“We'll wear. He had looked oddly at her
{met Theo Dore, whose uncle
timekeeper at the Consolidated fac-|
tery.
| Onply during the last few yeaus,
September 11, 1981. since Gerald bad been working, had
we —— 15 mother bees able to Jake Joe
| ensy. ow sh2 cou sit !
THIS, TOO, SHALL PASS AWAY apartment and sev and think ouck
i
A mighty monarch in the days of old | CVer her years in Chicago,
Bemorra atc
Pr a a
To'edo and Pilisburgh. It was the
Wate offer of High hoser, wealty amg 'a.uminum-nans work that nad
ge [wrought her Eastward. A factory
To one who shoulc produce in form con- hug recognizel her sales abilitv and
cise 'put her in charge of an Eastern
A motto for his guidance, terse yet crew, |
wise— | “She was keen on that laboratory |
| job,” said Gerald, not complaining,
Bary 2el0m, ob a little querulous. “Didn't waut
|me to take up any old thing as a
|life job.” |
Many the maxims sent the king, men say. “Mr. Dore seems tobe crazy about
The one he chose: ‘“This, too, shall pass the work.”
A precept, soothing in his
Yet one that in his prosperous days
away." | “Theo's nuts on vg and |
such messy stuff. Besides, he's a
Ok twa sentence from the mine of lone: Scomt. Lio tne to think
pn. about but himself. He was orphan-
ed at 12."
No stately epic, measured and sublime, “He says any synthetic line is a
So comforts, or so counsels, for all time good career in this marvelously de-
veloping age.”
a“ hese Lew words, Go write them on Ls “on, there's a future in rents.
ut,” an sprea WO y-
And make them of your daily life a part. ishly discontented hands, “it's the
Has some misfortune fallen to your lot? present that worries me.”
This, too, will pass away—absorb the Marguery was sympathetic. She
thought knew what Gerald meant by his
vague pessimism. He had his moth-
What riches it contains for age or yout
: vill i
and wut; your waiting will not be in er on his ds: x ait
i th u ¢ would be a complication.
Tam lds with gold the iron links o "She wished that she dared _
Theo Dore what kind of a woman
The dark today leads into light tomor- was Gerald's mother. But, of
TOW; course, she couldn't do such a thing.
There is no endless joy, no endless sor- Gerald would be hurt, if he learned.
row. | And Theo himself ig Jay a
, » r opinion of her. She Theo
as JOU Upon earth's heights? No cloud re. Theo always called her Mar-
. . | guerite.
Go sed your motto once again: '" The Nolans lived in the West
: Nineties; in a seven-room apartment
Shall pass away; fame, glory, place and with a long hall which was never
power— {long enough for the many feet ofa
They are but little baubles of the hour large family. Marguery had three
brothers and four sisters. Joe No-
lan, the senior, was a municipal util-
ity clerk, with slightly sagging
shoulders. Mrs. Nolan was stout
while it lasts; and acquainted with all her neigh-
bors.
In Marguery's opinion, Gerald and
his mother lived well with four
whole rooms for two persons. Big
rooms, tco, in one of the older apart-
ment buildings off the drive.
More than once Marguery hinted
that she would like to meet his
mother. But Gerald did not under-
Flung by the ruthless years down in the
dust.
Take warning and be worthy God's trust.
Use well your prowess
leave bloom,
Not blight, to mark your footprints to
the tomb.
The truest greatness lies in being kind,
The truest wisdom in a happy mind,
He who desponds, his Maker's judgment
mocks;
The gloomy Christian is a paradox.
Only the sunny soul respects its God stand, or ignored, such hints. He
Since lifeis short, we need to make it met the Nolan family. That board
broad: was hospitable. ery took
him home many times for dinner
Since life i= short, we need to make it and a sociable time was had by all.
bright. The weeks slipped by. Marguery
Then keep the old king's motto well in was rather startled one day to be-
sight come aware that months had slip-
And let its meaning permeate each day.
Whatever comes, ‘This, too, shall pass
away.”
by.
“My mother's complaining,” said
Gerald, briefly, as they rode home
this Sunday night. “Says the sum-
S———— mer’s been dull. oS I've got to
RLS MARG neglect you a little, Marguery.”
