The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-08-14

L 44
thinking Of going. And he told Of the
conversation of the night before.
'Marcia's eyes sparkled Il like
that" she said. Hes got backbone
but really they are impossible, DILL"
Why" he persisted.
ooh, you know" she flashed. mo
body knows them, and they are SO new.
And she is so pleased with her clothes"
She's pretty" said Dillingham;, and
refined looking"
"Oh, that" said Marcia, Eyes. she's
pretty"
She considered 1t for a while, with
her chin on her jeweied hands, and
then said, We'll, I'll ask her to my
luncheon next week. I'm going to have
fourteen women, and they all live here,
and she'll have her chance to get ac-
| quainted."
Good girl" said Dillingham; Went
worth, and Marcia shrugged her Shout
ders and laughed y
| Marcia Wentworth's call and subse-
quent invitation set little Mrs. Delevan
afutter. Isn't it sweet of her, Jim
sie?" she said. And she's perfectly
beautiful"
But Jimsie, remembering the meet
Ing at the Country Club, smiled down
at her wisely. I'm glad you've got
your chance. Midget" he said
On the day of the luncheon little
Mrs. Delevan went forth arrayed in all
her glory. From the deep embroidered
hem Of her chiffon gown to the tip of
her sweeping plumes, she was in brown.
But so cunning were the touches Of
gold, Of lace, and of ermine, OF topazes
set In antique settings, that there was
nothing somber in the effect, and her
hair, pulled and waved and giving out
shining lights. was the finish of har-
moniouss whole. And her eyes were
like stars, smiling and flashing.
DO you like me, Jimsie?" she asked
as she swept into her husbands den,
where Delevan occupied certain hours
of the day with business.
Il love you," said Jimsie Delevan,
and took her into his arms in an en-
brace that almost demolished the big
hat.
"Oh, I'm going to party, party, a
party" sang little Mrs. Delevan
Don't you wish you were going. too,
Jimsie?'
mot with that bunch Of icicles," said
her husband, elegantly.
"Jimsie!" his wife reproached him.
"And they are trying to be SO nice to
met"
We'll, they are roses with the thorns
all in place." he amended Perhaps
they won't prick you, dear heart AS
if anybody could!"
And she kissed him for that, and
went away.
But the first beautiful course of
caviar had not passed before she real
lied that she was an outsider and an
alien.
They were all perfectly civil to her.
But her frank friendliness met with
no response. The talk was of things
of which she had no knowledge. There
was the tea at the Pollards', the dinner
dance at the Dubants the Van Aliens
cotillion, the patter and chatter of a
hundred things in which she had no
place. And not one of these women
tried to make little corner in their
conversation for her
Even the pretty gown failed of COM
forting. Their were gowns of more
distinction, and Marcia Wentworth,
tall and dark in a daring combination
of peacock blue and green and silver,
was a picture beyond compare.
And as the luncheon had begun, it
progressed and ended, and Immediately
after, some of the ladies went away.
But few of Marcia's intimates dali
lied, and little Mrs. Delevan dallied
with them, hoping against hope that
before she left she might count one
woman as her friend
But their conversation swept past
her, and Marcia Wentworth, lounging
in long chair, made no effort to turn
it in the direction of the wistful little
guest in the brown gown.
And at last Mrs. Delevan went up
stairs to get her wrap. She would go
home to Jimsie-Jimsie, who never
failed her.
AS the maid helped her on with the
sable coat, white-capped nurse stop
ped at the door.
Marie, you keep your eye on the
baby" she said, 1--WE got to go down.
stairs minute"
"All right" the maid agreed.
THE baby! Oh, might see her?'
Mrs. Delevan asked eagerly.
She's in the nursery, ma'am," the
maid said Its at the end of the hall. "
Then, as two other guests came in, she
4,,r,,od a. t,a1.. 4hovo