The Holly chieftain., 1911-08-18
H@0116N~GoA vi
Her Clothes and His
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

in my own case II exactly the same.
and you could give mine to your hos
tess"
A half hour later. the guests at Mrs.
Sutcline's. well bred though they
were. looked up in amazement as Mira.
Hobbs and her guest were announced
They had had similar shock when
Billy Avery entered with John Wade
The latter looked up when Ruby
Wells entered and was being intro
duced.
Great Scott! What excrucis.ins
taste!" he whispered to Billy Avery.
And look at the hang Of the dress
1t hikes up in 'front.'"
Rather the same effect as your
vest-isn't it," covertly suggested
Avery.
And it's pinned in at the waist,
know" went on Wade, waxing into
a white heat "Is this the peach you
spoke Off"
Must be-" Even Avery was taken
aback. Ssh! Here she is"
Hello, Billy!" Mrs Hobbs shook
hands with Avery. The introductions
took place and Wade made room for
Ruby Wells at his side. He couldn't
help himself from falling into the
snare of her charm. It would have
been there If her gown had been yel
low. red and green mixed.
Il understand We are to be dinner
partners" she said with a twinkle
cleaning from the deep gray Of her
eyes.
She cast quizzical glance at the
length of arm and hand projecting be-
low Wade's coat sleeve. Another
glance travelled over the shoulders
which strove to proclaim their breadth
notwithstanding the meager proper.
tons of the coat.
She looked up again and their eyes
met. Both strove to quell the laugh.
ter, but 1t was too much. They laughed
until everyone In the room cast
startled glances In their direction.
What are we laughing at?" asked
Ruby when John Wade's eyes had
ceased their mockery and her own
had grown questioning.
ITO be frank. Miss Wells" said
Wade. II laughed because your eyes
made me. at my own predicament and
because-weli. because you are SO
opelessly-a-well, out Of harmony
with the clothes you have on"
Ruby bit her lips. He was SO serf.
GUS and apologetic.
''lf am out of .harmony-you must
be out of tune. II may have the i'm.
pertinence to suggest it-a little sugar
might coax that coat Of yours tn
meet"
That's right, laugh at fellow be.
cause he has had the misfortune to
pick up the wrong suit case"
Suit easel" cried Ruby. Are you
the poor man whose bag | ran OF
WITH"
Il beg your pardon-I ran OF with
yours"
"Oh, very well-as the suit fits"
But 1t Doesn't"
They laughed again.
And is my perfectly good maize
colored gown"
well, would have said the things
were yellow"
He stopped confused. The slow col.
or mounted in Rubys cheeks. Try as
he might. Wade could not turn his
eyes from the exquisite beauty.
81 had pictured-just you-in that
maize-colored gown" said Wade.
And perhaps" said Ruby, II had
pictured-just you-in that evening
suit"
Dinner was announced. Ruby and
Wade arose and she put her hand on
his arm.
Toward the end Of dinner Ruby
leaned near Wade and whispered. II
refuse absolutely to go to that dance
tonight in this frock."
$50 do lin these clothes But
listen. Immediately after dinner will
order a carriage and you and | will
make a hasty exit will explain the
circumstances to Mrs. Sutcliffe."
What are you going to explain?"
asked Ruby with wide open eyes.
THAT you and I are going to make
ourselves presentable before the
dance"
Two hours later Wade stroied i'm.
patiently about the drawing room at
the Hobbs home. He Strengthened an
already Immediately set tie and
glanced at the perfect fit Of his own
evening clothes
Presently he heard a soft little
swish on the upper landing Of the
stairs, and he went to the hall to meet
Ruby Wells.
His eyes lit up as she came down
the stairs The soft gown clung In
graceful folds and her glorious Titan
hair was crowned by wreath OF buds
from which the pearls peeped