The Williamson enterprise. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1907-1911, 1911-02-02
CHAPTER III. (contInued.)

act lne part. Aunt Selma arrives and the
deception works out as planned. as she
mad never seen Jim's wife.
CHAPTER III. (contInued.)
1T might be scarlet fever" Max
broke In cheerfully. II say, scarlet
fever on a Mongolian-7what color
would he be, Jimmy? What do yell
low and red make? Green?"
Orange" Jim said shortly. 'T wish
you people would remember that we
are trying to eat"
The fact was, however, that no one
was really eating, except Mr.. Harbi-
son, who had given up trying to I'M
derstand us, considering, no doubt,
our subdued excitement as our nor
NAL condition. Ages afterward I
learned that he thought my face al
most tragic that night, and that he
supposed, from the way I glared
across the table, that had quarreled
with my husband!
Il am afraid you are not well" he
said at last, noticing my food I'M
touched on my plate. I'VE should
not have come, any of us"
II am perfectly well.' replied fe-
yerishly. I am never i'll. I'll ate a
tate luncheon"
He glanced at me keenly. Don't
let them stay and play bridge to-
night" he urged Miss Caruthers can
be an excuse can she not? And you
are really tagged. You look it."
Il think 1t Is only Ill humor," /
said, looking directly at him. Il am
angry at myself. have done some
thing silly, and hate to be silly"
Max would have said Impossible, !"
or something else trito. The Harbi-
son man looked at me with interested.
serious eyes.
'Is 1t too late to undo it," he asked.
And then and there determined that
he should never know the truth. He
could go back to South America and
build bridges and make love to the
Spanish girls Cor are they Spanish
down THEREBY and think OF me always
as a married woman. married to q
dilettante artist, inclined to be stout
the artist, not land with an Aunt
Selma Caruthers who made buttons
and believed in the Cause. But never,
never should he think of me as silly
little fool who pretended that she was
the other mans wife and had lump
b her throat because when really
knew something more than polo and
motors. she had to carry on the decep-
ton to keep his respect, and be Sc
date and matronly, and see him
change from perfectly open admira-
ton at first to ands-off-she-is-my
host attitude at last
1T can never be undone,'' / said
soberly.
Well, that's the picture as nearly as
can draw 1T; round table with a
low centerpiece of orchids in laven.
ders and pink, old silver candIesticks
with 1lgree shades against the som
Der wainscoting; nine people. two OF
them unhappy and T.; one Of
them complacent- Aunt Selma; one
puzzled Mr.. Harrison; and the rest
Historically mirthful. Add one sick
Japanese butler and grind in the mills
Of the gods.
Every one promptly forgot Takahiro
In the excitement of the game we
were all playing. Finally, however
Aunt Selma, who seemed to have Ia
kahiro on her mind. looked up from
her plate.
THAT Jap was speckied," she as
serted. Il wouldn't be surprised II it's
measles. Has he been smiling
James? 2"
HAS be been snif1ing?'' Jim threw
across at me.
Il hadn't noticed it." l said meekly
while the others choked.
Max came to the rescue. "She re
fused to eat it." he explained, dis
tinctly and to everybody. apropos alb
solutely OF nothing. TT said on the
box. ready cooked and predigested.
She declared she didn't care who
cooked 1t, but she wanted to know
who predigested it."
AS every one wanted to laugh, every
one did 1t then, and under cover OF
! the noise caught Anne's eye, and we
left the dining room. The men stayed
and by the very frmness with which
the door closed behind us, ! knew
that Dallas and Max were bringing
out the bottles that Takahiro had hid
den. was seething. When Aunt
Selma indicated a desire to go over
the house cit was natural that she
should want to: It was her house, in
a way) excused myself for minute
and flew back to the dining room.
It was as had expected. Jim
hadn't cheered perceprbly. and the
rest were patting him on the back
and pouring things out for him, and
saying, Poor old Jim" in the most
maddening way. And the HARRISON
man was looking more and more puz
zled, and not at all hilarious.
descended on them like thunder.
bolt.
That's itl" cried shrewishIy. with
my back against the door. Leave
her to me, all Of you, and pat each
other on the back, and NV it's gone
splendidly! oh, know you, every
one!" Mr. HARRISON got up and
pulled out q chair, but couldn't SIT;
I folded my arms on the back. After
: vhi1a suppose. you'll slip upstairs.