Evening Star Newspaper, February 28, 1926, Page 42

By Amelie Rives [Princess Troubetzkoy] Through an error, the install- ment of “The Adopted Wife’ printed in The Star of yesterday should not have been used un- til next Friday. The regular installment of yesterday is run with that of today. SYNOPSIS. Celiz Gibls is left an orphan by the death her ucathe her to the 1 hirge by placing and, when she is live. Two (Continned from Friday's INSTALLMENT IX. Celia’s Absurdity. 1A’S glance and tone made lilary think of a hare sud denly alert at danger behind its screen of brushwood. “I mean Serge Kirilenko, Tle is one of the finest young fellows I kno . Gifted, sensitive, honorable. in every way. . If T had a daughter I'd ask nothing better for her than such a man as husband.” Cella was silent for what seemed to Hilary a long time, then she remarked in a c , natural tone “I've always thought ‘husband’ such a very ugly word.” Hilary looked at her keenly. Was ehe trying to be funny, in order to postpone the issue? ~Somehow he couldn't imagine Celia trying to be funny. But what a queer way to answer his recommendation of Kirl lenko! He had better, he thought, take her naturally as it had been spoken. So he smiled and said that he, too, didn’t think the word husband particularly euphonious, but that what he wanted to talk to her about was the substance it represented and not ymbol itself. “In fact, my dear,” he concluded, “I had a letter from Kirilenko this morning. In it he makes you another proposal Now don't speak too quickly!” he begged, as he saw her lips part. Celia’s lips closed obediently, and he went on to say not only a few but a great many things with some elo- quence. He could not have spoken so con- vincinely, of cou had he not be- t he was ng. When he at last and asked anxiously: Celta? . What am I v to Kirflenko » replied at once: “Please don't ry with me but if you will be o kind, say T am sorry, but that I can’t think of marrying him."” “But that's cruel, Celia! to send him word that vou can't even think of marrying him! . . . Why won't you say instcad that you wiil think of 1t, and then see more of him? 1 am s that vou'd change yeur mind if you saw more of him." “No,” " sald Cella, with decision. “That would be cruel, because now I only don't want to marry him, but if T saw more of him I should dislike him.” “Dislike a man for loving you and wanting to marry you?” asked Hilary, in a reproachful tone. “That is t what makes it so un- leasant. Besides, he doesn't really ove me. He may think so, but he only really loves his queer statues. I Celia | obstinacy. ook like =0 he imagines he loves me . e » “Celia! How can you be so ab- surd?” cried Hilary, but he was glad the room was darkened, because he felt the blood ng into his face. There was just enough truth in what she said to make him feel uncomfort- able. “I isn't absurd . It's true,” said Celia calmly. “You must have noticed it, haven't you? “I certainly have not,” he answered some {rritation. “You might say f any caricature of vou any more weighty reason to give me fbr refusing even to consider his offer?” he inquired at last, trying to keep his irritation out of his voice this time. “N id Celia, “except Vell? Except . . . “Except that T don’t want to marry any one . ." She added firmly, before he could speak: “I dislike the idea of marriage.” “Do you mean you dislike it because you don't happen to like Kirilenko? Or In itself?” “I dislike it in every way. never marry. Thix, coming on top of last night's fruitless vigll, and her quenching of that one ray of hope, quite exasper- ated him “You say that very coolly, my dear girl. Have you ever thought what you will do if you don’t marry? Her quick glance showed surprise. “I have money of my own 5 $5.000 a ) vou told me . . . I can live un that et ‘Really, vou talk like a child!” ex- clalmed Hilary. “A girl of 20 can't live alone.” “But they ,' Hilary quite los “They are not my I shall id Celia. s temper. wards,” he re. turned sharply. “I have something to say in the marter. I must remind | you, and I do mnot choose that you | shall live alone” He paused to get Rog. US. Patent Office. his voice under control. ‘‘Besides,” he went on more quietly, “you're not accustomed to living in the way you'd have to, with only §5,000 a year. You couldn’t possibly pay for a companion out of such a sum.” “I shouldn't mind,” said she. “I have told you that I should.” She was silent again. He looked at her pale, mute face and understood for the first time how Laura had been exasperated by her It had seemed to him rather a laughable trait when men- tioned at second hand, but now it would have given him great satisfac- tion to sbake her, as a nurse shakes a provokingly stubborn