PEA For VERY NOLAN “I'd like to know your mother,
Marguery Nolan was beautiful Gerald.”
or she would not have been a sales. “Yeah? Well, mother’s the best
girl in one of the Fost chain of ever. But she’s got her little rays.”
synthetic pearl shops. Once little No word about introducing
bald-headed Jacob Fost found a guery to the mother who was the
homely girl in one of his shops. best ever, Marguery pondered, a bit
Although normally Jacob was an in- resentfully.
offensive, shrewd shop owner who But it was a delicate business,
seldom bothered his employees, he mak man un-
went into a fit on this ny HYing taskiully to oe ua
A month later Jacob Fost found could win his mother’s liking.
Marguery in his stockroom and he, One day Theo Dore, who had
almost had another fit. “Mein dropped intc the shop, asked quiet-
Gott, come out of this stockroom! ly: “What's Marguerite ?
Ain't you no brains, gal} No, |
don't tell me nothing”—he shook a| She laughed
wrinkled fist in the air to silence dark-eyed Theo.
the startled girl who was just outof “No, I haven't a headache. Iwas
business. college—‘ that you learned born so healthy that I'm ashamed.”
She continued to laugh at the
at school. ou could not even
know what red ink mean in a ledg- serious Theo. Something was wrong
with him. She was a lucky girl
er, and still I would hire you for the
lifetime!” . She had pleasant work, Gerald and
ope.
Weeks afterward when Theo Dore
Theo agreed absently and gave
dropped into the showroom, accom-
panied by Gerald Johnson, Jacob her a string of new pearls, the first
product of his latest laboratory ex-
was gloating over his find in his
own stockroom. periment. It was a long string of
“Look at her! Ain't she the smallish beads. “Take an rt
type?” he demanded excitedly of to tell them from the real Aol
Theo said Theo, carelessly. “Some day
Theo Dore looked. He was head I'll turn out a batch no expert can
man in tne laboratory department tell from the real ones.”
of the Eastern Consolidated Pearl, That night Marguery showed the
and Bead factory. His dark, bril- string to Gerald.
liant eyes, set in a lean, sallow face, “Aren't they lovely?
stayed on the girl for a full minute, real. Gerald, would your mother be
and he drew a long, curious breath. offended if I sent them to her by
At the technical school he had tosses
was annoy
‘the crowd had deterred her.
‘derstand that, given a chance, she
idon't you know?
| your looks no red velvet on Park
lavenue would be thick enough for
‘the use of Mrs. Johnson.
clothes
' bedroo!
|
Just like guery loved the view. And Gerald last month. But I don
‘had that every night! i
i
the Fifties.
The shop was
men. The small,
Ci
©
appraised,
perfect head
hung ,
of i
Rumanian’s natural
d
Marge.
-
“She had that medium French |
string sent; with a navy blue silk
corsage aster.”
“What name?” yawned
Marguery. |
“Where's tné' slip?
Here—Mrs.
‘Gerald Johnson. West Sixty some-
Gerald's mother! Marguery took
two steps to the door, but the
small, compact form was gone,
swallowed in the crowd. Had she
‘come on a trip of inspection of her
son's girl friend? Had it been quite
friendly to come to look and leave
without making herself known to
that girl?
Marguery was hurt. She could
not deny that. Of course, the shop
was crowded. Perhaps Mrs. John-
son had come with the idea of in-
troducing herself to Marguery, bul
That
was the explanation. A natural |
explanation. It had not really been
possible for Mrs. Johnson to get
Marguery's attention.
Still—she had managed to get
Irene’'s ear and pencil. Irene had
been almost pushed under a counter,
too, by the crowd of women.
Marguery wondered if she” should
tell Gerald. She decided not to say
an . Wait. See what Ger-
ald's mother said to Gerald.
Afterward she was glad of her
reticence. Three nights later Ger-
ald said, just as though he was not
throwing a great rock into hitherto
unsplashed pool: “Say, Marge, like
to come out to our place for dinner
one night next week?"
“Gerald! You really mean—"
“Mother said she'd like to see—
know you.”
“Oh, This is sweet of your moth-
er, Gerald!"
“Yeah o"
“What shall I wear, Gerald? I
want to look nice for your mother.”
