New Britain herald., 1915-11-15

come to our littEa chafing dish supper because of her brothers illness in Chi cago, my first feeling was that of re- lief. I had so dreaded to meet this woman, of whose life I disapproved, that the postponement of the ordeal appeared to me very much as imag- inc a reprieve must to a condemned murderer.
 I suppose my face must have re- flected my feeling, for the scowl on Dicky's face deepened.
 You seemed so pleased over your escape that it would be a pity not to gratify you further" he said slowly. II think had better telephone Lil and the Lesters and call the whole thing off for tonight
 l had a strong inclination to say curtly, "Please yourself" and thus get rid of the whole affair. I understood Dicky's explosive temper well enough by this time to know that any irritat- ing remark of mine at this juncture would result in his 6elephoning his prospective guests to stay at home, re- gardless of what they might think
 But my pride urged me to save the situation att all costs. The Lesters, whom I had never met, might accept whatever excuse Dicky might choose to give, but I knew that Lillian Gale would realize the true situation in a flash. She would know that Dicky and l had quarreled over our guests and I was horribly afraid that she would imagine that the primary cause of the quarrel was my jealousy of herself.
 A Diplomatic Decision.
 Fear of this last possibility had be- come almost an obsession with me. I would not admit even to the most re- mote secret cell of my brain the thought that I was jealous of this old friend of Dicky's. Disapprove of her, most certainly; dislike her, I admitted it; butt stoop to be jealous of her never! I told myself ficrcely I real ized that I would do almost anything to keep her from guessing my dislike of her, for fear she might call dis like, jealousy"
 So I put down with an iron hand my inclination to say something irritating l to Dicky, and thus at one stroke elim- l mate all possibility of ever having to l entertain Lillian Gale. Instead I forced l smile to my lips, and all traces of | annoyance out of my voice.
 Don't be absurd, Dicky," I said 1 pleasantly. You are imagining things, 1 l certainly am not pleased to learn of | Miss Marsden's trouble, and you sure- 1 ly are testing when you speak of do- 1 ing so discourteous a thing as recall l ing your Invitations for tonight I nev- CT should be able to face Mrs. Under l wood again if you did Q thing so hu 1 initiating to me as that"
 I don't think that last possibility 1
 
 grief,'' muttered Dicky, but I knew 1 from his face and manner that I had 1 won. and that he would soon be over i his irritation.
 By the way, Dicky,' I was glad of the opportunity to ask him a friendly question, did you get the flowers y
 Right here," Dickys voice was pleasant as he sprang to his feet and handed me an enormous box which lay on a chair near him. II hope they will suit you"
 "Suit mel" I exclaimed. I had un- done the box and uncovered a great cluster of golden daffodils and snowy narcissus, with the feathery green of the maidenhair ferns completing the incarnation they seemed. ''They are exactly what I want against that rath- CT dull green of the dining room pa per-" ...
 "You have an artistic soul," com mentad Dicky idly, and I felt my face flush I knew he meant nothing by the remark, but I am both foolishly sensitive and self-conscious, and 1t flashed over me that I had been prat- ing of color tones and combinations when my knowledge of such things was nothing compared to that pos sessed by my artist husband.
 Twill you arrange them for>me?' l asked, to cover my confusion. Sure" assented Dicky heartily 1 They won't take any arranging. They 1 should be put in something as care l lessly as possible. Do you want 1t l done now?"
 'Why, I suppose they ougha to be l put in water, and then 1 can put them in here until after dinner. When l ar range the table for tonight 1t will be a simple matter 10 set them in there l Or do you want some of them here z 1T don't think SOL returned Dicky "Flowers for @ table where people are i to eat are necessity, but it would l look too much like formal function ho have them scattered all over.' ] "Common Brown Dish."
 That is my idea, exactly I agreed heartily. Now what shall we put them l in?'
 Dicky's glance swept the room. Nothing here," he said.
 l T removed several horrors belong 1 ing to the woman who rented us the | apartment I returned. One of them 1 is an imitation cut glass vase, an im- mense thing, but I am afraid it is the only thing in the house big enough. It is in the kitchen cupboard 1 Lead me to the kitchen,'' returned | Dicky noncommittally. As we entered