Evening Star Newspaper, February 7, 1926, Page 78

HAD NOT REJOINED HIS PARTY . . . HE SAT SMOKING IN SHORT. ANGRY PUFFS, T was on display—fold on fold of | shining, regal velvet hanging from the standards of the coun ters. Frowm far down the aisles of the department store it caught 1he eye, colors brive under the stream of artificial “daylight” poured on “clectrically, There was the scarlet ardinals and the purple of kin bunting green and golden brown “Fhere was black so soft in its depths 1hat it seemed to be rathomless .}nrl duil blue velvet like the lining of a jewel case. The colors arrayed them Selves togather without clash because they were perfect and confident: and among them. hanging om its sup- port like the dress of a gueen, was a pieca of ivory velvet so soft and Im practical and wasteful in its delicacy that it hung there all day uncut The first snow was softly falling out- side. and the warmth and majesty of tha velvet suggested Winter beauty o many a shopper. Blondes with bleach 1 hair bought the blue velvet. hoping nly that it could restore their fuded | ;auty. Women with bold eyes bought lengths of the scarlet, which could | only accent their boldness. Women | Who should have bought golden brown hose green, and many mistakes wer: 1ade because the soft depths of color tempted women into hopes of loveli- <ss and did not warn them of th wricature which lurks on the other side of beautiful things and reveals 1self if they are misplaced even a lit- | e It v was in the middle of the after-| moon rush when Judith Leland came | down the a e in her quiet, dfirect way. She had none of the halting manner of the casual buyer, but went | gravely about her business as if shop- | ping were a necessity which rather bored her. Beside her trotted her mother, a little woman shrouded in Alaskan sealskins, whose imperative, | expensive look sent saleswomen Lustling toward her as if they scented the limousine walting for her outside in the falling snow. “If you're going to look at materials o ahead, Judith,” said Mrs. Jarvis. | I''l be right there. I want to stop at the glove counter just long enough | 10 return those gloves that split.” { “It won't take me long.” answered | Judith. “I'm just getting some dark blue crepe. I wish I could have found something ready made.” HE sat down at the dress goods| counter without interest. It had | been horrid. hunting around for a| dress ready to wear. All of them look- | «d badly on her; all of them had made | her resentful of herselt as she had| come to be. The mirror had again' and agalin given back the imag= of a | heavy-eved voung woman With a| \weight of smooth, badly dressed hair. | She had tried to belleve it was the 1ault of the gowns, and finally in her discouragement had refused to try on more of them. She would buy some material and let Miss Ralnes make it for her. And now she didn't want to buy material. The fabrics which the clerk spread before her were all as distaste- ful as the gowns had been. She | turned them over dully. Black, dark | Tlue—stuff for dresses to serve the | double muster afternoon and evening | —the proper clothing for a divorced woman who didn't go out much, who Jiad to be clothed even if no one cared how she looked, lenst of all herself. Black crepe, navy-blue satin, choco- late brown-—sad-colored materfals— much what _she had always worn, to be sure. It was what she always would wear henceforth. Her eyes yested resentfully on the velvets, and vague thought trailed through her mind that hundreds of women wore evening dresses of such materfal. Kirk probably knew women who didn’t bore him, women whom he dldn’t affront with his speeches and his actions— beautiful women! ' Would you consider velvet?" asked the salesman. “Nothing so elaborate swered shortly. “They're very beautiful,” he in- sisted; “all-silk velvet. We're selling a | #reat many of them for afternoon and evening There's a lovely Viack.” He held it before her, and Judith felt_angry. Why ume that she must have black? “I'm not interested in black velvet, repeated Judith. “The colors are lovely, too. There a wonderful shade of green—quit new."” Judith fingered the dark cloth xpread before her, trying to shut out 1 the sight of the velvets. They had | nothing to do with her and she knew | it. but the thought of them, bright | and proud for decking out successful | women, taunted her. She hated the il stuff before her. “A very good twearable piece—du uble,” the clerk argued on returning from his disgression on velvet to the #ale before him, and holding n breadth the materfal up under his chin, absurdly. i Judith felt a kind of nausea at the - thought of buying. She wished her { mother would conclude her wrangle | over the split gloves and come. Her «ves went from the crepe to the shin- = velvets and again she was dis whed. “Let me see that piece of clvet,” she said unexpectedly “The clerk, used