Show ilk ay BLISS cop right 1915 by pathe Fx chang change inc a elart e I 1 ri copi cop right rights SIXTH STORY i paa pa norris law office faced willard fall a PI ei emmering em ein cering office directly across the co chirt of the same skyscraper in the city ahe he two young men had become through their busi ness proximity invitations had been extended calls exchanged and the two families m were ere in a fair way of becom ing friends pay norris was a prosperous young at attorney torney clean cut handsome ambi gioi s and tenderly devoted to his wife it if I 1 er husband was tenderly devoted to her she was infinitely devoted to him ars t rs fall on the other hand was tl ti airty five engrossed in fn her social du ties a sel imposed social monitor and guardian of the mora als ot of her set who m was as too busy with her many tasks t to 0 grow old gracefully ther her husband well groomed suave and careless was known know n as a ladye lady a mana man and already disquieting rumors bete reaching his wife on the morning on which our story opens mrs fall had seen him through the window talking to a pretty society bud and had sent th the e maid to call him back there bad had been a scene and he had left eft tor for his office in a huff buff 11 II 1 lo 10 miss foster poster how re you this fine morning I 1 hope your father is better it was mas norris talking to his stenographer good morning air lir norris lies he a some better thank you she was try ing to be brave and answered with an attempt at cheerfulness that ahat set her head pounding violently and made her grasp at her desk tor for support he had thrown off his light top coat and without looking at her eat sat down and was in a moment deep in his morn ing ings a mall mail some communication of more than ordinary importance caused him to stop in his envelope slitting and he rose to confer with her upon its contents then for the first time he looked at her and knew from her flushed cheeks and unnaturally bright eyes that something was wrong why ml mis s foster he exclaimed in genuine concern whatever a the trouble 9 you look like the very dick ens what a upa oh nothing she answered trying to make light of bis his concern least wise nothing that matters just a bothersome cold and a little headache by the way Is 1 that that smith hod eon son letter what a the latest develop ment this morning what did they say to your proposal to never mind that tor for a moment don dont t please try to turn the conversa con verea tion off into that channel you re ill I 1 assure you mr air he made a quick gesture indicative of his antea tion not to be put off in hia his inquiry and crossing quickly to where she stood took her pale thin hands in both of his and noted with quick concern that they were burning this will never do he said gravely and with emphatic earnestness and he repeated halt half aloud halt half to himself never never do 1 I 1 m afraid I 1 ve been a bit of a brute lately what v ith the night work sundays skimped linch hours he ile disregarded her at tempt to assuage his self reproach and went on but see to that yours you re slated for a vacation and that in short order make arrangements he turned thoughtfully away and w m ent back to his letters W nillard fall across the court in bla his office had seen norris cross to where myra stood at her desk beside the broad window and an evil smile light ed his coarse features as he noted nor ris take myra a hands in his and hold them the while he spoke solicitously to her devoid of concern for the welfare of bis his own help he had not the finesse to attribute another a concern to any thing other than a personal mothe and he felt a miserable elation at what he considered norris little game his reflections were mere disturbed by the slight recurrent creaking ot of his door as of someone trying cautiously inch by inch to open it unnoticed sprang from his chair strode with witt swift soft steps to the door pulled it 11 suddenly open and confronted bit big wife he bowed with mock courtesy at her startled surprise at being ampre bended and spoke with more than bis his usual unction so my dear spying on me eh had I 1 divined your coming I 1 might have made preparations sox so not to disappoint your expectations she turned and bad had started to go when his hie voice again arrested her your idol to have clay feet you indulge in the common fallacy of cf imagining that every man you have no intimate acquaintance with ie to a moiel motel of propriety no one who Is acquainted with your reputation aa as the watchdog ot of society here liere he grinned would ever believe you to be eo so frightfully unsophisticated why it 11 was only a short while ago when I 1 I 1 glancing casually out of this window windom and across the court I 1 law saw norris all moving picture ts and all for strictly reserved Ke served j holding hands with his pretty eapher I 1 mrs airs fill reed recovered vered quickly from an tary expression of surprise and casting a scornful ous glance at the man who justified his indulgences by calumniating an other turned ni aid d m was as gone blindly angrily mrs fall rushed from tho the bunding building and in central park where ale sl e went ment for rest and air she met mrs airs norris forgetting getting that sl e ined in a glass house for getting