Show The luck of Geraldine Laird By KATHLEEN NORRIS Author of The Story of Julia Page Heart of Rachael I Wife Sisters etc I Copyright by Kathleen Norris One wonders she ahe returned slowly why a a woman drudging happily away In a a small town kitchen and doing her duty year after aCter year is considered so little while another woman woman divorced divorced spending her life UCe amusing Idle people who come coma to this city Just to waste money finds herself herselt admired and spoiled and Invited to houses like JIke this You are not divorced Jerr Jerry Dean I reminded her quietly Her smile with Just a 1 shadow of oC its old light hearted mischief broke over him Well Isn't It the equivalent she asked silencing him The point Is which was the real woman woman which which was the valuable citizen How did you happen to think of or orthe the stage Jerry he lie asked presently I was I ill-I I had a position as saleswoman saleswoman- She reviewed her little history for him finished it with tears standing in her eyes All the remembered trials and the bitter loneliness loneliness lone lone- liness JInes of or that time came back to her When she finished they both were silent and knowing him as ns she did Geraldine knew that Dean was as stirred as sheDo sheDo sheDo she Do you ou suppose he asked after awhile that everyone who who who-who who has our experience feels reels as we feel reel No Xo it cant can't be she answered with quick comprehension I know it Isn't with some people Divorce means a different thin thing to everyone Just as marriage does Some feel reel I more nn and some less les I I-I I I think of ot you aften Dean Sometimes Sometimes- And I I s of or you ou he answered I quickly But he saw that she was offended again Sometimes It Is as If It you were I dead she said laid coldly But I never I for Cor an instant feel reel free free In that way Involuntarily her ey eyes s wandered to II her host and Deans Dean's look followed ved them Would Would would you like IlkI to be befree befree free he asked with lh h he old quick I sensitiveness that she remembered so sow w well L Nothing you could do would make me feel reel so so Dean sh she told him A merely merel legal separation would have no weight with me I T would as soon soon soon- Again her eyes wandered I would as aR soap give I myself If IC I loved lo again with no I farce of ot a ceremony at all aU she said in a 1 low tone I You have come ome a way from your old feeling In such matters I Jerry Jerr Dean said steadily If Ir you can cant t feel l t that at She did not answer for tor a full minute min mm- ute but with the ice upon her plate Then she looked up with an anun un unsmiling glance I 1 told you ou I had Dean was silent pondering Jerry the end of that i Is Is- only utter wreck he said MId presently In a sort of bu burst t. t and quite obviously oh forced to sneak n ak against his will Not always sh she said aId lightly and andI ly I had lu the the the-the the author- author lied thIng m my dear Dean I could I hardly have suffered more more more-more more ind in in- d r Uy under any circumstances circumstance I Idid Idid Idid did not ask uk Independence or well welcome ml it T accepted your money 1 J faced our trl friends and their speculations speculation I suffered ant and endured Now permit me to say My that I have made my own life and will will will-will will live It my own way war I did not presume to advise you except s a It-a a friend he said hi hIs fa ta fa She lifted her beautiful vel 11 vel brows and gave gaye him a direct l look lic Si k Thank you she said simply If U Uever ever you rou wanted a legal freedom Dean she added moderately that would be a different thing As far Car as asI I am concerned it means nothing I dont don't want It he said shortly Then there was silence until GerI Geraldine Ger- Ger I aldine turned to her right hand handI I I neighbor and began an indifferent I conversation She did not speak to Dean again but once her host Interrupted Interrupted interrupted Inter Inter- her Mollie 1 Bawn I Sir to you Tell these people what your little girl said in the park that day day day- Oh yes that's yes that's too delicious she I laughed and the table laughed with her My small Jane Jane Jane- she began Dean watched her with a sick heart When there was comparative silence again the old lady on his left leCt rose and all the women followed her exI ex- ex I i ample He lIe had opportunity for only another hurried word i Jerry Im I'm going now Will you you you- j I I cant can't let you g go o out of or my life lIre I again will again-will will you let me come and see I you I I She stood silent her race face downcast her eyes ces fixed on the fan she slowly opened and shut I For what purpose Dean she asked In a troubled