Evening star., 1905-08-26
Anita's Understudy.

\ OF men supposed to require useful rather
| than ornamental wives. Presently Anita
herself. very dainty and apologetic In her
crisp blue linen gown. made her appear
ance and the trio went into luncheon.
| 1t was after 6 o'clock when the sisters
| met again. Maybrey was standing In front
| of her dressing table when her twin burst
\ in upon her without the formality OF
| knock and threw herself on the bed with
| sigh of fatigue.
| "Such a beastly day for drive" she
| dead tired. 1 wonder II father would mind
| II didn't come down to dinner tonlghtF
| He ought to be used to 1t by this time,
Maybrey retoined. Shall send your din
| ner up?"
| II don't believe so. 1 am so sleepy-the
| warm wind, l suppose" She picked up the
| hat she had tossed on chair. IF any one
| calls just say that l am not feeling very
| we'll and have gone to bed. Why, what
the matter with your eyes, Maybrey?" Her
| tone contained degree of curiosity, some
| thing unusual with Anita.
| Nothing" sharply. making vigorous use use
| ot the powder puff. Then you didn't enjoy
| your driver"
/ "Oh, after a fashion. Pike is prosy. but
| his horse and his income are worth culti-
vatng He asked to be remembered ,tIn"s d,s3 to
| have touched his heart" She laughed
| lightly and trailed off.
| The explanation came with the arrival of
| Alfred Suffolk at half-past s. Bob had re-
turned from his fishing expedition and gone
| to bed; and Maybrey sat sitting yawns IN
a low chair on the dusky piazza. while her
| father and old Judge Leonard swapped
| "reminiscences over their game. She heard
| the familiar whistle with which Alfred al
ways signaled his approach and came for
| ward to waylay him. He caught both her
| hands in his and had them against his lips
| before her voice undeceived him.
| 'Maybrey! 1 beg your pardon. Thought
| you were Anita. You are really tremen-
dousy alike in this dim light. 1 never no
81 to &c yrnin a
| was not fattering and remembering Bob
speech that morning. Maybrey stiffened-
| Anita is tired and has. gone to bed. She
asked me to excuse her to any one who
called she said
She looked fit enough when I saw her
| with Pikington this afternoon the young
! man retorted sulkily "She has no right to
| behave this way"
she is really very tired Alfred. and /
am afraid her head is aching" Anita had
never been known to have headache but
| the perfidious twin breathing a devout hope
that the recording angel might consider ex-
tenuating circumstances, went glibly on
But, of course. if you insist upon seeing
her, will tell her, and no doubt she
will"
Alfred melted Immediately.
"Of course. l wouldn't be such a brute"
he interrupted. Just give her my love and
tell her III be around tomorrow expect
to get away from the office early. You don't
think there is anything serious the matter,
do you. Maybrey? I sometimes think, "
, anxiously. that she isn't very strong
Anita, who could golf all day, dance all
night, eat like a school girl. and had no
nerves! Maybrey stified a laugh, assured
him gravely that she saw no cause for
alarm, and crept back into the house. An
ita in pink dressing gown. her hair hang
ing like cloud over her shoulders, leaned
over the shadowy bannisters and beckoned
to her.
Has he gomez she whispered when her
| twin was half way up the stairs
Mo- rIr1.
| Why on earth?-" she began indig
nantly.
Now. Maybrey, don't be cross. l had
| an engagement with him this evening, but
| ! simply couldn't see him. You know he
always will insist upon kissing me good
night-and after talking to Pike today"
You mean you are engaged to DR.. pix
| ington?' Maybrey found herself wonder