The Washington times., 1938-03-21

to GLORIA ana Ia1Q IL carefully Oh
the ground. He said, looking at it
a little wistfully: Peter thinks
the world of this painting, Clio.
And somehow, I do, too. It's the
first thing remember about Kent
Hill. that beautiful young face
smiling Serenely from above the
drawing-room mantel.
And then Tommy said: Some
one started this fire. Can you tie
that? I'd sure like to get my hands
on him. I could kill him, cheer
fully''-his voice lowered a little
Poor, old Peter. How the hell
could anyone do this to him!"
Gloria thought: II must not tell
about Isabel! Peter must never
know! No one must know but
me. :" And she had to clench her
teeth to keep from telling Tommy
the truth.
Rodney put his arm about
! Gloria's shoulder. He held her
close against him and said, softly:
Don't look so tragic, little one.
After all, it isn't our house!"
BITTERNESS
Henry Drake, seeing that sud-
den, though brief, radiant smile
on Gloria's face as she looked up
into Rodney'S eyes, stuffed his
hands down deep in his pockets
and leaned against the giant elm,
watching them through narrowed
eyes. Was Rodney going to kiss
her?
Anger rose in Henry. Rodney
was kissing her! Not her lips, but
the shining golden crown of her
head and he was taking his time
about it! Damn him! Damn
him and his independent wealth!
You could get anything in this
world if you could pay for it!
If you had but to write your
name on a check and didn't have
| to go whining to your family for
every cent, for permission to spend
it, for approval to court the girl
you loved.
Henry moved away from the
tree then and edged along the
hedge toward the street, roughly
pushing through a group Of people
who were Straining upward , n
their feet to look at the fire.
At the curb he jumped into his
roadster and drove off quickly,
blindly, indifferent to traffic and
law and fines. A short while later
he pulled up before Mixes cafe
and went in, choosing a table in
a far corner. Mixes was crowded,
as usual. There was music and
laughter and 3 chorus Of scantily
clad girls doing q routine. But
Henry did not see them.
HIS MOTHERS FAULT
His eyes were focused on a dish
of fruit in the center Of his table
pears and grapes and hothouse
peaches. But he didn't see them,
either. His thoughts lay behind
his gaze and he was miserable and
blaming his mother for everything.
For weeks noW-indeed, from the
moment he had first seen Gloria
he had known that he loved her
and wanted her. And now he had
lost her to Rodney without ever
having had a chance to wiR her
and it was his mothers fault.
For Mrs. Drake, since she had
come upon Henry staring at Gloria
that day in the lobby, had de-
signed every reason imaginable to
keep him from her. She had said
firmly: Flirting with a girl be-
hind q cigarette counter! You,
the son Of Chalmers Drake! It's
ghastlyI I won't have it! I won't
have it, I tell you! You are an
only son.
You have a name and posi-
ton to maintain and you haven't
a cent of your own. And if you
proceed with this folly, I promise
you that your allowance will be
stopped and that you will go out
of your fathers will and mine
today"
He had acted up then as he
always did when his violent anger
was reused. He had gone wild,
had threatened all sorts Of things,
even to shooting himself. He had
hardly known what he was say
ing. He never did when fury
possessed him.
His mother screamed and sank
down on a chair and continued
to scream. He had got her smell
ing salts and had held it under
her nose. And finally she had
said:
Darling, II can't deny you
anything. Go after your cigarette
girl If you want to!" And she
had put her arms around him
and had run her hands over his
dark curlS. The next day, look
ing tired and beaten, she had
asked him to fly out to Los An
geles on business for her.
HENRY GOES WILD
And when he returned from
California she had sent him to
Boston on another trip, reminding
him that 1t was his sacred duty
to look up Susan Dobbs while he
was there. He had obeyed her
and had not once seen through
her tactics. Not until he had re-
turned after a three weeks alb
sence to find Rodney and Gloria
engaged and his mother Smugly
delighted.
Draining his glass of whiskey,
Henry jerked upright in his chair.
His eyes were hlackly wild and