“Why? But you might doll up:
plenty. I don't know what those
imitation pearls do to you. But
old Jake can toss a few yards of
cheap beans over your neck and,
somehow, you seem to belong in a
motion picture. Or the Metropoli-
tan Gallery.”
Dear Cerald! He sald the sweet-
est things.
She got a haircut, a fresh wave,
manicure. Irene told her about a
new perfume, Breath of Santa Bar-
bara orchards, it was called. A
white crepe skirt ana a white lace
blouse. A simple outfit; something
a girl can always wear. The
blouse was a bargain from 14th
street.
Still, looking at herself in the
Jateror, in a white Jace and pearls,
rguery was troubled. !
she look ove La po
What was wrong?
“What's wrong with you?” Irene
repeated and stared hard at her.
For some reason, none of the other
girls was jealous of Marguery.
“What's wrong with you? Marge,
Listen, if I had
1
my fect to step on.” i
rguery thought that Irene was
a little silly.
manian blood.
Well, it proved indeed to have
been Mrs. Johnson who had that
day been in the shop. Eut shedid
not say a word about that call. Her
small, compact shoulders were easil
It must be her Ru.
{
i
‘recognizable. Did she fancy that
Marguery had not seen her or read
the name on the delivery slip?
The Johnson QDATLIERt Wis Dich.
ant, and even artistic. The living
room was large and comfortable,
with a studio couch; possibly for
Boralas|
and ties marked the one
Joie 3 Feol the windows a
room, ersey was a
gold-pricked gray expanse. Mar-
Dinner was delicious, plentiful and |
Theo did mot care for girls. His you? You know, Gerald, I've got tastefully served. had the
work absorbed him. Jonens and dosens of strings of the appetite of a healthy 1 who was
Behind Theo Dore, Gerald John- | " Across the purple bleared used all her life to a y supper
son, too, looked at Marguery in her menu of the clam grill which was table. She had good manners, too, |
sleeveless white crepe blouse and Gerald's favorite eating he and she worked to win the of |
yards of Fost wares which were stared at Marguery in what seemed this small, neat hostess whose t|
not so lucent as her lovely "horror. | blue eyes were so very sharp, whose
neck. Gerald, though, drew no “Don’t you do it! I wouldn't take small mouth was so very shrewd,
long, curious breath at of al! 'em to her.”
pretty girl. That was not Gerald's “Theo wouldn't mind, Gerald! I
habit. His handsome light blue asked him. He said, ‘Sure,
eyes brightened. Gerald was slim, ahead. They didn't cost him hard-
dapper, gay and likeable at first ly an Rg
sight. At one time he had worked “Say, my mother's funny. She
in the Consolidated factory. Theo don‘t like presents. She doesn't
was still his best friend. like jewelry.
“Look at her! She can wear her plenty,
s!"” Jacob chattered in ecstasy. wear 'em.”
ery laughed and flushed, al-| So Margu
though by now she was used to quivered a little. Gerald's mother
Jacob. |was not kind. She was not fair.
It is likely that after that first Not to Gerald—nor to the girl
day Marguery Nolan never fought | whom Gerald loved and expected tc
's
of Theo Dore except as Ge marry.
friend or as a part of Gerald's back-| Theo Dore dropped into the shop
within the week. He asked
ground. Before the week was out,
she and Gerald had lunched togeth- | casually if Gerald's mother had lik-
ed the beads. He had brought
er three times and seen four pic-
ture shows. Gerald told her he Marguery a second string. Same
batch.
“Oh, no, I decided not to give
had become fed up on that stinky
them to her,” said Marguery, and
lab. Now he collected rents for a
downtown firm. Fair pay and fair
managed to s lightly. “Stingy,
that's my middle name. Some peo-
hours. He could play hookey for
ball games and es
ple don’t like presents, anyhow.
They—theyse independent.”
Theo himself gives
anyhow. She won't
desisted. Her lips
ro,
parades.
