Judgment of the Gods

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 141, 18 December 1928, Page 33

Judgment of the Gods

By G.I.J.

[copyright]

Tho small'figure walked slowly flown (.lie drive. Behind her closed"the gates and she stood alone. In front of her jostled and laughed tho close-packed 'crowd. Fur-coated women ladon With, parcels, hastened along the street. Long-.-limousines glided lazily through the-: thronged thoroughfares—for it. was Christmas Eve. ■ -, A little'bundle in thc.flguro's arms., moved and. uttered a Jittlo;cry. , The./ woinaii took no notice" and was; caught up in the hurrying current of htiuiamty.

lii a large mansion not far from the city, a totally different scenevyas tafeiy ing place. The long room' was .'&'gloaritis; with lights. A .woman' Who would/have '<■ been beautiful had.it not been fOf.-tho discontented expression on her. face, sat in a luxurious armchair.' -„ —■; y ■ :'■■'■ The man, tall and well-gi'o'ouiod strode up and down the room. _ There was a n'oto of finality in.his voice as ho spoke.; - ■." .' . ,-■•'. •'; "I'm afraid . it's no good, Moifa. "'"' We're pulling at opposite ends.:bf the rope. Things can't go on.much -longer; V as thoy arc." . '«. „, '•,. .'- The woman, replied listlessly..'r.-Tbo,1, voice .was .sweet, but it had;,in'-ifc:ity! noto of weariness. "Hnf or'tunafel.v; -"i you're right, Frank. , There's only, obc^,, : course." •'",-.. ■■ '. -h. . • ; '* ■'''" '-' ;; The mail's head, sank onto Ms.bioast,;:''"lt's a rotten alternative. I've" "always hated the sound of the word divorce. God only knows I've'vdone my; best, but our tastes are so differont—■ there's boon nothing to bind us together. You've gone your way and I'Vo-;;gone mine and now it's come to this." ;■::. Ho sighed. The woman again spoke without changing her position. -, ■-£. "That's it, Frank..'Lack of comniqi ; interest. They call it incompatibility}■;.• I think." .- "", *§ The other did not answer; ' The woman spoke again a-iid laughed harshly.' "What a night to.discuss this matter, dear. Outside other'women are hurrying homo to fill their-,kiddies' stocking's. Christmas Eve —happiness." The man looked up quickly. "That's, tho point, Moira. Our home kasiiiever been filled with the patter of baby/jeet and tongues, and . . ."-•-■•■ ;'■ -Wl,. Tho words wore, interrupted by tfitf . harsh clang of the door-bell. ,A moment;;; passed in expectant silence. and thort'v there came in, hurrying, the liouse-maitL, V; a struggling bundle in her arms;- Alarm "' aud dismay wore evident on her'homelyj ' countenance. -'„-,». -'""■/■' "I just answered the door", fttam, atiS" a slip of a girl put the'baby in myj . arms and ran away hard; dovyn tlvej street. I don't know'what to /do.'' ',■■ '■;,;' Husband and wife, .tan forward tcw-\ get her, but the woman reached .-thS — baby, first. , ' ' .-' ;/",'., "Give me tho child, Martha;- I -will-,'.'' ring if I need you." , , ' / ," Gently sho placed tho uuicxpectcilV visitor on the cusliioned'eouch. Husbandt; and wife bent over the little face. :Thfs:.' littlo one's hand groped out arid seize! a finger of tho'man's hand; . As Moira' looked up at her .husband's face, ho saw; that her eyes were moist. "It's tho answer, Frank." The man laughed . brokenly, '. "Yes, dear, it's a judgment of the Gods.'*