Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

small buttons " and the huge box and smiled
grimly-"and bought some of those big,
feathery, yellow chrysanthemums that Dick
loves, bushel of them, for his den, for the
table, for that queer old silver vase you gave
suddenly, as l was following buttons to
the taxi, thought of YOU You were my
salvation! You had never failed me! You
would help me out!" She sank back in her
chair, as tired with her recital as was at
it, and looked at me expectantly.
II told you, Betty, that had an engage
ment, one that means lot to me, more than
your foolish little head ever could fathom,-
a little bit of sunshine in the monotonous
drab of my existence And" ! glanced at
my watch, II intend to keep it"
"Oh, Elinor," she leaned forward in sud-
den terror, YOU'RE not going to leave me!
what all this means to me, think what it
might mean to Dick,-his whole happiness,
my whole happiness, perhaps. You always
said you liked him lot" could have slain
her for the hurt she was giving me. Wont
you do this little bit of thing for himP
All ask you to do is to break an engage
ment. :"
Again looked at my watch. l saw the
tiny second hand 60 round once, twice, three
times, four times. "In break it, said
coldly.
RETTY beamed. "You ANGEL" she
"Never mind about that" interrupted
roughly. "But, before do, want to tell
you that it is women like you, selfshly weak,
childishly impulsive, who make all the trou-
bic in the world, who are infinitely more
dangerous than vicious women, who get into
tangles, and expect other people to sacrifice
themselves in order to undo the knots" I
positively snapped at her.
Betty stared at me in astonishment-aS
she had said, was in horrid mood.
"Now remember" | went on, mot a
don't want any credit for anything. Not
word of your foolishness, of my rescue
work, not word! Promise2"
Il promise" whimpered Betty.
"On your honor"
ION my honor!" said Betty solemnly.
I'm no Good Samaritan, and I'm not
looking for the job" said Grossly. There's
Tom Sanford now. Sit here and talk to
him while 60 telephone" And, without
so much is glance at Tom, off stalked.
HELLO! This your Yes, this is Elinor.
- Have you been waiting there long?. ..
Vii, LII ~ oOIAy' ooyS We OOIiO IiiC i1iOSG
awful thing. I hope you'll forgive me.
Never remembered until few minutes ago
that had another engagement for this
noon. What do you think of me2. I'm
sorry. terribly sorry. I had looked forward
to seeing you-it's been such long time.
1t was awfully good of you not to have for
gotten me. Very nice of you to say that.
:. L don't know what I could have been
thinking of this morning when you called
me up and said yes. Yes, know. That
comes of not keeping datebook. What's
that2 I don't understand. With whom?
oh, with Tom Sanford. oh, shame!
That's not pretty world. oh, no, not so
bad as that! He's all right in his way-very
useful sometimes. BY the way, Dick. my
congratulations. -. Yes, congratulations.
Betty's just been telling me- 1 say, she's
just been telling me. Betty, yes, your
wife-B-E-T-T-Y-dont you know her
name YETI. Just been telling me that to-
day is an anniversary. Yes, she's here at
the Kmckerbocker. 1 blew in here for a
minute and ran across her. We've been
having a nice little visit. Yes, indeed,
mighty well, prettier than ever. So glad
she's sticking to brown! Listen, Dick. I
certainly must be daffy. Here's the second
crazy thing I've done to-day. was so taken
up hearing about your anniversary, and how