child. " he asked, with a sarcasm he didn’t even try to temper, “that my wishes have as little weight “YOU: you as poor Kirilenko's love?"” answered Cella tranquilly, “T shall always do what you wish.” This softened him. “And why is that, Cella?" “Because you are my legal guard- fan . until T marry . . . . and as I shall never mar—-" Hilary broke in on her. “There’s no need to repeat your very wise resolution,” said he, becom. ing more and more stilted as his anger rose. “What I should like to hear is your alternative plan, if you have one, and will do me the favor to tell me of it."” She looked full at him for a second or two, and on her closed lips was the smile that gave her face that locked expression. “Why didn’t you have me tau do some kind of work?" she 3 Then I could have been independent Vo one bothers when a working girl lives alone.” Hilary flushed, then controlled him | new self. He couldn’t tell her that he had educated her to be a teacher, and that she had failed to qualify for one. “May I ask, please,” he said with carefui politeness, “what sort of work you think I should have had you taught to do?" . ‘“‘Something with my hands,” she answered, looking down at them. “They are very strong, and I am, too. I have never been ill. I am sure I could have done some useful work, if I'd been taught.” As he said nothing in reply to this, she reflected a moment, then went on: “If I could have believed in the Catholic religion 1 might have been a nun.” This startled Hilary out of his Il humor for a moment, curiosity over- coming his irritation, at her childish lack of comprehension. “Would you have liked to be a nun?"” he asked. “I like being quiet and alone . . . 1 wouldn't have minded.” “Do you remember once telling me that you thought you could be as happy as some one else?” “Yes “Was it some great religious per- sonage you were thinking of?" N “You won't tell me who it was, I suppose?”’ RE—GOOD.” SHE MANAGED. No please.” He jumped up and began pacing the shadowy room. INSTALLMENT X. The Open Door. FTER a few moments, in which Hilary seemed to be thinking deeply, and Cella sat motion- ! With downcast eves, he me back to her. “Celia,” he said, very kindly now, “you say that vou will always do as I wish. Suppose 1 were to say that I wish you very much to consider ko's proposal, and consent to e of him?" wouldn't,” she answered “You wouldn’t ask any one to do u thing that was odious to her, just because you had the power."” She didn't look at him as she said this, but Hilary looked at her with a and thoughtful curiosity. 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The scenic grandeur of the Rhine, famed in song and story, the Black Forest, Bavaria, the Harz, Saxony and Thuringia never fail to charm thase who love natural beauty. INFORMATION OFFICE 630 Fifth Avenue, New York To help you visualize picturesque Germany, we Europeantra will be pleased to send illustrated booklets of artis- tic merit. Nothing sold—gratis information on , placesof interest, fares, distances, time tables, health resorts, hotels, rates, etc. intently regarding her. Then he asked. . “Why should it be odious to you? You say you don't dislike him? And I would, of course, tell him that you only wished to know him better before @eciding finally.” 8he made no answer in words, but & nervous tremor ran through her, Hilary felt suddenly immensely sorry for her. There was something here that he didn’t understand. In a still gentler voice he said: “Be frank with me, won't you, Celia? I want to understand quite clearly what you mean in saying that you will never marry. Is it only an ordinary girlish whim, or is it some- thing more?” “‘Much more,” said Celia. He could scarcely hear her. hesitated, then ventured: “Do you mean that the idea of mar- riage, with any one, is repulsive to you She made a motion of assent with her bent head, and now he noticed that her clasped hands were shaking among the black folds on her lap. In a flash he saw again the little stream at the convent and her still figure on the bench where they had sat. It was when she had spoken of her father that her hands had trembled like that. Comprehension flooded him, and with it compassionate tenderness. “My dear child,” he said, “believe me—it is only because you have never loved any ‘one that you feel so.” She was silent, her head still bent, but the very bend of it held denial. Now he drew up & chair and sat near her. ““Celia,” he went on, “you will think it very odd in an old bachelor like me to be pleading love's case—but you are so young—there Should be’ so much happiness before you—a full life—not a lonely one like mine—I He can't bear to think that a fixed idea will perhaps cut you off from all that's yours