voice Dean made no answer his anxious eyes expectantly on her face tace There h can never be the O old feeling feeling feel feel- ee I bs In ing Geraldine ra said slowly o and n to toj j I have you there would only distress and upset us all I dont don't wish the i girls to be troubled and puzzled by I I your our coming It is better as It Is You You you never can forgive me rae I GeraldIne It Isn't quite a question of or that I wish you OU everything good In the I world Dean Dean Dean-beli Dean believe ve me I do But Dut we cant can't go back people back people cant can't somehow somehow somehow some some- how after a thing like this Again he ho was silent She looked at him almost appealingly You see that Dean Dean straightened up suddenly bowed submissively submissive Then there is nothing more to be said he said quietly She Sho gave him her hand for a 1 mInute minute min mm- ute the whole lovely ely and fragrant beauty of oC her was close to him the dark head with Its big diamond comb the white hIte shoulders from Crom which her spangled black gown receded the thoughtful face with Its humorous Irish mouth and earnest blue eyes Then with a little rustle and stir she was gone Dean stood looking after her she great Roger asked him at his elbow Well en get her to sing The Light That Lies LIps in mans man's Eyes Eyes' after awhile quite lovely lovely she's she's a little lady lady Hardisty said Dean felt relt an- an Impulse e of furious anger smothered mothered it She is one of oC the finest women I I have ever known Roger Boger agreed Simple and unspoiled Very unspoiled very quick witted my ray daughter adores her Do you OU know much about her asked Nobody seems to She spoke of or children children- I Dean suffocating dared listen no further lie He drifted to the other side I of of oC th the table mechanically Joining In InI I some conversation there Before BeCore themen the themen me men rejoined the ladles ladies he made his excuses excuse and disappeared Geraldine r was secretly watching for him but she she did not see him again From their manner she knew that neither I her host nor Hardisty suspected the truth but later she quite voluntarily I took look no Roger Hoger gel Into her confidence I It was almost midnight and they i were driving home In his hili car Geraldine Geraldine Ger Ger- I aldine had been heen in good g form and andI I had been singing odds and ends of son song and an amusing the entire corn com pany She ue was flushed laughing com I raA rag ra- ra a t In g ha A her loose fur wraps aa u log r rn handed n a ed Cd her into the limousine she made no protest as he Insisted upon I II accompanying her I If Do Do If lIke you like she told him I I I r rather th r dread being alone tonight 1 to tor or answer he gave her a sharp look hIs nis smile of pleasure fading rading Into something more like concern Not bIu blue tonight Mollie Bawn Dawn after alter the way youve you've been making us usall usall all n laugh he asked seating himself beside her as ns the car moved on its way The glittering eyes eu so eo near his own tried to smile through h a sudden hudden film of oC tears Oh horribly blue she confessed childishly It Id Ill half forgotten but forgotten but all came back What dear he said tenderly very very much puzzled Roger she confessed gravely that t at man was my husband I What man Roger Catherwood said eaId aghast The Tho car swept about a corner and she swayed toward him In the dim light Dont you realize that I am really Mrs Laird and that that man man man- she began and paused My God God my my dear Mollie you Mollie you dont don't tell me me friend Laird friend Laird his name Is Laird LaIrd- She nodded at him over her high furred collar They looked at each other In silence My Iy dear Mollie how can I apolo- apolo gize 7 Roger began presently his strong gloved hand laid over her own You sat there with your own husband husband husband hus hus- band band band- Im an actress actress- she conceded smiling Youre more than an actress my dear Youre You're a good sport You You You- But by George I wouldn't have had you go through that for tor anything In Inthe Inthe inthe the world To let Jet you walk right Into him him him- You couldn't warn me but me-but but of oC I course courso you didn't know lie He was shaking his head and murmuring Incoherent Incoherent Inco Inco- incoherent herent regrets and protestations as they drew up before beCore her apartment house and the car stopped Im comIng coming coming com com- ing up with you ou he said glancing out absently I want to speak to you Thrilled by some new and ancl dominant quality In his voice she gave him a ashy ashy ashy shy swift glance as they crossed the foyer and entered the elevator ele In silence she preceded him into the thelong