everything except that misery loves company she warned her I 1 against the pretty stenographer in her husband a office by a few careless words the seeds of an awful suspicion were sown III all through miss poster yes wearily mearil ell through has that vicious headache aft youa you no its still with me she replied with the ghost of a smile its it s been such a constant comrade lately I 1 don t m wonder onder but I 1 would miss it were it to leave that s a shocking state of affairs certainly tell me does your father seem too great a care do you and it difficult to give your work your best attention with mith the worry of his ailing health on your mind you know whimsically youre you re too great a necessity here for me to allow anything to distract you from your work her face flushed with fever as us it was beamed softly as he mentioned her father and connected that word with too great a care her father too great a care father a care carea she answered halt interrogatively you don t know father mr norris he is the one loy of my life for years before I 1 was old enough or able to work he was mas father and mother to me up with the sun each morning he saw to it that my clatl es were brushed my pencils sharpened tor for school made a warm fire and prepared my breakfast then off to the frightful bleach factory I 1 where be he got his cough and at work all day and sometimes part of the night that I 1 might have a pretty hair ribbon or a pair of new sl apers all my youthful hopes desires trou brou bles were poured into his lils will ng ears at night and he was ever sympathetic with the extravagant fancies of my flighty childish imagination and al ways gentle in his reproaches tor for my many faults no fathers father a no care to me it gives me pleasure each morn ing that I 1 have strength to go out to work that I 1 am responsible tor for hia his comfort and it lightens my ness each night that I 1 may go home and try to anticipate hie his every ua un spoken wish IV you love me ray mrs norris asked the question of her husband he ile had come home hie his step light bis his face expectant he ile met et a cold and unresponsive wife 1 11 aw ir i 54 v r t ki R norri norris met a cold and unresponsive U wife the seed of suspicion planted by mrs airs fall had taken root on fertile soil sell and so ehe she asked the question love youa why what a question I 1 passionately adore you you are the guiding spirit the holiest inspiration of my life without you all the rest Is I 1 a meaningless jumble but and here his voice took on a tone of bewilderment I 1 didan didn t think you need ed assurances it was mas now tenfold difficult for her to go on but she felt that this m as no time to falter would you do anything sacrifice anything in the whole world for me anything everything 1 then send that girl away from lour our office and get another one send that girl away you mean miss foster yes but why tl alla Is is absurd I 1 why send myra foster awaya because I 1 wish it but ut you must have some reason this can cant t be mere imperative arbi tr artness you are not like that can cant t you tell me chyl myra foster Is my most able assistant to send pend her away would mould be to disable me in my most important work mork besides it would be unjust she Is a very worthy girl she Is the sole support of her aged father he felt the urgent sincerity of her request and knew how deeply she was moved but her concern was so bously unfounded on fact that he could not help but believe it was ras an hysten cal outbreak that would be dispelled when her overwrought nerves were quieted and reason returned it would be ridiculous wrong to sacrifice myra to this hysteria so he decided to be firm and make no rash promise ha lie spoke is some old gossip has evidently been busy we well 11 talk more of this when your nerves are quieter no ve me will talk ot of it now will you youa no she turned despairing eyed and limp and walked dazedly from the room V the next morning ethel ethl kept to her room ray left tor for his office the usual sp eing gone from his gait his face grave with the anxiety of the previous evening he arrived in the city and proceeded immediately to his work mork myra foster was there and her ener bated movements as she went about her mork w ork showed only too plainly that her bothersome cold and slight head ache had not improved overnight he decided quickly upon his course with regard to myras case and spoke to 0 her miss foster you are ill you re in 1 no condition tor for work at the present time in this or any office and I 1 m going to send you and your father away I 1 have a place down on the ocean where you can get a breath of areah ires salt air and win back some of your old time strength and snap so make ready please we can start lust just aa as soon as you can get your things together very well mr air norris N orris and thank you I 1 er thank you any words seem so inadequate so inexpressive in acknowledgment of such kindness kindne aa I 1 rn afraid her voice grew soft and tender you 11 have to take my thanks tor for granted forget it he said inelegantly and turned to get his coat ha ha hal oh my he looked quickly over his shoulder at the bound sound of her mirth gracious she timid halt half sadly half amusedly we forgot the most important thing it can t be done