to strange shifts in | woman shoppers, took it down for her, | and Judith slipped one hand under its | Tolds. beautiful, so useless— -a; dress for o wedding. an evening dres for a slim, dark woman. She Hked | ihe soft luster, the shining simplicity. | “Beautiful, isn't i The clerk | troke in upon her reverie, almost | stavtling her. “Six vards of it. please,” said Tu- ith, toning her voice to indifferenct “Yes—T'll take the crepe, also.” QHIE saw her mother approaching | and felt ridiculous. But the sci wors had already begun to slither 1hrough the velvet when Mrs. Jarvis ned her daughter. “They were horrid about 1 she_ said. she an- e | | ivory | those “I spoke to the ianager and he adjusted it. Really insolent! Did you get what you wanted, Judith?” She looked observ- ntly over the counter. “That blue pe? Sure it won't crock? Are you sure, young man? That cream velvet 1=n’t for you. is it, dear” Rut if vou wanted velvet. Judith, why didn't you the black? Or the pretty piece of Jrown—so lovely with vour hair? Where can you wear that” That fream for a wedding dress K surcly wew't need it 4 { cover up ! rest before dinner, Judith. Appleby ] made ously. Judith was coming along very well, but there had been one or two times since she had left that man when she had been.pretty ad.” Mrk. vis decided to waive further discussion of ind th its tone t her nery lith in her low volce, hint of something in her mother !the velvet. Judith knew that tolerant silence of Ler mother. It was purt of the dread ful stilluess that had” surrounded her eak with Kirk—when no one spoke of Kirk or the fact that she had been bused and neglected. Tt surrounded er now as she went out of the shop ith her mother and th took their places in the limousine drawn up to the curb. A boy on.the curb with tray of flowers tricd to sell them bunches of doctored violets. Judith shuddered. Such things were always happening to jog her memory. If Kirk had been along he would have stopped to buy the violets. He might buy them for a peace offering or to flagrancy, but he always hought her flowers. Toward the end of her endurance it had seemed that he took the beauty and fragrance out of them. They always were the cul- mination of some episode. Once when the car swerved a little Mrs. Jarvis spoke through the tube to the chauffeur and told him to go slower. Peaceful and safe, the snow tell around them, and Judith knew that she should be contented. During her turhulent five years of marriage it had sometimes scemed that if she could ever get through the dreaded period of separation and divorce, free- dom would be heaven. And here she was—free. last she had time to rest. and wondered what on earth she would do with that velvet. Such a wad purchase! Though Judith had married Kirk Leland, she was born a wealthy Jarvis, and the Jarvises never wasted. “Mr. Appleby is coming to dinner, you remember,” said Mrs. Jarvi “and tomorrow night there is that play at the Orpheum.” It was as if she was trying to re. mind Judith that life was full of events, and Judith felt ungrateful not to meet her mother's attempt half way. “I asked Grace, too, went on. ‘“Perhaps - Mrs. Jarvis had better You look ou a little tired.” , “Why should T be tired?" “You're hardly over the strain said Mrs. Jarvis, briefly and kindly. She was always kind to Judith. She had been kind all through the shock of finding that her daughter had mar- ried unwisely and that everything which had been done must be un done, that lawyers must be consulted and difficult testimony discussed with them. Just as she had marrled Ju- dith to Kirk Leland, so she had un- married her, making both processes as easy as she could, * % % UDITH chose one of her dark dresses for dinner. There were plenty of good gnes. She remembered that she had bought another today. and then she wondered when the ivory velvet would be delivered and what on earth she would do with it. She parted her hair accurately and drew it up, loosening it slightly, then pulled it back to her neck, where she twisted it in a coil and fastened it with long bone hairpins. Nothing disturbed her. There was nothing now to break con: IN THE LIVING ROOM, LATER, She relaxed in her soft corner | That the Purchase of Six Yards of Ivory Velvet Would Change Her Life Never Occurred to Judith. the three of them Judith felt astray. She had been unsettled so long, while | the comfort of these three had re. | mained undisturbed. She marked the ght tightness of Mr. Appleby’s vest | scross the front, the tightness of good dining and an easy mind. and remem- bered painfully in her secret | roshes of memory lithe and strong Kirk had been wonder he | was vain. one how N the living room, later, the badly balanced company of three women ind one man played bridge, Mrs Jurvis her avid woman's game, Cousin Grace her timid, apologetic game, and | Judith nervously, in partnership with | | Mr. Appleby’s slow game. Judith was | always nervous. though she knew that | Mr. Appleby, for all his condescen- sions, did not play well He' complimented her “Well done, Mrs. Leland. Leautifully played. You surely the game.