Stranger within the Gates Read Free

like this before. Always the troubles had been things that could in some way be paid for by money, or an apology, or by some small self-denial required of him, and the would-be crisis averted.
    But here was something that could not be paid for by money. She couldn't by paying even a large sum undo this thing and wipe out the memory of it from his life. Not even his most humble self-abnegation could put him where he had been before this happened, with the future still unchanged before him. Of course, the world today might think of divorce in such a situation, but not their family. Not quiet, respectable, Christian people like themselves. Not that they ever made a great point of their Christianity, but they had been fairly regular in church attendance, and such a thing as divorce was scarcely considered decent in their family traditions. With a weight like iron upon her heart, she flung the thought aside and stared at the hopelessness for the situation. Of course, even if the girl was fairly nice, she would feel the same about it. And a girl who would marry a boy not yet out of the teens, not through with his college course, what could she be? No nice girl would do a thing like that. Or would she? Nowadays? Young people did such very different things now, from what they used to do when she was young. But she hadn't yet reached the point of considering the girl, whether or not she was a right girl for Rex. It seemed to be equally terrible for her son, whatever the girl was. Rex! Married at eighteen!
    Or was it?
Was it conceivable that Rex would write her a letter like that just for a joke? He couldn't be so outrageous, could he? Though Rex was always full of fun, always planning some wild kind of performance to make them all laugh. But he couldn't be so cruel as to do such a thing as this. She thought she had brought her children up to feel that marriage was a sacred thing!
    She groaned and dropped her face in her hands, her heart contracting with the utter futility of all she had tried to do, in the face of this sudden catastrophe.
    Selma the cook knocked at the door.
    "The butcher's down at the door. He says do you want to pay for the order today or let it go till tomorrow?"
    "Let it go, Selma," said Mary Garland. "I'm----very busy just now."
    She had sprung up and stood facing the closed door, trying to speak in a matter-of-fact voice, a businesslike tone. Selma had seemed to take it that way. There was no question in her voice as she said, "Yes, ma'am."
    Mary Garland listened as Selma walked down the stairs and drew a breath of relief. If only she might be able to keep things this way, with their quiet accustomed tread, as if there were nothing ahead to frighten her. But she couldn't. She had to do something. Perhaps, after all, it would be best to call up Rex on the telephone. Treat it as a joke for which she felt she must reprove him.
    No, if it should be true, that might antagonize him. After all, he was her son. She must walk carefully. Oh, if she just had his father to advise her. If she had someone!
    But she mustn't call in strangers until she knew the worst and had control of herself. Paul would be the one, since his father was not here. Paul was reasonable, and sane, and had good judgment. His father had always said Paul had splendid judgment for a boy. Yes, Paul would be the one. But she could not call up Paul today. This was his important day, his mid-year examination. Or was it his thesis? But anyway, she knew she must not disturb him now. Not till his important classes were over.
    And even if she did succeed in getting him, would that be wise? He would be very angry with his brother for having brought such trouble upon them all, especially her. Even if it turned out to be a joke, Paul would be unmercifully sharp and stern. He would precipitate a quarrel, perhaps, that might keep Rex from coming home at all for Christmas. Oh, there were so many sides to this question!
    And even yet Mary Garland had not considered