The Raymer enterprise., 1911-01-26
CHAPTER ~. (contInued.) }

1T might be scarlet fever" Max
broke In cheerfully. II say, scarlet
fever on a Mongolian-what color
would he be. Jimmy? What do yel.
low and red make? Green?"
Orange" Jim said shortly. ~ 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 un-
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 glared
across the table. that had quarreled
with my husband!
II am afraid you are not WELL" he
said at last, noticing my food un.
touched on my plate. I'VE should
not have come. any Of US"
81 am perfectly WELL" replied fe-
verishly. ~ am never Ill. II ate a
late 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,
II think It Is only Ill humor."
said, looking directly at him. 81 am
angry at myself. have done some,
thing silly. and | hate to be silly"
Max would have said impossible, 8
or something else trlte. The Harbi
son man looked at me with interested
serious eyes.
is II too late to undo TT" 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 Tor are they Spanish
down there?) and think OF me always
MS married woman, married to a
dilettante artist, inclined TO be stou,
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 4 silly
little fool who pretended that she was
the other mans wife and had a lump
In her throat because when n really
nice man came along, a man who
knew something more than polo and
motors, she had to carry on the decep
tion to keep his respect. and be Sc
date and matrOnly, and see him
change from perfectly open admira
ton at first to hands.oif.she.is.m s.my
host's.wife attitude at last.
1T can never be undone." ! said
soberly.
Well. that's the picture as nearly as
! can draw It; a round table with a
low centerpiece OF orchids in layen
ders and pink. old silver candlesticks
with fligree shades against the som
ber wainscoting; nine people. two OF
them unhappy-Jim and |; one OF
them complacent-Aunt Selma; one
puzzled-Mr Harbison and the res,
Historically mirthful. Add one sici
Japanese butler and grind In the mill:
OF the gods.
Every one promptly forgot Takahirc
In the excitement OF the game We
were all playing. Finally. however
Aunt Selma, who seemed 70 have Ia
kahiro on her mind. looked up from
her plate.
THAT Jap was speckled," she as
serted. II wouldn't be surprised II III
measles. Has he been smiling
James?"
Has he been snitiling!" Jim threw
across at me.
II hadn't noticed IT," said meekly
while the others choked.
MAJ came TO the rescue. she 70
fused to eat IT," he explained. dis
tinctly and to everybody. apropos ab'
solutely Of nothing. TT said on the
box. ready cooked and predigested.
She declared she didn't care who