The Washington times., 1937-02-26

She stood up, with her quick
grace. 80 I've put you into ex-
actly the position of the girl in
the cinema who sacrifices herself
to keep the sheriff away from the
old homestead. Only, Denise. you
are my little sister whom I have
adored, and I've watched what
was happening rather helplessly. l
was able to predict almost to the
day (Father'S crisis hurried it, Of
course) when you would just have
to know what Keith wanted Of
you, and would find that he
wanted nothing important. Really.
you had better go down to see
Gilbert"
She went out of the room sud
denly, before Denise answered her
With rage and indignation strug-
Cling in her (and a kind of Wry
amusement too, for the position
was so precisely that of the girl in
the cinema). Denise sat quiet a
long minute. What she would do.
she did not know, except that she
would not pretend to Gilbert
Windon that she loved him and
further Felicia's preposterous no
tionS!
There was a small sound at the
door, and she turned. Her mother
came into the room. small slight
person rather like a Dresden fig
ure in pale colors.
Automatically. Denise smiled at
her. Both Sara Rendale'S tall
daughters adored her, who was not
either a modern mother nor an
old:fashioned one, but had kind
Of timeless quality Of gentleness
and serenity. One of those women
who have always been sheltered
and cherished. so that they are en-
abled to feel that the world is an
orderly place.
Yet, Sara was a resolute small
person. She had taken the immi-
nence of her husbands bank
ruptcy with extreme fortitude. So
Denise was the more surprised
now to see that she had been weep
ing.
She said, in her quiet voice: my
dear child. the most lovely thing
has happened. That nice young
man Gilbert Windon has lent your
father all the money that's neces'
sary Immediately. Your father
just telephoned me. Mr.. Windon
told him that it was Of no impor'
tance. and he was glad to do it!
He's downstairs now-your father
told him to come and reaSsure me
we must ask him to stay to din
ner." She spoke all in breath
For a horrible instant Denise
wondered whether her mother, too
thought of Gilbert Windon as a
permanent solution for all thei1
troubles. Then looking at that in
nocent pleased face. she was
ashamed of herself for the Sus
picion.
Her mother said Denise. wept
with relief. Your father would
have minded so. though told him
over and over that bankruptcy was
not a disgrace!"
Denise had sudden moment Of
illumination. Both her father anc
mother must have been desper
ately frightened, on the verge Of
having all the things to which
they were accustomed taken away
Yet neither had shown it, but pur
sued their ways only little more
quietly than usual. They had dig
nifty! For the first time in he!
life she wondered how much the!
had to live through before the,
could achieve that quality nothing
could impinge upon.
Undignified she had IN. t.
show her hurt heart to Kei = Shel
die; undignified Felicia W2S, II
want her to snatch at a youni
man with a great fortune. Was
the difference between genera
ton? That in her parents tim
the pace of things was slower, S
that they were able to conSide
implications of conduct. and no
behave unthinkingly. The sens
of immediacy was so strong wit
herself, with Felicia. with almos
every young person she knew
There was a kind Of code: "Ge
what you want now. or nevel
There's no reward for doing witt
out"
Well, she was not to have wha
she wanted; and not having whs
she wanted. what else was there
From that extreme confusion {
thought, she emerged to motto
that her mother was watching he
oddly.
Sara RendaIe said, aim S
timidly: MY dear. are you u
happy about anything"
She shook her head. "Only.
went for q long walk this afte