Gerald told her about his mother,
too. Gerald and his mother liv.
ed together in the West Sixties. guess Mrs, Johnson is prey
Their home was a goal of said Theo, matter of
His mother was a widow. Six factly.
weeks before Gerald was born she Marguery's lip began to quiver.
had been left destitute by her book- She turned her back to Theo. He
keeper-husband‘'s death by accident needn't see that.
on a beat excursion on Lake Mich- It was the following afternoon
igan. A plucky, blue-eyed | that into Fost shop, No. 6, which
that litle mother of his. She had occupies a prominent corner in the
worked in factories, sewed, scrub- Forties, came a small woman, with
bed, sold aluminum pans from door , rather pleasant light blue
to door to take care of her baby. eyes, in the mid.40's, dressed smart-
She nad put Gerald through high | ly enough in pale tan crepe, witha
school given him two addition- black coat; one of the
al years at technical school.
a ————
independent,”
| whose neatly
‘80 obviously
in | was sympathetic.
| crepes and coats that 14th street not agree that Mrs. Johnson had not |
cared for hands were
the hands of a con-
scientious homemaker.
In spite of his apparent gayety
Gerald was ill at ease. ery |
saw that. His eyes kept darting
uncertainly from mother fo guest,
back to his mother's face. |
“will have more roast lamb,
Miss NI 7" asked Mrs. Johnson.
Miss Nolan! She felt quite snub-
bed. Hadn't Gerald tod His woth
er that they were ?
“Another roll, Miss Nolan 2» ask-
ed Gerald, politely.
Miss Nolan from Gerald, too!
There was no maid. Shyly Mar-
guery offered to help clear table
and wipe the dishes.
“Oh, no, indeed, Miss Nolan,” said
Gerald's mother, with decision.
“Mother likes to hang her own
cups on their hooks,” laughed Ger-
a “Come into the other room.
We'll turn on the radio.”
Mrs. Johnson Seemed displeased.
“I'm not fussy, I hope. But Miss
Nolan might splash her dress. Silk
crepe spots with water.”
After the dishes were done Ger-
ald proposed a talkie, and the eve-
ning held no further chance for
| snub or intimacy.
Weeks went by, too, and months,
|and Marguery heard nothing fur-
‘ther of Mrs. Johnson. Gerald
| might have wiped his mother off the
slate of his and Marguery's day.
Theo Dore wantea to know all
about the dinner and the evening.
1
out in inexpensive shoals to | really formed a liking for
He said Gerald's mother
jammed with wo- talker,
light-blue-eyed smiled wistfully. Dear
woman stood aside from the mob are dumb, though.
to ald moodily
perfect waist below Puey were atop
could
. “She said, resentfully, after they had tak- can
en their seats.
| You've
| weeks.
| Maybe it affected me”
‘had a word with grandma.”
'side glance.
‘business.
the attitude that I'm standing around
.. Then he took her arm, |
was not a ride on a bus a while.” and then had snickered.
Marguery So, on the bus, Marguery said A salesman, too, had stared at
Theo. Men wistfully: “Theo, you don't think them, and then had Now,
‘that I'm hard on an older woman! tonight, Gerald made fun of them.
It was three months later, a That I'm asking too much from “Stinky little beads. Where'd
February evening, that Ger- her?” | you get them?
spoke about his mother. “No, Marguerite. I don't think “Theo, of course. They're little.
a bus. Marguery you ask too much from another weo- But he says they're better than any-
the bus ride; they man—or from life.” he has yet concocted.
| “At home our boys get married “Yeah? I hate that bird. He's
Gerald and bring their wives in until they lousy with money now.”
set up for themselves. We— Marguery said nothing, and
t along. We stayed friends.” Gerald accused her of sulking.
been acting dumpy for Her voice was low and miserable. | “Over my mother, I suppose.
1 can't help matters.” | Theo Dove Jooked somberly at fhe Sling As if anything is my
“I didn't know I'd been dumpy, austere shrubbery park at his ”
Goals de had a sort of my left. He said: “Civilization is a “I'm not sulking, Gerald,” she
fine thing, gue | it has made it nave ‘said pleadingly. “Not over your
for bi: to find twigs for mother, anyhow.”
ly Toone | “Yeah? What's wrong, then?”
you understand.” She She said that it was just that
into a wet ball Irene had seen him at a dance with
“It isn't easy a blackhaired girl, and Anne had
If been asking questions, too.
“Say! I don't want to hear what
that was all
ted
“Talk about what?”
