The Washington times., 1937-03-15


quite" said Gilbert, and went
straight on past that. IT do hope
you sail and join us. We might
take a house in Scotland. Denise
misses you."
There was a pretty trill of
laughter in her mothers voice.
That's very sweet of you, Gilbert,
but can just imagine how greatly
a happy young wife misses her
mother. You have cheered me
up! I didn't think I should ever
laugh again. Really, I'm not be-
ing selfish and monopolizing this
conversation; Michael'S listening
on my bedroom extension"
"You sound like yourself, now
Mother" Denise made her own
voice light as possible. eve have
two extensions too, so Gilbert
heard all your gaudy praises.
You'll make him very conceited." D."
Her fathers laughter doomed in
then.
But her mother said Solemnly:
"Ge a good wife, Denise; it's the
only happiness. Good-by, my dear.
-Good-by, Gilbert"
"Well call again in a few days,
Gilbert said.
Everyone repeated, "Good-by."
Gilbert opened her bedroom
door. "Do you feel better. Denise?"
Eyes; thank you for asking what
I didn't ask"
"All right, let's not speak Of 1t
again. May throw away those
newspapers? The only thing you
may have missed is an account OF
our relationship to Felicia, a brief
resume of the history Of my faith
er's and grandfather fortune, and
some pictures of us and our wed
ding"
"Do you mind, Gilbert?"
mot a bit, if you don't"
colbert, would you feel I was
behaving badly if I locked my
door and wept for an hour?"
Eyes, Denise; because it wouldn't
do you the slightest good"
Politely, listlessly, she said: GAS
you will. What do we do next?"
"Dress and dine. We might go
to the theater."
$50 life goes on"
The words echoed in her mem
ory. That day when she had come
home to Felicia'S urging her to
marry. Felicia'd said: Life goes
on. One holds ones head up"
Could Felicia still hold her red
gold head as erect as ever?"
She struggled desperately to lift
her own, not to weep. $50 we dine,
we go to the theater. And then
what?"
Gilbert looked at her. She caught
her breath. He watched her face,
and his own Stiffened. why then,
tomorrow, or the next day, as soon
as we get visas, we might go to
Russia. I'd like to see the Soviets."
How nearly he had come to say
ing: "Then you might let me take
you in my arms and try to be
happy" But not to her unhappy
eyes could he say that.
"All right, let's go to Russia"
And three days later they
started. BY implicit agreement
they did not speak again of Felicia
or of Keith in those days when
she was conscious that he was
waiting for some word she had not
spoken, and he was conscious that
she made trivial jestS, laughed
with effort. at his slightest at
tempt of gayety, and kept her
thoughts altogether from him.
In that time she was not think
ing of him, but not of herself
either, but of her sisters whole
life, from her first memories of
her OF Keith, in the months
that seemed so far away, when he
had loved her, and she had believed
he and she would marry and spend
their lives together. Never, never
now.
There were hours when a slow
rage burned in her. Those two she
had so loved had forgotten her
quickly enough, had betrayed her
easily. And yet her rage was not
enduring. AS they were, they were
more modern than herself, if to
be modern was to be exigent about
ones own desires.
NSboiYoIo che harsaIF bod haaVa