thelong thelong long drawing room and touched the switch that flooded it with subdued light Just for a minute she said then flinging down her wraps and pointing toward the clock which announced midnight I somehow cant somehow cant can't let this evening end the man confessed with a confused confused confused con con- fused and embarrassed smile and with witha a a. boys boy's self conscious manner mann r. r I feel teel as If Id I'd come a little closer to you you you- Mollie Dawn Bawn He Ho took her hands making her very uncomfortable She tried to smile up at him unconcernedly Its taken Its taken it out of or me rather of oC course she said deliberately bringing Dean back Into the conversation She freed her hands and went to her fa favorite favorite fa- fa I chair dropping into It wearily I That man Is your husband eh 1 That quiet decent chap Roger Catherwood Catherwood Catherwood Cath Cath- erwood mused taking her lead obedi obedi- He lie is the last fellow I should Identify with what you told me It It was another woman was It If It he had Intended to rouse In her herthe herthe herthe the old resentment he succeeded Into her face he saw the color slowly creep Not Not not ot-not not in the ordinary sense I dont don't believe that she answered un un- un easily un-I un So that now that you are what are what you are he might be glad enough to come comeback comeback comeback back Roger Hoger pursued 1 That she said looking at him re reproachfully reproachfully re- re I like Uke you lie He laughed shamefacedly taking the chair opposite her and running his hands restlessly through his haIrIm hairIm hairIm hair I I Im sorry he said briefly GeraldIne Geraldine Geraldine Ger Ger- aldine gave him a quick forgiving smile and fell rell Into deep thought For a aI awhile awhile I while there was silence between them what I feel teel But of oC course you ou know my dear the man began presently Shall I tell you Mollie Bawn Dawn Geraldine stopped him almost with fright Not not not tonight she stammered And after alter a moment she looked at him appealIngly and saw the hurt in his eyes All right h he said patiently You YOU you still care for him he asked as she said nothing nothing- more Oh no Geraldine answered de decidedly decidedly de- de color staining her face race But ButI I did she added with a world sadness In her passionate voice She got up from her chair and took a few restless paces about the room The man rose too and she came up to him and laid her locked fingers lightly against his breast Im so tired tonight tonight- she said childishly lie He looked down at her with Infinite pity and affection mastering the Impulse impulse impulse Im im- im- im pulse to catch her In his arms Mollie he began and stopped slopped short Her smile rewarded him for his self control there was something grateful and trusting in her look Suddenly Suddenly Suddenly Sud Sud- denly he saw the smile wrinkle change saw saw the laughing eyes brim and the lips shake and to his consternation she turned her back upon him stumbled stumbled stumbled bled a a. few Cew steps blindly and flung herself hersel down by the long library table Her lEer white arms rested against tho the dark wood her shining head went down he saw her shoulders torn with sobs the whole slender figure In Its spangled gown racked with them Mollie he ho said dismayed Molle Mol little lIe le little girl gIrl gIrl- Don't Dont Dont Don't-don't- don't dont Through the wild passion that was U sweeping away all her self control Geraldine heard him come a step nearer her her felt his hand on her head headIn In a touch that was almost fatherly caught some murmur about courage courage and and tomorrow For a moI moment mo mo- I ment meat there was silence Then I she heard the door softly close and andI she knew she was alone That Roger Catherwood she said I aloud half hal an hour later when she got gotto gotto gotto to her feet wiped her swollen eyes for forthe forthe the last time and drew the last Iut sobbIng sobbing sob sob- bing exhausted breath that was the sweetest thing you OU ever did She looked at herself In a 8 great oblong mirror mirror mirror mir mir- that framed In old mahogany and primitive e gay colored country scenes I repeated the grace graceful CuI length of the room You are a beauty Mollie I I told herself I I OBrien O'Brien she laughing I shakily With your color gone and your hair mussed and your face race all allF F glazed d with crying cring And reh rehearsal with the new conductor tomorrow at Z 2 Well Ven thank God Geraldine summarIzed summarized summarized I creeping noiselessly tow toward rd the bedroom part of the house fC eD I nasma am fo so g. g I t tired that at In spite of fifty Deans and i fifty Rogers I should sleep p tonight i To be continued |