The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-08-12
WAS JUST FILLING IN
But the Substitute Guest Finds
Old Lover Is the Lion Of
the Hour.
BY KATHERINE HoPsoN.


letter, Herman Ingram looked up with
. puzzled expression on his genial.
middle-aged face. Il don't see how
can scare up an extra girl that Nina
wants at q moments notice." he re-
| flected.
The letter had told Of the expected
return Of his wife and daughter from
Atlantic City late that afternoon,
bringing with them as guest . IA
nous engineer in whose honor they
wanted to give q dinner. Mrs. In.
grain had invited three other guests
but was short one girl to complete the
desired number
Telephone to Alice McNulty, or
any other Of Bellies friends who can
come. ! have sent orders to the cook
about dinner. and hope things will
80 all right. However. we can't q.
pect to have q perfectly appointed
party on such short notice." the letter
concluded.
Ingram scratched his head thought.
fully. He happened to know the Nc
Nulty's had started to Michigan the
day before.
Nina said to ask one Of Bellies
friends but everybody can think Of 10
out Of town here in midsummer I
wish she'd got home earlier-in time
to see about this invitation business
herself. Still, one girl ought not to
be hard to find"
le looked absent-mindedly around
me office, and then his glance fell on
Miss Barew, his secretary, working
at her desk. Her tact and good sense
had helped him out Of dilemmas be-
fore.
Maybe she would know of someone
-" then a second thought struck him.
Why not ask Miss Barew herself?
For moment Miss Barew looked
surprised Then she quickly recov.
cred herself and graciously agreed to
come.
Its good of you to help US out. l
think you'll enjoy meeting the people
they're an agreeable lot. l don't
know the man who ia the guest of
honor. Nina didn't mention his name.
But l guess he'll be an interesting
chap" He smiled reminiscently at
some Of the results of Minas lion
hunting proclivities
The matter Of the invitation dis
posed Of. they turned again to bust.
ness. But while her slim gure flew
over the typewriter keys, Miss
Barews thoughts, woman fashion.
we're on the subject Of clothes, and
she wondered what she should wear.
If l could 60 and feel well-dressed,
Il would seem like q bit Of the old
life come back"
Mr.. Ingram had given her permits
sion to leave the Office early, and
when she reached her room at the
boarding house. the problem of clothes
returned with double force.
There 10 only one thing left from
the wreck Of the old days that would
be suitable at ALL" She drew . box
from under the bed and took out from
its tissue wrappings an evening gown
of mauve crepe de chine. Though
slightly crushed 1t was In good condt
ton. and the odor Of violets fingered
about its soft folds.
I've had 1t two years." she sighed.
and Of course it's antiquated. Still
It isn't 50 bad. At any rate. It's the
only thing that will do."
When dressed in the soft clinging
evening gown, her bare arms and
shoulders cleaning from the creamy
lace. she studied her reflection anxi.
ously, and was treasured by the liz.
some grace which the mirror showed.
The women will all know this 10
an old dress. but what does that mat
ter II the effect is all right?"
The memory Of the last time she
had worn that dress came back to
her. 1t had been at a dinner-dance
to which Horton Campbell had taken
her. At that time they were on the
perilous border-line between friend.
ship and acknowledged love. and life
had seemed all bright-hued. A few
days later. Campbell was sent west |
by his firm or business Before start.
Ing he had telephoned her that 1t
would be only for short time. but
the weeks slipped on into months.
During that time her fathers bust.
ness failure and death had occurred.
and the map Of her life was changed.
Two years had passed since then.
and she had left the old homo town
and obtained position in New York.
But In all that time she had heard
nothing from Campbell.
"Oh, Horton. why did you treat me
70! Surely there was . mistake
somewhere!" Tears filled her eyes.
md she buried her face in her arms
beside the dressing.table.
This will never do." she resolutely
told herself. She put on her wraps.
She was just in time. for at that
moment came the sound Of the motor
which the Ingrams had promised to
Iend for her.
The car had been delayed By an
lccident on the way, and she was the
ast guest to arrive. Mr.. and Mrs..
ingram greeted her cordially. The