Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-09-26

sistance. however. she could not resist
relating the afternoons meeting, wind
ing up triuIuphantly. 80 that my hero
proves to he the exclusive Laurence
Hale"
While dressing Alice thought un-
easily of this revelation. Having told
Joan that the proposed guests were
strangers. IL she now confessed Hale
to be one of them would her sister not
refuse the part assigned her? Yet
much depended on the success of the
evening.
The girls aunt, Mrs. Drew. moved In
the circle of Philadelphia's elite, a
privilege forfeited by their mother on
her marriage to a struggling musician.
OF late Mrs. Drew. perhaps because of
Alice's resemblance TO herself. had tax
en- an interest In her niece and had
given her II winters gayety, an advan-
tage Alice now planned to follow up
with an Informal dinner in order that
her mother might meet Give. who had
shown her considerable attention. Be
fore Bridget's DETECTION everything had
promised well; eve now there need be
no failure If Joan fulfilled her promise.
Twill | do?" demanded Joan, rushing
In arraynd in regulation black with q
white apron, her naturally Wavy hair
drawn severely back and pinned close
ly around her head.
Alice felt treasured. Joan looked so
demurely prim.
She received the guests, so joan did
not see them until she announced soft
ly, DINNER is served when meeting
the astonished gaze of Laurence Hale
she fled precipitately back to the dining
room. Enraged that such a trick should
have been played her, her first thought
was of throwing up the task and leav-
ing the little party to Shift for itself.
The harm, however, was done. Alice's
eyes pleaded for forgiveness. which
Joan willfully misunderstood by offer
ing her the olives. She watched Give
with curiosity, discovering that though
he was deferential to her mother and
took his part In the conversation he
seemed TO think only of her sister, and
with a rush of tender sympathy Joan
forgave the embarrassment of her W
position.
That Hale was puzzled and chagrined
he showed plainly, but she systemati-
cally avoided meeting his eye. When
the ladies returned to the parlor with
Give in their wake Hale hung back.
Joan, busy with the silver, waited Curl
ously. but apparently changing his In
tention Hale followed his friend.
you were perfect, dear" her moth
er admitted the next day. 'but l only
consented to the plan because Alice
fretted So"
What can it matter?' exclaimed
Joan comfortingly. Il have no society
aspirations, as has Alice"
Before the week passed Alice's en-
gagement to Harry Give was announc-
ed. She was very gracious in her new
found happiness.
81 am going to tell Harry of your
good nature, Joan, and have him set
you right with that Mr.. Hale. l be-
lieve you IKE each other But Joan
cut short this project.
"If he thinks me a servant girl after
talking to me, let him."
bul dpc tNlQSDNC 10 d6olhob JOoS
Alice reminded her. Be reasonable.
King Cophetua and the beggar maid
belong to the age of romance, not to
the twentieth century"
"You will make no explanation" per
sisted Joan, unmoved. "As for your
delightful Harry, you will find he did
not eve look at me-"
This statement proved correct.
Gives unembarrassed greeting of his
future sister-in-law proved him I'M
hampered by a suspicion that he had
ever eaten a dinner of her serving.
Fridays concert found Joan sorely dis
gruntled. She was sure that the unity
of the first viollns was ragged, that
the soprano sang c~areiessly, and was
meditating a hasty retreat when some