Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-21
MY MARRIED LIFE
Her "Artfsttc SouL'
By ADELE GARRISON

MTHEN Dicly told me that he had Just
w had a telephone message saying that
Bess Marsden would not be able to come
to our little channR-dlsh supper because Of
her brothers Illness In Chicago my FIRST
feeling was that Of relief had 80 dreaded
to meet this woman, Of whose life dsap-
proved. that the postponement Of the ordeal
appeared to me very much as / imagine
reprleve must to condemned murderer.
I suppose my face must have reflected
my feeling, for the soowl on Dcky's face
deepened.
You seem no pleased over your escape
that II would be a pity not to crafty you
further" he said slowly. II think / had
better telephone LII and the Testers, and
call the whole thing of for tonight"
had a strong inclination to say curtly,
please yourself" and thus get rid Of the
whole affair. I understood Dicky's explo-
sive temper we'll enough by this time to
know that any Irritating remark Of mine at
this juncture would result in his telephon-
Ing his prospective guests to stay at home,
regardless Of what they might think.
But my pride urged me TO save the situ-
alton at oil costs. Tho Testers, whom
had never met, might accept whatever eI-
know that Lillian Gale would realize the
true situation in flash. She would know
that Dloky and / had quarreled over our
guests. and / 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 become
almost an obsesslon with mo. i would not
admit even to tho most remote secret cell
Of my brain the thought that I was jealous
Of this old friend of Dlclsy's. DIsapprove
Of her, most certainly; dislike her, l ad-
mltted Il; but stoop to be jealous OF her
never l told myself nercely. l realized
that would do almost anything TO keep
her from guessing my dislike OF her for
fear sho might call dislike" Jealousy"
so 1 put down with an iron hand my in
clInation to say something irritating TO
Dicky, and thus at one stroke eliminate
all possibility of ever having to entertain
Lillian Gale. Instead. / forced smile TO
my lips and all traces of annoyance out
Of my voice.
Don't be absurd, Dlcky." I said pleas
antly. "You arc imagining things. cer-
tainly am not pleased to learn of Miss
Marsden's trouble, and you surely are jest
ing when you speak OF doing so discour-
teous n thing as recalling your invitations
for tonight. never should be able to face
Mrs. Underwood again II you did thing
so humilatlng to me as that"
''I don't think that last possibility would
cause you any very great grief" muttered
Dlcly: but knew from his face and man.
ner that had won, and that he would soon
be over his irritation.
by the way, Dicky." I was glad OF tho
opportunity to ask him friendly question,
did you get the nowers7"
Fright here" Dicky's voice was pleasant
ns he sprang TO his feet and handed me an
enormous box which lay on chair near
him. "I hope they will suit you"
suit met" exclaimed. I had undone
the box and uncovered n great cluster of
golden dafrodls and snowy narcissus, with
the feathery green of the maidenhair ferns
completing the incarnation Of spring they
seemed. They are exactly what I want
against that rather dull green of the dining
room paper"
You have an artistic soul" commented
Dcky idly and felt my face flush
knew he meant nothing by the remark, but
l am both foolishly sensitive and self-con-
scious, and II flashed over me that had
been pratlng of color tones and combina-
tlons when my knowledge of such things
was as nothing compared to that possessed
by my artist husband.
"Will you arrange them for me71 asked
to cover my confusion.
Sure" assented DiclSy heartily. '"They
won't take any arranging They should
be put in Nsomething as carelessly as pos
sible. Do you want It done now?'
why. I suppose they ought to be put in
water, and then l can put them in here
table for tonight 1t will be a simple mat
ter to set them in here. Or do you want
some of them In here2"
II don't think So" returned Diclry.
'Flowers for table where people are to
eat are necessity, but It would look
too much like n formal function to have
them scattered all over
COMMON BROWN DISH"
"That is my idea, exactly" / agreed
heartily Now what shall we put them
in?"
DIcl,v'a VIapra auapt tbs roor, .rAy.L
ing here" he said.
81 removed several horrors belonging to |
the woman who rented us the apartment"
I returned. zone of them is an imitation
cut-glass vase an immense thing, but am |
afraid It Is the only thing In the house |
big enough. It is in the kitchen cupboard"
Lead me to the Kitchen" returned |
DlclSy noncommttally. AS We entered |