Show C CITE I oaL I b aW BEGIN nERE nIRE TODAY Dilly Gilliam her mother Mrs GIlliam of Groceries Inc with Mrs Leila Lelia Thornbury Thornburg a di- di divorcee divorcee di divorcee are trimming a Christmas tree on Christmas Christman eve In the tha vestry i ostry of the Chuich Chulch of ot the tho Nativity a fashionable I fashionable church of ot New York Irs Mr J Orson Tice wealthy and an a society leader comes In with Jerry Good kind a town man Jerry who Is Interested In Clare en- en engaged engaged en engaged to m marry rry the assistant rector of the church In bad favor because ot of his radical sermons sermon Dr Wadham the tho rector drops In to attend a a meeting of ot the war war- wardens wardens wardens dens Mr Dar Barnaby aby Is sexton of ot the church NOW lOW GO ON TILE STORY We We didn't know you wore were back Mrs Tice returned the bow with awkward reverence I I didn't know you'd been aay an ay doctor Jerry Terry said Ten days dal the rector roster e ex extending lending a n pudgy hand attend ing the conference on tho the proper use of eucharistic CA candles candies Its It's a subject on which I feel teel strongly He turned to the bed bedecked tree upon which Mr Barnaby was as work work- working nork-Ing nork ork- ork Ing diligently And the star lights up j I suppose We have hopes Ml said Dilly skeptically Don Dont t let me Interrupt Ive Interrupt e only dropped In to keep an ap- ap appointment appointment ap appointment with the wardens nardena 1 We re all through said Mrs Mr Gilliam dusting lusting her hands ex cx ex for tor putting these gifts girts under the tree Miss Jewett will 1 be In InIn inin InIn In a minute with Ith the tho teat lest I est The star Is Ia real Imitation diamonds A gift gUt from Mr Mrs Tice Speaking Speaking- of gifts gitts doctor doctor- doctorIn doctor In- In Interrupted Interrupted In Interrupted Mrs Tice a advancing Yes dear lear lad said the rec- rec rec tor complacently My husband wanted anted me to have havea a little talk with you about his check You know he promised to beautify the parlor of ot the parish house Oh ye yes said Dr Wadham fa shifting his hand to his chin In ina Ina a gesture that was as a tub conscious lub move of ot self-defense self when hen ho he scented trouble And since well then then well frankl frankly doctor Johnas John was seas very Tery much upset about loot last Sundays Sunday's sermon Mr Ir Gilchrist preached from the text about the rich man entering the kIngdom of ot heaven a 0 trifle dangerous agreed the rector Yea Tee and last Sund Sund ty It seemed as It If he were directing all nil his re- re remarks re remarks marks at t John Were We're in the first pew you know and John says he hei i doesn t like to complain but there s e getting to be altogether ther too much lot of this bolshevism this bolshevism John says the preachers are more than halt half to I toI blame for the present social un- un unrest unrest un unrest rest I agree that some of ot the ser ser- sermon ser sermon mon mon was positively ely In Insulting Mr Ur Gilchrist Is s young oung the rec- rec rector rector rec rector tor Interposed Gilchrist Is la a nut Jerr Jerry snorted l Of course what John objected to tn was Vas the reference jo 0 o to rents rents charging clerks and bookkeepers I more than they could pay for tor wretched little flats John says he doesn't come here to be told hoW to run his business Personally I m s v ery fond ot of Mr Gilchrist Mrs Gilliam de- de declared declared de declared His father had stock In our stores But I 1 dont don't think hes he's a 0 good Influence This used to be bea bea bea a r really ally exclusive church hurch Now whenever Mr r Gilchrist preaches theres there's such a 0 crush of ot undesirable people In the you can hardly get to your our pew We Ve dont have that trouble with Ith Dr Wad Wad- Wadham Wadham ad ham No one noticed Clare Jewett who had entered and stood In the black shadows that made the room choir choir door part of ot the wall all Mr GilchrIst was such a prom prom- ising promising young man sighed Mrs Tice So rich and happy And In 10 love lose e added Dilly lies He s still rich and In love lose 10 e and I andI think happy Dr Wadham at- at at firmed Ive told you hes he's a nut Jerry repeated l emphatically all I I wonder wonder- wonder Mrs Gilliam Gilham con con- coni con con i He wasn't like liko this before he went overseas o Maybe he was gass gassed or gassed or d-or or something CHAPTER III Rhinelander O 42 Clare Jewett a advanced her arm arms a laden with packages Oh how do you do Ie Miss Mies Jewett Jew Jew- Jewett Jew Jew-ett ett Dr Wadham greeted h her r un- un uneasily uneasily un uneasily easily lm 1 m very ery well thank you ou There was a certain defiance and a trifle uncertainty In her bearing 1 I f I I want to talk to yon ho 5 ss id l which personified Clue Clare CI re Jewett Jew tt I Until she was sae 20 she sho h had d been a 0 creature ot of whim and emotion Her father fathers a death leath at that time had not been wholly disaster It had left her w s Ith problems to face tace Meeting these she had learned to think to reflect and to consider At 28 8 the w seat onlY halt completed Whim still struggled with purpose She COUld not have o explained why she had promised to Daniel Gil- Gil Gilchrist Gilchrist christ A psychologist would hays have said It was wae because became e one side aide of ot her nature told her he would could be suc- suc successful successful suc successful and the tho the other oilier side elde that he would be bs faithful not only to her but to his Ideals Both sides liked him That was as as enough It was Jerry who brushed the tho rather uncomfortable situation Hello Clarel Clare