“Oh, I know. we ge
“Cold nothing. Well,
mother right out, ‘Mother,
and I want to live while we're
young enough to enjoy life. Isaid, crumpled her gloves
‘We've been patient. But Margeis between her fingers.
tired tand her feet all day, for people—like Gerald and me.
vol 0g on her i y Mrs. Johnson knew me better she
dam over
nelping those fat nav might believe that living with me another girl told you she saw! She
He flung out both hands impa- wouldn't be so intolerable. I— lies. If you think I'm a liar, say
tiently, as if to signify his helpless- I'd be sweet to her. Anything in so.
life har- Marguery protested that he wasn’t
fair. Of course, she believed him.
Mar. “I don’t care if you believe me
lor not,” he declared. “A fellow
get fed up on women anc
ness in an im RY poze to keep our
“Gerald, I don't think your mcth- moO ous.”
* A y “She ought to know you,
Oh, yes, she does. guerite.”
“Theo, promise not to repeat a can
.
She's got a will.”
«J—I push her out of her own word!" debts.”
oa p “Unless you wish me to, I'll pot Within the week, they made up
“It is my home, too.” meddle.” | Gerald, laughter in his blue eyes
“Never would I forget, Gerald, “Gerald's perfectly frantic over abased himself. “Gosh, I'm fond o!
the situation.” you, Marge! I've tried to get ove:
that She built ges lome With her 'NIs how it, but I can't’ His lips tightenec
“I've kept up a good end of it the “He can’t make double money,” in an ugly line. “I was out o
last few years.” she quavered, like a heart-broken humor. Nagged at for days b)
child. mother. Want to go to the Up
“Of course you hwve, Gerald. But “iie should have stuck to the lab.” town Masque on the 14th, sweet
she built it. I'd keep on working, “Ile says that, now. He talks ness? Prize will be given for th
so she could have the apartment to about your salary and royalties, best-looking couple. In a few
herself all day, as before. I won- Theo. Oh, he isn't envious. Don't yards of white beads you'll knocl
der if she'd mind me so much eve- think that of Gerald, Theo! Ger- the others cold, Marge. He wa:
and Sundays. I—being crowd- ald's too fine for envy. But he laughing and excited at the pros
ed doesn't bother me, Gerald, gets the blues.” | pect.
Grandma lived with us till she died, “Sorry.” Theo Dore clipped the
two years ago, and none of us word, with his dark eyes turning
minded. Honestly, Gerald, I never away from the girl's troubled face.
“Doing anything with Gerald to-
It was pleasant to laugh wit}
Gerald over a gay evening. Marg
uery did not care much for prizes
“ ” 7m One had to go through a lot of sil
ar 2 je are different,” he night? Bal er a Sealt Wi
“Gerald, don't get the idea I “No. Mrs. Johnson likes him to like a boy at such prospect. Sh
blame your mother. I—I under- take her to a show Thursday and agreed to wrap herself in 1s fo
stand how she feels.” Saturday nights.” the wonderful masque its gol
“Shall we go some place? Would
you like to hear good music?"
“Oh, Theo, any place. II hate
to go home with red eyes. They'd
“Yeah? And what can I say back think Gerald and I had quarreled.”
to her? She says she likes her Fourteen hours later, Theo got
Kitchen to herself. Well, she's his friend Gerald on the phone.
been good to me. Scrubbed, ped or I just called up to say
dled, Skimped to put me throug re t's that?"
“You owe her a lot. She's fine” “A dog,” the other man repeated
The tears dripped slowly from the Slowly, and with pleasure. “A
girl's eyes. mangy, scurvy, yellow dog.
Gerald gave her a tiny, Bey You can't talk that way to
“But I am talking that way,” said
Dore, smoothly.
“What's eating you?”
the other.
“Hate is eating me.—just—hate.”
cup. But, on the 12th, Gerald wa
hurt in a taxicab collision on 6t]
avenue.
A salesman friend was with hin
and took him to a hospital, the
telephoned Mrs. Johnson and Marg
uery. Mrs. Johnson was first a
the hospital. At sight of the trin
maternal figure beside the whit
bed, Marguery stopped in dismay.
Mrs. Johnson spoke formally
“Just a sprained forearm and a fev
contusions, Miss Nolan.”
Gerald raised a bandaged and ir
ritable head from the pillow. “Gee
Marge, no need for you to tear ove
here like mad!”
