to enhance and occupy them while
they, separately, followed their own
occupations and interests and their
own transgressions, each after his own
way.
The separateness Of the women
struck Cathal with particular force as
he compared the fact that whereas he
knew no few of the men who lived
along these shores, he had never 30
much as spoken to one of the women
until Agnes Gleneith had called him,
over the phone, to come to the aid Of
Myrtle Lorrie.
In him. beside the eminently practi-
cal and realistic attitudes which went
into the preparation Of his cases (and
won them for him) ran an incurable
romanticism-which probably also had
its value in court. He could uncover
the most sordid details about one per-
son, and turn about and idealize the
next. In this best damn lawyer In
town abode a little boy who had been
reared by Winnie on ancient fairy and
folk-tales never intrusted to aught by
tongue, never learned or taught from
a page, but recited with all the mystic
phrase and credence Of oral tradition.
So Cathal became stepped in the lore
of heroes (and had not his grandfather
proved himself one?) and Of dragons,
and of fair and utterly loyal ladies
who would wait for their true love, In
whatever guise he came and through
whatever ordeal, until life's end.
OF course long ago these had thinned
to symbols, but they had endured with
in him; and their delightful relics led
him to constant emotional contradlc-
lions to the revelations of his own ex-
periences.
So now Cathal drove, denying him
self illusions as to the greater nature
of the men who dwelt in these splendid
places; he knew that, save for their
possessions, they were as all men; yet
as to the ladies, held so aloOf from him,
he was letting his fancies run. One
he had met and she was as none other
OuL VI Ills CACOuAbCAS Win WOmCAs
When he reached the house, Cathal
discerned that instructions had been
left concerning him. He, asked for Miss
Gleneith; but the manAit was Cravath
replied that he would tell Mrs. Glen
eth that he was here.
Two girls Gas Cathal first supposedly
appeared on the stairs; the light
haired one was Agnes Gleneith, and
the dark one he took for her sister
until they were almost downstairs, and
he saw that she was older.
He was familiar, In his profession,
with women who kept into middle age,
and through it, slender and youthful
looking figures and faces which denied,
more or less successfully, the last dec
ade Of their years-women once great
ly desired, who now desperately were
holding" their men, or striving to
hold them against younger women.
Cathal Martin O'Mara, attorney-at-
law, knew such women well; and he
had learned to read the signs of sue
cess. or Of failure, In their struggle.
Here, he knew at least, one was going
on.
"You are the lawyer" the mother
asked him coldly.
EYES," said Cathal.
She did not Immediately proceed;
and he was aware how she regarded
him. His visit, and himself, composed
for her an unavoidable, disagreeable In
cident. Her daughter for a moment
had stepped out Of the affairs Of her
own life, and intruded upon a tragic
event In another's which had nothing
whatever to do with her. Since they
were unable to escape some further
participation In the consequences of
the intrusion, she must make 1t as for
NAL and impersonal as possible. That
was the mothers feeling.
It was not, even here, the daughters,
Cathal warmed, gratefully. as he
glanced at her and she gave him her
hand. which firmly pressed his for the
instant; but her mother did not relax
her feeling of offense at him.
"You approve Of what your client
did," she demanded.
"Approve?" Cathal repeated; and
this charge he had met before. ITO
represent an accused person is not to
approve Of her." he replied.
"Then what is it?"
"Mother!" said Agnes.
II asked him, what is it?" She
turned again to Cathal. "You are try
ing to prevent that woman from be-
ing punished, are you not2 And you
are here because you imagine my
daughter will help youi"
"Yes," said Cathal; he knew there
was no arguing with her now.
II understand" Beatrice Gleneith
said, less hostilely at his lack Of op-
position, you have certain rights to
question her."
Agnes stepped forward from beside
her mother, and she took his hat.
"Cravath," she called, before her
mother could interfere, take Mr..
O'Mara's coat" A minute later she
led him, and her mother, into the
=.