Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-08-31

, in town for the day and would meet
| you for lunch at the Rochambeau -
II sufficiently urged. Shall urge
did you call me up to discuss
the .advisabiiity of lunching with your
-, He laughed, too = not a deep
throated. boyish chuckle. like my
Jim's, but a staccato laugh that had
queer, note of suspense in it.
Il telephoned to discuss the .ad-
ant to lunch. Will she Gomez"
WIS "Wh9 is she? | asked.
ant. I have a sense Of the fitness of
things. That Italian living room of
mine just belongs to you. my lady
+,iitt 1t was rather exciting to be told
longed to me. I had seen pictures OF
lovely Italian women with creamy
skins. smooth, brown hair, amber
think l was like them? With a van
ity l had not known 1 possessed.
put up my hand and smoothed my
hair.
I'm not sure we can take your
apartment. Perhaps my husband
won't want to bind himself by a
leave = began. the more severely
because 1 was ashamed of my van
"A telephone isn't the proper means
for persuading an irate landlord to
come to terms. Do come down to
Piled.
And chaperon Evelyn" I asked
pertly. But l felt surge of relief.
one of those lonely meals that had
been the nightmare of my bachelor
girl" days.
Talking to some one who knew
Jim seemed to bridge the gap of lone
illness between me and Washington.
l arrived at the Rochambeau ten
minutes late. l had calculated it so.
for ! didn't want to appear too eager
On the broad, white -pillared par
tico of the old fashioned white
frame hotel, stood Mr.. Thomas Ma
SON "a a smile OF greeting of admiration
Welcome. Your % humbIe f" landlord dIrd
ga,eS,,s gree,t,s you; gu May he say you're even
And where is my humble land
lords beautiful cousin?' ! replied in
the same bantering tone as l shook
hands with Mr.. Mason.
She phoned half an hour after
spoke to you to say that she was
detained at some Red Cross meeting"
oh why didn't you let me know"
Let you know? And lunch alone.
No. fair lady Here's the Racham-
beau and here am I so why
SHOulun you De nereF
IT isn't proper. What would my
husband say?"
Your husband would probably
say Buy her a good lunch. toor"
Mr. Mason was smiling with calm
assurance. He slipped his arm through
mine and prepared to lead me across
the hall toward the dining room. "A
nice little table for two over by the
window, Louis" he said. nodding to
the captain in the lordly fashion of a
man who tips well.
II can't CO. I whispered. I didn't
want to make a scene but l wanted
intensely to get away. had not
liked it when Jim had breakfast and
tea with Betty Bryce. I didn't want
Jim's wife to lunch with Tom Mason!
But he fairly propelled me across
the room. A moment later we were
sitting across from each other at a
little white clad. silver decked table
Then 1t was that ]. became frighten-
ed. l would make a scene if need
be anything to get away
sort of panic Ten days married. and
lunching with a man I hardly knew!
1t was disloyal to Jim. Disloyal to
myself. Some modern" wives be-
haved in this fashion but I didn't
want to be so modern.
Are you afraid?" asked Tom Ma
son; leaning across the. table and
smiling. at me with a challenge in his
narrowing blue eyes. Are you
afraid of yourself-or of me?"
To Be Continued.