Ethel Watts Mumford

“ The house and the playing children passed from view around a turn, but their image lingered. The vision, too, of the beautiful, gaudily dressed young woman, the impression of her manner, provocative, even suggestive, in spite of the presence of the nurse and babies. It required no more than this one glance to diagnose the situation. The young mother knew her beauty, cared more for admiration than for her home, more for the showy claptrap of her personal finery than the appearance of her house, or the well-being of any of its occupants. ”

“ But wealthy men who “assist girls to an education,” if the girls be comely, will ever suffer questionings and sneers. And when he employed his ward as private secretary, it was as if he had offered affront to every other female employee in the county.
Ann had left the business of the firm in the outlying towns entirely to her husband. She seldom left her desk except for Chicago, or the East and West coasts; therefore, for years she had been out of touch with the offices of Ironton, of Cardick, or Wilton. Paul's confession had found her wholly unprepared. ”

“ No one thought again of Paul Quartel, except the lonely woman in the great house on the hill. It would have been a ten, even a twelve days' wonder, had they known that the mistress of the city's smoking forges was keeping in close touch with her former husband; that a law firm in a city half a continent away was keeping her informed of everything which concerned the new ménage, and that in a locked compartment of Ann's desk were snapshots of the conventional, suburban villa which was their home. ”

“ For more than an hour she walked as if pursued, but at the end she had seen the road of the future—seen it as if looking down from a high mountain, seen its final destination, and every turn and curve of its length. She did not need the finger of Fate to point the way. ”

“ It had been easy to accept beautiful things from the friendly woman, who loved her children so much; it became easy to accept gifts as costly from another donor. Ann noted a gold mesh bag, and asked no questions. The only person not surprised when Mrs. Quartel left for Europe with her lover was Ann.
She sent her maid at once to the bereaved husband, asking that the children be permitted to come and stay with her. In the big house, they would not note their mother's absence, and they could be properly cared for. ”

“ She realized that his winning boyishness really indicated dependence mixed with a youthful disdain for experience. She had loved his good looks, had always been acutely conscious of his physical appearance. For his handsome face and alert, graceful figure she had spent herself and her life.
He was but a boy in mind and initiation. He had need of her strength. What would he accomplish without her? Nothing. He had fallen in love with the youthful loveliness of a girl. ”

“ Should she be missing from her home on one of her many surreptitious excursions, she could always tell of a motor trip in the big gray car, or an afternoon spent in the lady's company. She discovered she was being deliberately shielded—once, when the negro maid had need of her mistress, and called at the other house; again, when telephone calls were relayed. Nothing was said, no favors were asked, no confidences were made; but the young wife's recklessness increased as she felt the shadow of that protective presence. On the children, the intimacy had the most beneficial effect. ”

“ Author of “Aurore,”
“A Pupil of Raphael,” etc.
{{di|OME wait at the crossroads of life for the finger of Fate to point the path and then meekly follow directions. Some, when the Great Indicator reveals itself, are moved to passionate and, not infrequently, successful opposition. Others hesitate until propelled onward by the shove of Circumstance or the boot of Necessity—but once in a blue moon there is one who——
Ann Quartel suddenly found herself at the parting of the ways. At least Paul had paid her the compliment of frankness. ”