™ “I lost a trick slam She tried That was know 1t should have been to tell him about it. but he put her off with further compli ments, pleasant, fulsome, well rounded compliments, There was no evading his courtesy. and it annoyed Judith She had played well but made a blun- fder, and she anted to get at the! thing on merits. while he buzzed | |eround her with compliments. But "ln‘ was kind. Kirk would have scowl- |ed or sworn under his breath if she ! | bad lost that trick. Bridge in his com- | {pany was nerve-racking | The evening wore on, hand after | hand unimportantly played. Nobody {was greatly excited. They exhausted t hours until 11 o'clock. Cousin | Grace and Mrs. Jarvis went upstairs | then, for Cousin Grace was spending | the night, and Judith was left alone [ with Mr. Appleby. { | "I should go before I outstay my welcome, but it’s been such a delight iul evening that T hate to see it end | She smiled at him. The dark dress ! hung straight from her shoulders. She had a girl’s young figure, 4nd in spite | | of her trouble, her face was unlined 1t was a delicate face with eyes that drooped a little and a chin held high, | as if that welght of hair at the neck | pulled it back. She had wealth and | |beauty and a kind of frosted charm, land these things were not at all un pleasant to Mr. Appleby “You are looking very well, Mrs Leland. You are resting this Winter.” “I do not need to rest.” He hinted delicately she had been under. { I hope I shall see more of | Now and then, if T may come to |it would make me very happy {mother and I are becoming friends. We do a little business | zether now and then. T hope we, t Mrs. Leland, will be great friends She krew this soft approach, this padded and respectable way of mak- | {ing love. As well as if it had already | | happened, she saw Mr. Appleby mak ing up his mind to marry her. ‘I'd like to show you some of my collections some day. I must give a party. I've picked up things here and there. You like travel?” “I have traveled a good deal,” Judith simply. She saw Mr. Appleby way across continents What did he collect. she wondered vaguely. Travel! Yes, she had| traveled—she and Kirk. Wild days, unhappy days in countries where she d not know the language; miserable, tragic, brutal hours—strange hotels— Kirk in those glorious first months before he had begun to wear through | his passion for her. Her cheeks | flamed feverishly, and Mr. Appleb: «dmiringly thought that he must be getting on well with this desirable lady. He held her slim white hand in his plump one and laid his other over it. It was an inoffensive caress, but she held her chin higher even while she | I | | at the strain | i you all, our fast to Y | | | { said picking his | collecting | | | | | { | THE BADLY BALANCED COMPANY MAN PLAYED BRIDGE. L well the crepe and the wastetd] he unwrapped the package indolently and thrust the paper into the waste-basket. The roll of velvet was wrapped in white tissue. Judith unrolled it and the fabric tempted her gain with its suggestion of beauty She stepped out of her dark dinner dress and wrapped the velvet around Its luster gave her skin its fuil tribute. 1t was as fine as the velvet. She fancied herself in evening dress, ind found a band of silver ribbon in her dressing table which she tied wbout her hair. As she posed. Mr. Appleby dropped out of her mind—and Cousin Grace— and her mother. She was in_evening dress and at_a ball where Kirk saw her, and she looked at him coldly and proudly. le had said that she wa prudish and provineial, that she 1 » freedom of mind. He had told he that she didn’t know how to and she had become the wore detes wined that he should appreciate the veserves of a lady. She had tried by her rectitude to force him to admit ber points. Well, he had admitted hem in the divorce court. She needed no rouge now. The volor was b in her cheeks as she thought of these things. She pulled the velvet into a bodice; the silver «l in her hair enchanted her. Then suddenly she tore off the ribbon and the folds of velvet slid to the floor. make up velvet. | Sinking on the bench, she dropped her head on her arm . X and wept * * % APPLEBY quaintance, the ac He was to be seen ently ascending the dignified steps of Mrs. Jarvis' home. He brought Judith books now and then He took her riding in his well ap pointed car and they drove carefully, for he, like her mother, was cautious, Mrs. Jarvis was clearly cognizant of what was going on and had no doubt of his intentions, “Mr. Appleby men I have ever Judith, Judith smiled, hér smile. She was trying these upy her mind, trying 1 ver, as If she felt that e to present an alibi to if she were to refuse (ttentions. Yet in