Atlanta Georgian., 1914-03-01
American Sunday Monthly Magazine Section


"But | don't like him." Jenny would
break forth in annoyance when some OF the
girls had become exceptionally silly over
him during dressing groom interval Yes,
he can be very forward with his letters and
his presents but if | did go out with him, he
wouldn't say anything, only sit and look like
dead fish,.
Then one day came a note for Jenny
written in an unfamiliar hand. She opened
it curiously and read
IT'S Lancaster Gate, w.
April 20.
DEAR Miss PEARL
wonder if you would be so kind as to give me the
pleasure of your company at tea tomorrow, Friday.
at haf-past-four. would so like to make your ac-
quaintance.
EUsTAsIA GRANT.
"Fancv," commented Tenny There's
soppy family! Whoever heard of anyone
calling themselves after their son? But
what does she want to see me Tor! | sup
pose she's been out buying new rug SO that
she can go down on her knees, and ask me to
marry her bonehead, darling EustaCe. I'm
sick of the whole family, am"
But you'll surely go, cried the girls in
chorus.
"Why should I?" Jenny demanded.
ooh, Jenny, you must. You must go, If
only to tell us what she said, the girls de-
clared.
"Well, if that doesn't win it, - said Jenny.
I'm to go and make poppy show OF my
self just for your amusement!
"But we'd like to hear what she said, !"
the girls went on.
Eyes, | dare say you would, Jenny an
swered. And am going, but only so that
| can pay you out for being such lot OF
Nosy Parkers by not telling any of you
word of what happened.
"Oh, you mean thing, the girls murmured.
"What would you do with her? What a
nasty spite Did you ever?"
But Jenny kept to her determination and
actually set out to visit Mrs Grant on the
following afternoon. She felt a little nervous
and hoped Mrs. Grant would not be too
poignant in her entreaties to look kindly on
her lovelorn son. She continually braced
herself up for the approaching interview
during the long bus-ride down to Lancaster
Gate, and when she had rung the bell and
stood waiting on the steps, she wondered
how she had ever had the nerve to come at
ALL Only self-consciousness kept her from
turning round and running away, but after
a few panoramic seconds she found herself
sitting in large, cool drawing-room full OF
palms and books. In the first instant OF her
survey Jenny made up her mind that never
could she picture herself presiding over such
a room, and the idea of marrying Sop faded,
if possible, into an even more utter remote
ness than before. Mrs. Grant came in at
once and seemed, as Jenny shook hands with
her, very tall and dark and stately. Jenny
could watch the meeting in big mirror,
could watch her own golden hair and slim
shape rise to greet this somber creature
| fha n "
belonged.
And SO you are Jenny Pearl, said Mrs
Grant earnestly. DO sit down. My son
has told me SO much about you"
Jenny felt, as Mrs. Grant spoke in her
gently modulated voice, that unless she sum-
moned to her aid every tradition of London
gameness, she would stand some likelihood
of behaving very much as the son of this
self-contained lady behaved in the Paragon
Restaurant 1t was an effort to answer
Mrs. Grant, but somehow she succeeded.
ooh, he has spoken?" she said finally and
as she afterward admitted to herself in retro
spect of the scene, little weakly.
I'm afraid" Mrs. Grant went on, that
he may have led you to suppose that he
wishes to marry you.
"Well, he asked me to marry him after
he'd just about shaken hands, if that's what
you mean," Jenny remarked.
"He was always SO hasty, murmured
Mrs Grant. Dear me, it's all very diff
cult"