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Show looking woman in the room distinguished, dis-tinguished, different . . . Once his glance caught hers and held it for a moment. They both flushed and turned hurriedly to their plates. Some one asked the" orchestra to play "Love's Old Sweet Song." As silence followed the opening of the familiar melody both of them were swept by emotion . . . Their love had been the most wonderful thing in the world! How had it died so soon? What had happened? That was the question taunting both of them as the song went on. Looking back they saw a hundred little things, magnified until they assumed as-sumed tragic proportions small hurts left unhealed,' sharp words. Decisiono J a y Katherine Edelman PERHAPS it was something about the closing of the year that brought Paul and Ethel to the final decision. Anyaway, it was New Year's eve when they talked the matter over in a business-like way, and definitely decided upon the break. Months of growing irritation irrita-tion seemed to leave no other alternative alter-native than the court, they agreed. Both seemed relieved when the decision de-cision was made, and both agreed the quicker everything was over and settled, the better. They would begin packing up right away: the smaller things could be put away tonight. Outside snow was falling in thick, white flakes. Every now and then sudden gusts of wind rattled the doors and windows. But neither of them seemed to notice. Perhaps the tumult in their own hearts dulled them to the fact that a storm of a different kind was venting its anger outdoors. "What about this old clock Uncle Henry gave us?" Ethel asked, as she took it down from the mantel. Paul laughed a little harshly. "You keep it," he said; "time isn't going to mean a thing to me from now on." "But it came from your Uncle," Ethel protested; "he would want you to have it." "I tell you I don't give a darn about the clock or or about anything any-thing else for that matter." Paul threw a pile of books that he had just picked up across the length of the room. "Let's get some one else to do this this sort of thing makes the whole business seem awful." aw-ful." "Why, Paul, we just decided that we would be business-like that we would make no fuss, or " "Well, I thought I felt that way, but I was wrong. I just can't fool with this stuff tonight . . . Ethel, this may sound crazy, but is there any reason, now that we've decided to part for good, why we can't go out and celebrate the New Year together. to-gether. We we don't have to realiy like each other to do that we can go down and watch the crowds. Anything to get away from this gloom!" "Do you really mean that?" There was a queer little catch in Ethel's voice as she spoke, and her blue eyes seemed a bit misty. "Of course I'll go I'll be glad to there's too many ghosts around here tonight; it does make packing a bit difficult . . . But, can you get a cab this late?" "I'D get one." Paul's voice was firm. Relief and eagerness shone trom his dark eyes. "You hurry Mid doll up. I'll see to the cab." In half an hour they started way. Both were flushed, excited. It seemed a bit daring, adventurous, adventur-ous, to go out celebrating the New Year together, when they had decided de-cided only an hour ago that life under the same roof was unbearable unbear-able any longer. In spite of the crowds in the hotels ho-tels and cafes, they found a little table, with a delightful view of everything ev-erything that was going on. Paul ordered a bit recklessly. Since this was to be their last evening together, togeth-er, he was going to do the job right. But when the food came, they both ate rather silently. The small talk that had come so easy on the way down seemed to suddenly fail them . . . Every once in a while Paul glanced across the table at his wife. What a pity, he thought, they couldn't make a go of things! In Hs eyes Ethel was easily the hest One Glance Caught Hers and Held It for a Moment. silence and misunderstanding. There had been nothing terribly serious; se-rious; neither could find any big, bitter thing accountable for the wreckage. Again, Paul looked at EtheL This time she made no effort to look away. Tears shone in her eyes. Suddenly his hand stole across the table and found hers. "I love you, EtheL" he breathed; "can't we begin be-gin again? can't we prove to ourselves our-selves and to the world that "Love's Old Sweet Song" is really the sweetest song of all?" For a moment they did not realize that the orchestra had changed to a livelier air. Then as they sensed its swinging rhythm Paul reached out his arms. In a moment they were gliding with the happy throng of dancers, a newer and deeper love throbbing in their hearts. Western Newspaper Union. |