by right. Won't you try to leave your mind open, not clenched like this against what's natural and beautiful? ~ Because where love Is, marriage is beautiful. Her answer was more distinct this time. “You have never married,” said-she. This riposte utterly routed him. In spite of his sorrow and their being in Laura’s favorite room, he would have laughed out but for the servants who might have heard. When he could command a sufficiently serious voice he sald: “You have me there, my dear.” Then he added, and she could tell by his tone that he was smiling now, though she still kept her eyes down: “The fact is, Cella, we're two very queer people, the pair of us, I'm afrald—and since I've tried to do my duty, and failed in persvading you— I might as well confess that T feel 3bolut marriage pretty much as you A “I know it.” He jumped mentally, and was with- in an ace of jumping physically. “You know it?" “I've always known it—felt it, per- haps I ought to say.” Recovering from his astonishment, he thought it again his duty to en- lighten her somewhat. “It is because I've never loved any one enough that I've not married, Celia.” “And it's because I know I shall never love any one enough that I shan’t marry.” This reiteration of her resolve never to marry brought before him again the vexed question of her futur They were now not only in a dilemms but an impasse. Her hands had stop- ped trembling; she looked to him even Wm. A. Winkler, Chas. F. Felin & Co., Philadelphia LUMBER DEALER “‘Insulation is the coming thing. We recommend Celotex to our custom- ers as the most satisfactory insu- lation on the market. Inafew years we will be selling Celotex with every house bill.” THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., FEBRUARY 28 1926—PART 1. more pathetic, though, than she had at first. That black gown was not only piteous; it was most unbecoming to her. He reflected how barbarous the custom of “mourning” was, and |her to repeat it. at the same time there came back to him his last night's picture of her in a brocade gown and the great carved chair. What a pity it was that he couldn’t take her to live with him. There was really something very en- gaging about her queer unexpected- ness. “You know, Celia,” he said now, having come to the conclusion that candor was the best way of dealing with the situation, “if only people weren't so stupid I'd like very much to have you under my own roof-— adopt you, so to speak,” he ended, smiling at her. “You are always good to me. I would like it, too,” answered Celfa. Something wistful in her voice, and her brief glance at him, seemed to suggest, “Couldn't it be done, in spite of peopie?” He positively didn’t know whether she had taken In what he meant. you know that, don' 0, yes,” said Celia. “You woudn't want them to say that I was your mistress.” This absolutely floored him. There was no mistaking what her tone im- plied this time. It was as if she had said in wor 1 shouldn’t mind but you would. He took to pacing the room again, his thoughts more aimless and tppsy turvy than ever. Coming back to her, he said: “Well, Celia—I confess I'm non- plussed. What I wish to do for you, I What you wish to do for your- rou to. Have you Frank W. Kirkland, Rome, New York ARCHITECT “I have used Celotex under stucco on the exterior and under plaster on the interior and for sound deadening and insulation on all floors in my new apartment building. It is most satisfactory.” And all at once her hands began shaking again. She murmured some- thing. ~ He bent to catch what she said, but couldn’t hear, and asked She' repeated it clearly: ““There is ‘the open door'——"" He stared incredulously, couldn’t take in that she knew what the quota- tion meant, then realized from her set little face that she knew very well its meaning. “Celia!” he cried aghast. “He was a great man. He didn’t think it was wrong—when there was nothing else to do—-" “Celia! Cella!" cried Hilary again, and sitting down beside her he caught both her hands in his, holding them tight and hard, as if holding her back from some sudden madness. She was quivering all over now, but her pale face had again its locked expression. To all his remonstrances she only answered: “It wouldn't be doing any harm to ¢ that again!” he ordered vehemently. “‘Are you yourself no one? Haven't you any idea of what 1 should f Don’t you know that I'm very fond of you? That I'm only trying to find out the best way of making you happy?” He had to put an arm about her shoulders to control the convulsive shuddering that ran through her. It was like embracing the thin shoulders of a child. “Answer me, that I have a you, don’t you?” “You—are—good,” she managed. e 't crying. Her greenish wide open, had that strange misty look that he remembered, and were fixed as if on something far away—on that terrible “open door. Celia? You believe sincere affection for illumined by the inner flash which ‘was to alter his well ordered life. (Copyright. 