way she was grateful for the attention. He kept her from sinking into that dreadful uk of “unwanted women.' ISS HAINES was making up the M i blue crepe. It was formal afternoon dress, which for evening. Around collar of lace. It was fashionable without pursued of the finest she told is one known weary, half caus tic rder she M to oc than might Apple his its neck accu- being was a rately smart. velvet. ing of the new had given the city such a thrill of ex. Citement with his appointments and his dictatorial remarks on clothes. ‘The thought of him and of the ivory vet simmered in her mind, and one day she found herself in his antero with her material on her lap, waiting. When he looked at the velvet he smiled, and then looked again at Ju- dith’s high head and her cheeks where the natural color was heightened. “You choose very well. You know your style.” When the gown as finished and <ent to her home she hung it away vithout trying it on, thoroughly ishamed of it. But she knew how it ivoked. and sometimes the waste of it hothered her. hanging €o lonesomely in her wardrobe, straight and plain, with its silvered ornament at the hip id its lovely shaped low bodice. Irom the moment it hung there ali her other evening clothes. the pink satin with beads. the black lace with three flounces, became absurd. She She heard some women talk- OF THREE WOMEN AND O fusingly into her planned routine, no nervous fear of a husband's mood, no jealous question concerning his where- abouts, It was exceedingly comfort- able. The chaise longue heaped with cushions, invited her to take that “little rest” her mother had advised, but Judith had lain too often there without resting. She dressed herself in one of the dark dresses, and with. out much interest made sure that she was neat. Mr. Appleby beamed on her as she sat across from him an hour later. It was a kind beam, not too warm, Lot exciting. man with thin hair. but personable in o fashion of his own. Mr. Appleby was the junior member of her mother’s legal representatives. The senlor member of the firm had secured Judith her divorce in his hushed and competent fashion and so doubtless Mr. Appleby knew all about her mari- tal troubles. Judith was consclous, as she looked at her mother sitting so full of possession at the head of the table, that Mrs. Jarvis thought highly of Mr. Appleby and that she thought highly of .marriage too. Cousin Grace, who liked a good din- ner and never got too many of them. was eager over the roast duck. Mr. <0 had the air of one ay Mot Aie He was a middle-aged | hesitated to draw away for fear of exaggerating his gesture. | “Good night,” he said at last: “‘we | need not say good-bye. 1 am sure it is cnly au revofr, Mys. Leland. * k% k¥ ! W ITH him gone. the house was'so { still that Judith almost wished | him back again. She told herself for | the hundredth time that she must de- {velop interests, must shake off these { lurking, unadmitted thoughts and find | {something that’ would engage her | minad. { ) There was nothing to do but to g0 o bed. She ought to be thankful that . she could go peacefully to bed instead | of waiting up to see when Kirk would come in, if indeed he came at all. He | | had been outrageous, she thought for the millionth time; and treading on the Leels of that thought came the wonder | why she hadn't managed to hold him | more successfully. When they were first married, he had cared. More than that, he had been happy during all those months, happy as & boy, full of plzns, and even dreams. Kirk had dreamed grandly. She pressed the button in her wall. and the soft shadowed lamps lit her 'oom. On the dressing-table bench ay a long thin package wrapped in iper. That wonld he the material Haines to | knew now why Kirk had serewed up his eyes when he looked at her in them. * ok ok x HE first snow had been followed by others until the ground was thickly covered. Judith had been fill- ing empty days. She bad taken an extension course at the university and learned sométhing gbout psycholosy nd something more ‘about economics. She had joined two musical clubs and one woman’s club and attended re- citals and lectures. She crowded her days with virtuous appointments, vet the days remained saggingly empty. For all she did, nothing seemed real to absorb her. Her mother talked brightly of her new interest in things and Mr. Appleby complained that she had hardly any time for him now. Yet it seemed to Judith sometimes as it she walked in 2 vacunm. At Christmas Mr. Appleby sent her roses and a_magnificent sandalwood workbox. He came around later to recefve his thanks. and they spent the afterndon together. He was near a proposal that day; and Judith avoided | it. She hardly knew why she staved it off, for she had come 1o know that he was kind and good and protective, and that he would doubtlass. as mother had eald, abways be “zoud tu dress, | would do as | Judith