how about old man conven tion his wife scandal and their daughter gossipy what will people say t oh that a all right don t let that concern you your father will be there and III tell my m wife ife tonight together they left the office climbed into his machine picked up her father and in less than three hours were down in his place by the ocean ethel morris norris came down from her room after her husband left and her usually pay face was grave and her eyes red and heavy she ate no break fast and the servants had to speak to her many times over before she could comprehend their meaning she dressed for the street about noon and without as usual leaving word of her intended destination left the house she had spent a night of very hell her spirit tortured almost beyond endur ance at the thought of another corn com ing between her and what was mas dearer to he ban life she would see she would g gi to his office and let her quick comans mom an a intuition scent out the truth for her bhe reached bis his office and was about to go in when a cunning thought came to her why let them be aw am are of her presence why give them an to be on their guard she turned back her cleverness for the moment obsessing her and making her tearless fearless clean face ugly with the blight of subtlety she would go to fall a office make some slight pre text for her visit and watch them from there she knocked softly and getting no answer pushed further open the slightly ajar door and looked in no one there he ile must have stepped out for just a moment or his door would be locked so much the better A moment would be enough would without her having to conceal that she was watching be worth many minutes with his attention upon her the window was open and she went to it keeping always in the shadow of tho the wall so that she could see with out being seen mrs norris saw her husband husbands s ot of flee fice was empty what could it mean she made bolder stepped to the cen ter of the aperture and bent tar far out to peer into the office opposite the sheer depth of the long shaft bascin abed her and gave her a light hollow feeling of nausea she drew in her head with a sharp jerk and staggered back ber her giddiness overcoming her she w m have fallen but for a strong arm around her waist maist it was wll lard fall she turn turned d her head toward him bait half smiling half apologetic to thank him for his timely aid but the words froze on her lips her heart contracted her entire body was convulsed with mith a shudder and an appalling fear was la in her eyes J t in the doorway stood mrs airs fall fate rate was now taking a hand and the certain destiny started on its way by an evil tongued man and a su sui woman was hurrying the pawns to a swift destruction mrs norris went to her mother w 13 calmed her fears and sent her to her home again after a good night s sleep mrs aall tall applied for a divorce and then went to the seashore and so ight her cottage on the beach the same beach an on which the norris cottage stood mrs airs fall arrived at the teach beach in time to enjoy the sea air for half an hour before dinner and relaxed in her comfortable beach chair along ide an other occupied by a mrs airs hunter mrs hunter like mrs fall was one of the old guard of society and the range of her observation was mas astonishing other people peoples s affairs were w ere as the thc breath of life to her and she took it in effect 11 as a personal affront it if soc ety did not constantly furni furnoh h her keen a fresh track just now she fairly fluttered with pleasure as 14 A 4 A r 04 X mrs norris torn by doubt and fear dresses to follow her husband might a hungry sparrow who has u un n expect expectedly effly come upon some delectable morsel nice place the Nor norsises rises have don t you thinks quite nice mrs fall didn dian t care at that moment to think of the 1 nor rames by the way did you pass there on your way may doana there was that in her voice that bespoke something om ething more than her words could be liter ally held to account tor for mrs fall perked up no I 1 came down by train oh nothing only I 1 thought ou might know who that young woman Is he brought down in his machine this I 1 afternoon slim brown eyes black hair alone eagerly no with a combined hand wave and shoulder shrug as though that didn dian f falter alter it any she was with what looked like a delightful useless chap eron some superannuated tent tell me has his wife been down lately no she dislikes the salt air you know says it reddens hw her complexion or something like that and prefers to live inland further she never comes down mrs airs fall said no more then to her companion but as she rose and started to move leisurely off mrs airs hunters hunter 3 finely at tuned ears received an imi of sound that after diligent assembling and reassembling in her busy ro in nd she was mas gratified gratl fed to resolve into something that sounded very promisingly like birds of a feather mrs hunter was mas on the scent she called on ethel in her country place and was received with the cour tesy her position made necessary good morning mrs norris good morning mrs hunter this Ws is an ail unexpected pleasure well vy ell you don dont t come to see us mahomet and the mountain don t i 5 ou know that a very kind bind of you N |