1926. by Amelie Rives.) (Continued tomorrow.) FRENCH SEEK PASSAGE OF 25-YEAR-OLD BILL Would Give Appeals to Persons Convicted of Defaming Presi- dent of Republie. By the Associated Press. PARIS, February 27.—Among the bills introduced In this session of the Chamber of Deputies is one to amend a bill passed by the Senate 26 years ago which has been slumbering in the archives of the chamber ever since. Regularly every year during a quarter of a century that bill has appeared on the chamber calendar, but no de cision has resulted. A measure passed by one of the chambers of Parla- ment does not die at the end of the sessfon, as it does in the Amerfoan Congress, if it is not acted upon by the other house. The bill in question was framed to regulate the procedure in cases of offense against the President of the Republic, providing penalties for what would be “les majestie” in a mon- archy. It would give the correctional court jurisdiction over such cases. It the bill ever passes, persons convicted of defaming or using violence toward d_of the state, would be able the s whose decisions except on the -dure. from 8 ppeal ground of faulty pro R. W. Brown, Vice-Pres.; R. W. Brown, Inc., Belleville, N. J. BUILDER “‘Celotex keeps rooms cool in sum- mer and makes them so easy to heat in winter. Under plaster, it pro- vides a smooth, even surface and saves time and material.” Home Builders=Look Ahead! Building Authorities say heat-leaking houses are going out-of-date Men who know, see a great change taking place in building practice. They are warning people against building homes with only the ordinary materi- als. For in five years, perhaps less, they say, such houses will be out-of-date. That is because most houses are poor shelters. They leak heat. Comforts not found in ordinary houses No matter how solidly a house is built it will leak heat in winter and absorb heat in summer if it is constructed with merely the ordinary building materials. Wood, plaster, brick, concrete, etc., do not effectively stop heat (see the chart below). Celotex Insulating Lumber practically stops heat. It shuts out wind and moisture. It deadens sounds. Thus it makes homes winter-warm, about %5 more economical to heat, summer-cool and restfully quiet. No extra cost Used as sheathing, Celotex adds nothing to the cost of a house because it takes the place of other building materials. @ As sheathing, Celotex replaces wood, gives greater strength to the house walls and adds insu- lation. Celotex makes building paper unnecessary. © 1926, The Celotex Co. It gives far better protection against wind and moisture. @ On inside walls plaster is applied directly to the surface of Celotex. This eliminates the use of lath, and forms stronger, insulated walls, free from lath marks. @ Celotex is used for both interior and exterior finish. It may be left in its attractive natural tan color or stained, stenciled or painted in any way. @ Celotexeliminates the use of dead- ening felt. Sound does not pass through it readily. ® Celotex does away with any extra insulation. It gives heat-stopping value, equal to the best. Celotex also builds a stronger, moredurable house. Tests prove it is much stronger in wall sec- tions than wood lumber. It is the only effective insulating material which provides this greater strength in the house walls and is not an extra item in the building. Ask your architect, contractor or lumber dealer to tell you more about Celotex. All As sheathing and under plaster, too Celotex gives proper in- sulation and provides far greater bracing strength in walls than wood lumber. Qlnoutsidewalls, assheath- ing, it affords many times the'structural strength of wood. Ininsidewalls, under plaster, it gives a stronger wall with a better bond betweenCelotexand ply than betweenwood la L plaster. THE CELOTEX COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILL. - - Philadelphia Sales Office, 400 North Broad St. ALL LUMBER DEALERS CAN SUPPLY CELOTEX Heat-stopping values of Celotex compar: with other materials Celotexstopsheat as effectively as three times its thickness in wood . . oight times its thickness in plasterboard . . . twelve times its thickness in brick .+ and twenty-five timesits thickness in concrete. ELO Free Building Mills: New Orleans, La. lumber dealers can supply it. Leaders in these lines advise its use. Book Meanwhile, send the coupon below for the Celotex Building Book. It explains fully this great advance in building progress. Telephone Rittenhouse 2698