But the girl, miserably yet proud
ly, looked at his mother. “Surely
Mrs. Johnson, you don’t grudge m
the right to see him when he i
hurt? Oh, you are unkind!”
“What do you mean, Miss Nc
lan?” The small, trim figure stit
fened.
On his pillow, Gerald began t
redden furiously, in panic, like
small boy caught in his mother’
closet. “Marge! Please go!"
But Mrs. Johnson put up an im
“She says we can be patient.
Soon she'll be under the sod.”
“Gerald! Such a speech from
her makes me feel horrible!”
narrow
“I wish that my would
stand two establishments, Marg.”
“Gerald!” She was aquiver with
contrition. “Don’t feel badly, dear.
NH I aa Fraid n Click!
e m * “ry u’ -
hate me as the y go on.” yo In April pale green pricks park
The years! uot months—he said and drive shrubbery. In May these
pricklings have spread, unfolding ar-
rogantly. nning with June va-
cationists abandon counters and of-
ices fo two weeks. Gerald and
mother went north. Margue
«took her vacation later. She oo
Gerald had half planned to accom-
pany Tom and Anne to a small perative hand. “Gerald, be stil
beach place. | Miss Nolan it is you who should b
Marguery spent her vacation mo- gubbed unkind. But you must nc
ney on a birthday present for Ger- fancy that an older and wiser hear
ald; cuff links. While Gerald was jjke my own is very censorious ¢
‘away, and wearing them, Theo saw yoy, No intelligent woman reall
ar I ever blurt out things, Ger. | Marguery got fresh air in the eve-! es another woman—'"'
: | “Marge! Will you go!”
“No. You're one of the best kids “blames another woman fc
on this green earth. And I don't
shouted
years.
Gerald was watching her narrow-
ly.
“Bet you'll be looking around for
another chap.”
“No! “I won't, Gerald.”
“Well, don't say I never warned
= I can't marry, Marge. That's
tt"
“I see, Gerald.”
“Mother asked me not to tell you
what she said. Don't ever let out a
word to her. She'd jump on me.”
One night she touched shyly the
little string of pearls which he had 2Sking no mercy from life—and fo
su you and she will run into agped her not to give away. gran no mercy to life. I unde
each other again. It was all Theo's “Theo, these Ay 8 Sway They're stand in your own way yo
ault she got you out for a dinner gigerent from any others which you love Gerald. And if you have bee
to have a look at you.”
“Theo 2"
“Yes. He must put a spoke in my
wheel. I told him to mind his own
tempted to keep him dangling whil
Jou hoped for some one who coul
uy you real pearls—oh, my dear,
may resent your attitude, but I d
not censure p
“Mrs. Johnson!"
Sarge. Gerald began to screan
Ho ook at me that way! It's
e!"
have manufactured. I love them.
You ought to make a lot of money
with this kind.”
“Can't duplicate them. Still try-
Marguery's head was aching. ing to make more like them.”
“Your mother—she shouldn't take cate thems soame. But youll dup-
Theo read
Her eyes were sober.
like a wolf to rend her happiness, p.. thought. :
Gerald.” “I wish Gerald was ma more ”"
“Let's forget her and her ttl: money Marguerite Truly, I do" | maternal voce was potent. “Dor
“I know that you do, Theo. Miss Nolan think a boy doesn't te
ou're erous. his mother much of what Riphens}
‘Oh—I'm not particularly gener- him? Oh, you are wise, Ne
us, Except to—to persons I care lan. I do not blame you for val
“Perhaps there is a girl she likes y
better than me.
“There's a black-eyed doll inour
ent buil . Just oved in our beauty at its commercii
parti ding "®t id for | “His mother is nice when we ng Yo T've ny hurt because yc
brunettes so much. How about ay Meet, confided Marguery, perplex- woudn't Gerald on his pre:
“The day before they left she ent salary.