had not shown her the | man dressmaker who | kind to_Judith and insisted that she go to Hot Springs with her. They arrived there at night, and it was next Monday, that Mrs. Jar vis felt the first' tortures of an ulcerating tooth which by evening confined her dinnerless and miserable to her bedroom. Judith tried to make her mother comfortable, and when the old lady was well surround ed by hot-water hottles, Judith stole away into her own room to order din ner served there for herself. It was very quiet, for they had chosen rooms where_they could not hear the sounds from below. Judith looked restlessly about her, but even then she did not consider going down to the public rooms alone. It was at this point that her eye fell on her opened trunks and on a shimmer of ivory velvet. In- stantly something ‘within her asked: “Why not?” The head waiter showed the beauti | ful newcomer in the velvet dinner dress to a conspicuous table. He recognized quality when he saw it and hovered around her. It was { completely new experience to Judith +to have men turn their heads as she passed Her heavt high as usnal, and she FEvery- thing about her right. and she knew it. The long silky scarlet scarf which she carried she had bought one day and hidden away. Her hair was not displayed to the hest advantage, or so mother would have thought. She had tightened it and tucked it away until it looked like a thick hobbed shock, and around it she had put a narrow silver ribhon. But it was not. the ribbon or the scarf or en the ivory veivet: it was a sen satfon that came into Judith's consciousness, fecling of belonging 10 a scene and dominating it, of be consciously beantiful and of feeling kindly toward every one who admired her. ~ She had ordered dinner and meant to enjoy it_in confidenc Then she saw hifi—not so far away, h a party of six whom she did not know. He was sitting rather stifly, and she knew in that quick single glance that not only was it Kirk but ped her scarf carelessly about he shoulders, seated herself beside a pillar You a man’s true de- | and waited. A mirror across the room told her how lovely she was, as she half concentrated on the book she had bought at the n sstand. Kirk passed her. alone. She lowered her eyes and guessed that he did not even glance down as he went by. But she had a glimpse of his face. It was | leaner than it used to be. and at closer nge it did not seem 8o much viclous | as miserable. Her blood quickened. !In a vear she had not had this sense of being alive, this thrill of interest. Kirk had not rejoined his party. She saw the others leave the hotel. swathed in motor coats. He sat in a corner of the lounge. smoking in short, angry puffs. Judith watched him, and other men about her watched Judith, and one or two tried to gain her notice. But absorbed as she was in watching the wretchedness of Kirk. and wondering what was up now. she aid not them. A hundred mem- ories and pities rushed through her mind. He seemed so close over there, 1d 8o natural, as if at any moment he might come over to her, full of { familiar irritation or perhaps with some wild. gay proposal. She gazed | too intently, {oo forgettingly, for it his family.” It wodld be a less empty life it she married him and it would drive away the ghosts of the other vears. In February Mrs. Jarvis always| | went to Virginia Hot Springs for a | month. She liked the hotel and she | liked looking on at gayety without par- | ticipating in it. It was her annual de- | bauch, and she suggested, of course, | that Judith accompuny her. It was this which brought Mr. Appleby’s suit (0 @ head, for he did not want Judith | out of his reach. One early February afterncon in the Jarvis drawing room he asked her to marry him. He was explicit and definite about himself. “I am not a young man.” he said. “I have passed the age when 1 can change my habits greatly. 1 know that our tastes agree, Judith, and so | T think we could be happy together.” “How old are you?" asked Judith somewhat crudely “Forty-eight,” suid with a slight grimace Kirk was 40 now He didn’t think | imself old. e never intended to be sld. he had so often declared “We have the same tastes” My Appleby continued. I am sure that with your love of dignity and peace I could mike vou happy “It's hard to make countered Judith. Tle looked at her with amusement There was no ripple on the surface of Judith’s calm. ““None the less, manage it,” said Mr. Appleby with some jocoseness. “I'd like to make up for what has heen uphappy in vour past—nake vou forget it." 1 shall never forget it “In time I think you will. rwise now because you to it.” “I feel that.way because T cherish it.” said Judith suddenly: “because, miseruble as T was, unhappy as I was, I loved my husband.” “Was it love?” he questioned with rentle didacticism “Was it love? Don't you think perhaps there's a finer kind than you had, Judith?” | faybe.” Let me show n.” he ur But Judith only said that she would think it over. She didn't quqite let go 1 Mr. Appleby, because there was something in his kindness and de y that did help to fill up those ty days. There were times when seemed quite warm and expan- And he was safe. He could be 1 he never would be cruel, | _“You are very pretty tonight.” satd {Mr. Appleby. Judith wis wearing one of the dark dresse with the lace at the throat, the good and proper ones for divorced woman who had suffered “I like that dress,”” Le went on. “I've others that I k better in.’ She thought of the ivory velvet. . If she married Mr. Appleby, she could wear that. “Anything you wear beautiful to me, he «aid ingly. “Your taste is perfect.” She felt uplift at_the praise — rather a faint boredom. But she could 1wt tell him either yes or in spite of his urging. She asked for time, and in that he saw the result of her recent “strain” and natural re. luctance to enter upon marriage 1gain. Mrs. Jarvis felt the same way about it. being very conscious of what was going on. She was very Mr. Appleby serene. me happy,’ I think 1 could | | You feel | are so | | | e Iie sive | trusted 1 would be sound twist his head quickly to see who was regarding Lim. Before she had time to lower her eyes, she had caught his i | must have been that which made Kirk | | | amazed recognition and the white, | puzzled look that went with it. In stantly she forgot her dress, her con | idence, her assumed manner. Shrink that Kirk was not feeling agre | She read accurately that slight curve |of his lip, the double wrinkles in his | foret@ad from which his black hair ! waved back as gallantly as ever. He | wan mmaculately dressed. but o | tired-lookng, and certainly ill-tem i pered, thought Judith She' shifted her chair a little so her face was hidden. For she mea her new confidence, to enjoy this ey sode. 1t didn't overcome her or daunt her. She had a sudden determination bring him to gcknowledge her cha ber beauty. But how to manage it <he did not know. The dinner passed | In_the lounge outside people we talking in groups, having coffee at | small tables, reading, writing. Judith | ing back into herself, she rose and went hurriedlr to the elevator. grate. | ful for gilt gates that clanged even | Kirk started from his chair | * ok ok ¥ { JN ber own room, with the door shut, { & everything that had happened be low seemed like a dream. This what her life was, this safe r The mirror gave back her image seemed 1o say that it was a etreat for one so beautifu 1ight telephone the room. 1o would perhaps. Ie might at least. But half-hour passed, and the telephone remained silent. ' She thought then it probable that he had left ! v disgust at having run |into her.” For another half-hour she { sat there, hoping unadmittedly for the telephone. It did not ring, and grad- { ually she knew that it wouid not, that | she might sit and sit there until her { vouth vanished—sit there forever | Careful. lest she wake her mother. | she pulled the light low and openec hier door into the hall, with only cold desperation and secret hope that b low she would Kirk again show him that she didn't care { she drew in her breath with for there, leaning posite her door. was Kirk. ““Judith”" was all he said | She could not answer. | the door behind her., entrance. but with her heart tre in her throat. “Here's the bad penny,” he sa There was the same old s amused, almost philosophic loc eves. Judith knew that twitch ¢ | lips s he seemed to laugh at his weak- | ness and accepr i T didn’t quite T | | hotel, a have the courage to knock.” he ventured. “but you gave | me such a s look at you down | stairs. And I've been hungry for or k as if it agreed with you to be . Judith.” T suppose perhaps ! Words tremiled on her tongue— | | words describing her loneliness and | | pain. her wretchedness through empty | months. They sought to form theni- selves into a flood of accusation and anger. Then her hand touched the|{ JUDITH DRAPED HER SCARF CARELESSLY ABOUT HER SHOULDERS, SEATED HERSELF BESIDE A PILLAR AND WAITED. his | soft depth of her velvet skirt something reminded her that, thoug he had been drawn back to her, would be only charm and loveliness that would keep bhim. Argument er could It's a rotten empty world. Juditi I threw away the only thing I rea ted in it. Is it any satisfaction to know that? she answered, and wondered nissic had tried to forcé from hi he said. “like and so heaut “n how beautifn How serene vou are. the peace of tl full I'd traly 1 " had thonght Juditi pink-<at 1 sie d dress not_spea Wil to me? “What abou “I hadn't come downstairs and ta asked Judith zone quite that 1 mind. 1t would by suppose, and of the t1 All the things I've said before. , perhaps—hopes. Judith, to come hack have come_ bacl if T'd had wouldn’t sma tread to you 1 confidence b Your faith upon your lov all y ove little them. Bu 1 