he said ThIs This la Is a- a a Mrs Gillian caught the relief instantly Surprise 1 Ha Hal she laughed An And l youve you've been waiting for tor her herh h half lf an hour Mr Wadham a saw an opportunity ty too Ca Can I help with these pack pack- packages pack packages ages he aske asked l stepping to her sIde you doctor she reeled re- re pled re-pled pled as he relieved relle her And Mr Hinkle s In there proving pra Ing for tor some some- someone someone some someone one to consult about the Christmas music I told Mr Hinkle the better begin by singing Pea Peace e Perfect Peace With the tho Loved Ones F Far r Away the rector answered ans ered The Idea seemed to amuse Dilly She began chanting My Wife's Gone to the Country but her pro pro- processional pro processional lasted only until her mother could hush her The doctor placed his packages with the others othera at the tho foot toot of the giant glut tico ee Mrs Tice halted him at the door of ot the choir room Ani doctor about doctor about the parish house Shall I tell my husband you II 11 speak to Mr Gilchrist Yes Tea he said I think OU may eV even n tell him that's v shy hy were we're here today toda That done and done lone well nell Mrs frs Tice turned to go An otter offer to e them home took Mrs Mu Gilliam and D lIv with her Mr r Darna Barnaby by still tinkered with the Star of ot Beth Beth- Beth lot em I think the troubles trouble's outside he decided as though he oro to blame and hurried along to help the three Into Mrs Tices Tice's car Clare looked as though she he wish wish- wished wished wish wished ed Jerry Jero had gone too Its Its It's funny tunny to find VOT ou 01 In church ahe shei count countered red trying tr Ing to tobe tobe tobe be at ease case I want ant to talk to you ou he said sett That s a Just It it Jerry she ob- ob objected objected ob objected You always want to talk to me and always to say lay something I 1 dont don't want pant ant to hear Ilear not Im Im I'm In love lose with someone else She said It simply but net surely surel lIe quickly sensed the tone Youre not going to marry Dan Daa Gilchrist he ho declared In his unpleasantly un- un unpleasantly un unpleasantly pleasantly emphatic way What II the use of ot bluffing Were Wee known e each ch other since we were kids You know Im I'm not going to gio he up any any- anything anything any thing anything I want because It belongs to somebody else Is And I 1 know youre you're not going to gh give e a up what you want comfort comfort and luxury for luxury for a Crary ry man who wears his collar bet before ore Jerry Now that's admitted lets let's gO gOon goon goon on on Mr Mr isn't pov erty No No he rot got quite a lot of ot money from his father tather You like him and when lien you said yes you yon yo thought you were w r getting someone you Ilk lik- liked Ilk Ilk-ed ed and all the rest reat of ot It It too But Dut something's gone Ione wrong with Oll- Oll christ and you know It Why do you say UmU that she eked Because If It you didn't before you he heard rd It this afternoon I 1 saw you standing In the door And Ana Im I'm going to tell you a a few things thinS'S more He fie was cold now and harsh I dont don't want to listen she he h re- re remonstrated re remonstrated turning away way Maybe but Maybe but you willi will Do you know that thet your young oune trouble hun ter has hag given away nearly one one- tenth one tenth of hi his c capital In three months No No and I ont dont it ItI All right ask my father tather The Theold Theold Theold old man has his bis money In trust Gilchrist wont won't touch his Income from Gillian Gilliam Groceries because ho he says they're profiteering and hes hea preaching such anarchy that both wardens are coming this afternoon to complain to Dr Wadham m I 1 dont don't want you to throw yourself away on a raving bu bug And your our advice Is- Is IB Marry me Im I'm a nice fellow too and and I can give you you really care about Youre You're over your our ears In n debt without any chance of pa paying paving up-or up up or cutting down And you ye- ye reHe re Ho He l laud urd aud nun eyed her hor moment moment shall we say eaY tw a In October I yourI know knon wh what t It cost you when hen your died and you vou ou had to comO come comedown down a peg You dont don't want to keep on corning on coming down do you last deliberately and pointedly And OU So-OU so ou advise adv lao me mo to mar mar- marry marTI marry ry TI sou ou Yes She looked at him aqua squarely rely and significantly Knowing Kno Inc all I 1 do about you 1 I dont don't see seo how that concer concerns 9 you Tou he answered br brazenly enly It proves you dont don't love lova me mt I she he said sli I 1 want wint you ou and Im I'm offering marriage to you he ha pointed l out You haven't said one word of love Ive r I said ald ald What's the use usa ot of bluffing Im I'm no movie and hero hero no crazy dreamer Im I'm a little shopworn perhaps maybe perhaps maybe a little but soiled but Im I'm sane eane and Im I'm ebl- ebl vent vent Youre You're goo looking good l and sm smart rt and a IL lady You'll help mY standing and I II help your credit the th rest we rest we needn't other bother each other too much What That do you say aay She turned on himI him I I think revOltingly its Its It's sordid Jerry smiled his cold smile All AH right he retorted lIo looked at t his watch watch gathered UP I hi his cano cane and hat hal and moved to- to toward toward to toward ward the door loor k t Play copyrighted 1922 1822 In the United States and England Novel Novel- NovelIzed Novelized version by special permission of the author and of ot pUblishers of the play Continued Continual In Our Oar Next Isque |