Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-05-18
BY VIRGINIA T. VAN DE WATER.

TINE day after Beatriee's call upon
Mrs. Robbins she wrote that lady
a letter stating that she found it
possible to break her previous engage
ment for the following Wednesday
evening, and would be glad to accept
Mrs. Robbins delightful invitation for
that night The epistle brought a
note in reply from Helen. saying that
she was overjoyed at the prospect Of
seeing Beatrice at her dinner.
4 am glad" she wrote, that you
succeeded in extricating yourself from
the other engagement you mentioned.
] know, DEAR that l vexed you when
YOU were at my house by speaking as
I did of Robert Maynard, but | did not
understand that you felt as you do. My
liking for him must be my excuse for
forgetting that you might not like him.
Forgive me. and believe that | will try
to make matters more pleasant for you
the next time you come TO my home"
The note puzzled the recipient. What
did Helen mean by saying that she did
not understand how her friend felt?
Did she suspect that Beatrice had re-
sented her match making propensities?
Well never mind-there was no use in
wondering One thing was certain
Helen was giving q dinner at which
she had promised to have Beatrice the
guest of honor, and had said that Rob
ert Maynard was to sit next to her. At
first Beatrice had, it is true. been a lit
tie annoyed. Now she was glad that
the arrangement had been made. for
she acknowledged to herself that Mr.
Maynard was an unusually good look
ing man and had seemed well worth
while. 1t was a pity he was a widow
er, and yet as Helen had said, such
often made very good husbands to
their second wives.
She checked her thoughts abruptly
Was she considering this man as pos
sible husband after meeting him only
once, and before she had really laid
aside her mourning for Tom?
The New Party Dress.
This was however one of the Occa-
sions upon which she might indulge her
love for dress. It was so long since
she had been to a regular dinner party
that she was quite excited in preparing
for 1t. After looking through her ward
robe and finding nothing that quite
suited her, she sent for a little dress
maker who always did her sewing. and
between them they made the dainty
gown which the young widow had de
signed.
1t was a soft. clinging. pearl-gray
satin that shirnmered into silvery high
lights. 1t was, of course, decollete. and
folds of delicate white lace finished it
at the shoulders The rather severe
outlines of the gown we're planned to
emphasize the wearer's exquisite fig
ure. She was aware that the only
flowers to be worn with this costume
were English violets and she Stifed
pang of conscience which accused her
of extrava gance when she fastened the
large corsage bouquet of these blossoms
in place The effect amply compensated
her for her pains when she surveyed
herself in her mirror. The children
exclaimed with joy, Jack the elder. ad-
miring the beautiful flowers" and Jean
touching with reverent and tiny fingers
the shining train, and babbling about
the time when she should be "a big
lady" and have a dress "jes' like
mammals
Even in her excitement Beatrice
waited to see Jack tucked warmly into
his crib and Jean in the bed which the
little one shared with her mother.
Then, kissing each child good might, she
hurried from the room and, with part
ing order to her maid of all work. went
down to the cab that waited for her
81 will ride to the dinner in a taxi"
had been her decision las | can not
go alone in street car in evening
dress. Probably MI Maynard will
bring me home"
Several guests had arrived before
Beatrice and Helen Robbins greeting
was So cordial that the newcomers
heart warmed to her The two chatted
gayly for minute or two before the
arrival of the last guests. Among these
was Robert Maynard. BY the time he
had greeted his hostess and turned for