can’t ask you to be iove without thos: all thos: suretie; Nt ople do love have any right to or not As I lov ur sweet, accusing face following me all ov the world and telling me what a brute I'd been! I didn't’ mind the accusations. The were truc enough. But I wanted to mfort you. Now I've the idea you don't comfort—or want to see His ¢ splas| Judith 1c s res d azai ed on the scarlet scarf st the depths of ivor oked at h with its tired lines of mockery, ter. humorous mouth and the that were ko eager and miserable. An 1ddenly she was tired of all this dis cipline of her love. all the badgering f it and demanding and standing o: ght Kirk—Kir! the tremble in in his thi r husband's fa < all she said; and voice as he held he: ms and told her all the tende: she had starved to hear was d comy beautiful than ever.’ & her for further al isn’t any other mar 1're me he said. relea miration “The there?" Confidence had 1 back into his face along appiness. How quickly he his cap of worry to don the becoming plume of triumph! ught of Mr. Appleby. 15 a1 he admitted was Kirk “There “who S * S more than one.” said Kir but I'm the only one who's get what he want: (Coprright. 1926.) Arpericans Continue To Pleasant |like a parasite absorbing the beaut |dlgnity, wit, ease and leisure all taround him. The year passed. He liad a small fixed Income, just enough to live on decently. with careful ex penditure. He had no money to be Parisian” or to “play up” Paris. He did not need to do anything of the Lind. nd above streets. After 15 vears he is still at it. He Jias sold his American birthright ‘for mess of elegant leisure, sitting and | chatting with other Americans jAmerica® All Parisined! You call this lad an expatriate. Perhaps so. All the same, he meets more Amer- icans than you do! These Parisined Americans are con- stantly meeting crowds of Americans like themselves in Paris—or on the road to hecome so. Tt is astonishing how they com: from all parts of the United States. “They come, youngish, not only from Harvard, Yale, University of Penn HEILIG. January 28 who comes to PARIS, VERY American Paris ~risks inoculation by ! Parisine. It is a subtle poison in the air o Paris. first named arid described by Nestor Reque. plan> Those who get it good and rong have a mania to sit down and Their steady occupation is to nieet people. Between times. they rub. her every one and everything in sight. Our Americans say that it is art, tra- dition and culture that bring them tv Paris. It may be tyue—before Parisine gets them. It is said of them that they come to drink, live more, cheaply pose, ape, loaf and “be themselves.” They soon get over the drinking. What fun is it o “throw a wild party” where booze is so plentiful that no one takes the trouble? Parisine cleans tem noon-tea he loved specialist—but, i the beautiful hooze out of the sys I would bring a boozing boy to il to cure him—he finds nobody to keep it up with, except newcomers like himself; and all the others seem ashamed to be seen with a “stewed | party. The girls. take notice, are| : 3 ! everywhere, and their presence dis.|*ylvania and Columbla, but from the courages not drinking. but soaking. Dlains colleges of Texas and Kansas The boys sit chatting without excite- | the_srain and dairy-built universities ment.”"Parisine i working In them: {0f Towa and Wisconsin. the Chicago AS for posing and “being yourselt,” Gold Coast, the hardware stores of it Tasts three months. The ihrong of | Fine Buff, Ark. the cattle plains of ccentric Americans around the Dome | the Southwest and the apple orchards ! Cafe, in the Latin Quarter, renews |°f Oregon and Washington. itself in about that time. What fun isi Middleaged — Americans throng {it to pose when nobody admires” What | ’arls, married couples, to get more | distinction is it to “be voutself” where | Tor their money, to “take a couple of all are doing just what they please?|Years' rest,” to fulfill an'ideal, or be- | They follow the line of least resist-cause dissatisfied at home. fance—which avoids all strain of ec.| American business men who have centric dress and behavior. Parisine | “Mmade a clean-up” are led.to Paris does this, also. Tt is the placid poison. | by their wives. [ say “business men’ “I have a feeling that Paris softens |1l @ Wide sense. i you.” said an American who has been | {Yom American small citles, sold out {in Paris nearly two vears. “You get | softer and sefter every vear. If you ;Der- - | stay more than two years iwithout | -\mericans—retired with a competence | golng back to the States. the chances | before 50. and hesitating what to do. lare that you will become a cafe | They look in on Paris—and Parisine | Philosopher and afternoon tea special- | gets them! {ist.” 1" All these are touched by Parisine. ! He had discovered Parisine without ; + knowing its name or existence! i Americans are seldom | l Very rich D Parisine these