The Washington times., 1937-02-25

successfully. You are rather out
rageous, you know"
No, I'm just rather sane. Or
perhaps it's the same thing. You
haven't known who else was in the
room for year, when your own
dear love was present. All right.
1 won't be patronizing. Your own
dear love is the handSomeSt man l
ever saw. has charm, paints not
badly, is suitable family, will have
money in two years. or 10. or 20,
when his father dies. I won't be
patronizing; I'll be candid, though.
Besides those attributes, he shivers
if Keith Sheldie, Senior, raises his
voice: he thinks life without his
fathers allowance wouldn't be
worth living; and generally speak,
ing, he's no good at all
Denise made a sound, of protest
and indignation, but her sister
swept right past it. There are
also father and mother to be con.
sidered. They won't know what to
do. Fathers so terribly honest.
he'll probably go out selling pencils
to get a few extra pennies for his
creditors. My Philadelphia rela.
tives by marriage won't help, and
EustaCe can't. We live up to every
bit of his income. I like owning
furs and jewelry. There it is. I
can cut thousand or two year
out of my dress allowance, actu-
ally, to see that Mother and Father
eat, and have roof over their
heads; but that isn't much. AS
out say, they'll hate to leave this
house"
What are you leading up to?"
"If you'd done anything but
hang on Keith's least word. for
months, while worried about your
getting hurt, you'd know"
She stopped and then said:
''Denise, life goes on, you know.
One has to do the best one can. and
hold ones head up" She lighted
another cigarette and stared into
the fire.
''I mean to go on. Felicia, and
hold my head up as we'll as I can" !"
"Why do you suppose he haunts
my house, except for the chance Of
seeing you there?" Felicia asked
rather complainingly. why does
he call and call here, and take
what few kind words you toss him
with a cup of tea?"
Denise said, Gilbert Windon!"
in a sort of frightened voice.
Yes" Felicia repeated firmly,
Colbert Windon, and no need to
sound as if I'd summoned the
devil, either. Gilbert, and oil
fields and timber whatever-they-
call-them-acres, is it, and orange
groves for all I know, only per-
hapS in Western Canada they're
apple orchards. The position our
family and EuStace's can make for
him in the East, security for
Mother and Father, endless money
for yourself-and a thoroughly
nice person tool"
Felicia, Felicia!"
You sound as grieved as if I'd
told you to go commit murder I'm
only telling you to have some
sense"
1--WE never in my life been SC
angry with you as l am this
minute, Felicia. The only excuse 1
can make for you is that you
really don't know what you're
doing"
you needn't make that excuse.
told you I knew. You think now
that the world consists of one
man and a great many Shadowy
figures. You think you can't live
a day without seeing Keith, that
marrying anyone else would be an
indignity to the purity of your
love. So you mean to wait and
think that some day Keith will
appreciate you. Though I have
no doubt that for the sake of your
dignity (judging by your looks
when you came in, you've told
him all is over.
There are Just two things you
or any girl like you do for a
broken heart. Cherish it, go Vic
torian, let your life be spoiled
and wait in hope until the man
mar1.ies someone else-as Keith
will marry someone younger and
pettier than you'll be. then, some
day when his father dies and he
can do as he pleases.
Or the other you can do, is
marry. I married"
Denise looked at her. who was
so pretty, so restless, so gay and
sometimes so oddly unhappy, and
she could not, simply could not.
be angry any more.
Very softly Felicia spoke: "I
married. I survived. 1t seems
important to survive. My hus-
band loves me in his casual way.
We get on It's all like a
succession of schools. One grad
yates from one. and there's an
other. I've graduated from the
place where you are" Her
voice trailed off.
Ito be cOntinued)