7 came into the shop and said that motive was selfish, too.
rd like to see Clara Bow in her She wished that I could have come
latest.” | al
Later in the week, after a show, why didn't you say you could A city stifies me. But I couldn
in a clam place they ran into Theo 8° leave Gerald. He needs a woma:
Dore, tousled and red-eyed from ‘You—you see, a week before she g home—"
rwork, attacking a plate of shell- had asked me again to dinner. She Jt is the way of certain laughin
fish. Marguery wished that Theo telephoned me at the shop. And plue-eyed men to go to pieces in
was not so keen ht he two days later Gerald had to tell crisis. Gerald Johnson raised hin
looked at her heavy eyelids, at her Me that she rescinded the invita- self on an elbow and pointed a fu
listless hands. Then he put a hard tion. He said she had gone almost jous forefinger at the white-face
good talkie to take the taste
this ride out of our mouths,
me. And I love living on a ranc
.
glance on Gerald, who was absorb- Into hysterics, crying and on girl who stared dully at him.
ed in the menu. 'at the fear of my going with m ~~ “Well, what if I did misrepr
into the for the two weeks.” I don
Next day Thoe dropped 'sent?” he screamed.
“Interesting,” commented Theo. care!
shop. He had a tiny string of pearls Who the devil wants to t
for Marguery. od stuff, he said, 1 could like her” said Marg- himself down to one woman?"
and asked her if they did not look UerY: piteously. “If she'd let me.” | “Gerald!” The shape, not ti
like pearls. | Theo Dore said thoughtfully that sound, of the word came throug
1 to him Mrs. Johnson always appear- her white lips.
'ed a friendly person. | “Oh, don't look like a dead Ww
that they were beautiful, and for all LO You. she would be different.” nan; All along you've been
their tininess they seemed to rob “One manner for everybody Was , ety cat! Always prim as an ic
other Fost strings of certain trans- MY Impression,” he declared. “Don’t Vath me Coral mimic
lucence. | & brother want her to come out to ing- ‘don’t. That isn't nice t
“I think they're pretty good,” Nevada to keep house for him?" |gove married! Mustn't do this
Theo, clasping them on her| “Gerald said she couldn't stand pent say that—" And at t)
neck. “Don’t give them away, Mar- uprooting at her time of lite.” ‘same Be gh get a string of re
guerite. Perhaps Til never get any- | ,o,] ame of Me Shey = her pearls for “your wonderful ‘typ
thing so good for you. his | You going to wait BE on, for |
Som. neck!
Dg lS Toit) tr. Bis | Hier fo die, 50 You can be happy?~ |, Her hand flew up to the am:
They looked so real that the gi
touched them tenderly. She said
“ ” {lucent string.
ing her underlip for steadiness, she | 'Oh—that sounds horrible. Her ‘ ’ ! They're not real
found herself telling Theo a little Dreath came tempestuously. ‘T—I en y a ‘em! As
about Gerald's mother. ‘don't know, Theo. Sometimes I get
Theo listened quietly. “Would you 2 little frightened at my feeling to-
like me to talk to Mrs. Johnson, Ward her—and toward Gerald, too.”
Marguerite? Tell her that you are She stared quiveringly at the riv-| upat ne paid!”
—are the kind of daughter she © The man read her thought, as = gar rush from the room was |
would prefer for Gerald, if sheonly & man can who loves. She, Marg- ginctive. Her eyes were blinde
knew you?” j aerite, would not, in days to come, prom the white-walled hall, si
No! ‘You mustn't” she cried. “I 50 hold her own son. Her 80 pearq Mrs. Johnson saying crispl
promised Gerald. Do look at me, Would do as he wished. ‘a little sadly: “Gerald, you're lil
Theo! Promise you won't sayaword A month later, Marguery and y,, father in many ways. AJ
to her!” Gerald had a quarrel. It was in fire was easier for me—after |
“Oh, you promised Gerald!” the evening, toward the close of a | died. But you are my only son—
“Yes. I'm not asking you for help, Stuffy meal of sea food. The day phe girl did not heed. Her u
Theo. II just wanted to talk had been hot and filled with petty gorstanding was numbed.
about it a little. To some one who'd annoyances for the girl. Jacob| gtepping blindly and unnotic
‘Jake Fost—he’s cheap novelty sale
‘man along Broadway—they ¢
| know here Theo bought 'em a
He came to the to hear. He
But he would
|
|
understand.” | Fost had picked up, between pudgy |
“I won't interfere, Marguerite,” thumb and fore-finger, the smail [prom the elevator, she collided wi
he promised. | String of pearls which she liked to | (Continued on page 6, Col. 5.)