days. They | i There are all kinds of retired oisoned by V2o back and forth so much that Neéw i York, Paris and London are the same {to them. 3 l { Moderate tourists are attacked on a | short trip. Old maids and widows suc- | | cumb alarmingly. So, also, a disgrun- | {tled type of American business man | {past 50. As for the young, inoculate } {the ambitious young American with i | Parisine, and he js setiled for life! ) !" Of a hundred young Americans, | uinety prove refractory to Parisine. Yes, but the other ten? They, too, come bright-eyed and vigorous. They | breathe the atmosphere, and all is | over with them! ! T remember a young law graduate | of Philadelphia. Before starting in to ibecome a famous corporation counsel, he came for a year's “polish” abroad: | Arriving in Paris, his first breath was jan intoxication. The gay streets, the {shade trees, the fountains, monu- { ments. promenades, parks, sidewalk “terraces” and kaleidoscopic throng were a. revelation. ie seemed to recog- nizele\'er.\'llun& and found everything Zood. He hegan the Areamy life of an int, TEEY FORGY He became a cafe philosopher ! There are retailers | 2nd come to Parls, in surprising num- | to Succum b Poison in Air of Paris Some will have the energy to get | back home: but the majority will | slump into the Americanized Paris | life which passes in sitting around | and making acquaintance of other Americans. They get more society in Paris than ther ever had at home--and it is| American_soclety! In home cities, they knew a small circle, humdrum | and monotonous. withoul men—the men were occupied, all day, in business: and if their wives were any £ood, they let them rest, at night.| | after dinn But in Paris American . about | men are as lefsurely as the women. | might say | They spend their time in endless chat, | |in Jazy afternoon teas! Parisine does it. Continually meeting people like| themselves keeps Americans in Paris| | placidiv occupted. so that they forget |all haste and struggle. Teas their tvpe of highest activity. When | men get inoculated with Parisine they | become capable of attending teas jevery afterncon—and actually give| teas of their ow i Can you imagine half a dozen American men joining together to ve a pink tea to the girls? We see former roughnecks do it. in| Parie. e meet pugilists, socially,| at pink teas! Paris is the only city| where American business men take | time off for afternoon teas! Parisine is the poison which makes you content. 4 Contented people. it is understood, are bound to degenerate. Noble dis content is the secret of all progress. | Well, these Awiericans had discon- | tent at home. They were struggling | 10 amass a competence, to rise above | thefr surroundings. Discontent and ambition, in truth, mean the same! thing. But, by association of ideas. | the means to win the object becomes, | | in time, the object itself—most Ameri- | | cans with money take their pleasure in making more money. Probably it s & good thing for American prosper- ity. But do not call them contented! Now, these crowds of Americans in | N I o o - [m{ = ANMD STRUGGLE 2 ALL IASTE Paris (poisoned with contentment) are about as near contented as folks get! Compared with the rush and strain at home, they are tranquil and at peace. If vou understand me, they are satistied, easy in mind, appeased soothed, calmed. untroubled and rest. In other words, their new lif in Paris is quiet. serene and placid, unmoved, still, undisturbed. They auw assuaged’ They are not wi are the wild ones comer d. The tourists nd a few new Our friends take in the Paris theaters. the cabarets, the races, vou in passing. The Paris setting delights them They have got away from strug and” ambition. They have slumped back to the pleasure of mere lving And they are charmed to find each other so’ nice! Here, exactly, is the great dange of it all Because Americans are so nice, the fatal poison of Parisine keeps moi and more of them in Paris. Can't see it? Only in the leisure of Paris af: erncon teas do Americans of Pennsy! vania and Michigan discover how nice the Americans of Texas and Tennessee are. So, Americans of Massachusetis and Missouri come to appreciate Americans of California and Flori So, from all over. In the hursy and fatigue of home life, what chance ha« America at_selt-knowledge? Ameri cans meet in Paris, and they are : revelation to each other. (Like the beautiful street They are nice, nice, nice—the nices people in the world: and they find | out about each other only when the. get the time, in Paris! So they stay right here, in Par enamored of each other and of lazy content which Parisine inflicts them. It makes them sit and cha They chat about America. In the Atlantic Ocean offshore I tween Miama and Key West near! 600 varieties of fish are found. “CONTINUALLY MEETING PEOPLE.KEEPS AMERICANS IN PARIS PLACIDLY OCCUPIFD. SO THAT PARISINL DOES 1L -