The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-10-15


thing IL out Of our home. II has
the evil eye. Please wrap II up and
take II over to Mr.. Mason's house,
dear, while I finish dinner"
but. honey, Mason isn't there
81 don't care, Jim darling. ! want
IL out OF the house. Oh. beloved.
please, please let me have my wayi
Take Il over
SILLY little sweetheart Well. she
shall be humored- I'll call Z mss-s
senger-
Not q messenger, JIM Please
let's not be extravaganza IL want
all the more to be saving because
you've found work IL think Il
would do US worlds OF good to learn
to be saving" pleaded.
Jim let me have my way. He ala
Up the robe. and just as Il vanished
Into It's swathings of,paper, actually
the thing seemed to wink its blue.
green peacock's eyes at me mali
ciousIy.
But even after he had limped cut
with II, felt disappointed did -
wish Jim could have seen the incl
dent as did To me Il stood almost
as . symbol We must not accept
lavish gifts from our rich friends.
We mustn't adopt their worldly
standards. We must find for our
selves simple, happy. honey ones
the standards OF dignity and sweet
ness that the Bryees and Sheldon
Blakes and Tom Nasons Of society
probably sneeringly call "mIddlo
class'-but the standards. neverths-
less, on which the beautiful thing
called Home Is built-the stand
ards that are about the most first
class" thing In the world.
The lid OF the carved chest ives
still open I went over to close II.
and as 1 put II down saw that in
the corner OF the large empty chest
something glittered- stopped and
picked II up-lt was q flashing tas-
sci OF blue and green beads, drop
ped from the tiusel girdle- For .
moment stood with Il In my hand.
then / dropped IL back into the
depths Of the chest and banged the
Ia shut would never be rid Of
that robe?
A clock ehfrsed the half hour ana
I flew to look At my roast basted
and turned it-by two u would b
done to perfection The carrots
must be hurried on, or the meat
would get . bit dry and tough
waiting for them A glance at the
time table In my cook book had
said, Carrots ninutes.- So I
lowered the burners In the oven.
I busted myself with the mint
sauce. put the potatoes on to boil.
made the salad dressing and sliced
the tomatoes. took my pineapple
fiun- out Of the mold and finished
fayfng the table. The clock struck
two. No Jim.
II turned on the heat In the ovea
entirely. Ny houseWifely instincts
made me determine that my nice
lamb roast shouldn't be overdono
-delicately pink, II would be de-
licious. and could be served cold
for tomorrow nights dinner.
set back the potatoes and the mint
sauce. left the carrots simmerinE
and came -uneasIly into the living
room.
It was all wife nov-Ehe house
wife left behind In the kitchsnetts-
Mr.. Masoh's apartment was only
few blocks away. Jim had taken
enough time already to do the trip
twice over. Had he been too tired
to 20 out again. Had his trip OF
the morning worn him out? was
I a selfish wife who, for the sake OF
her own peace Of mind. had sent .
brave War-cripple out on a trivial
errand that was exhAusting him.
I crossed to the window-not the
one where the chest stood!-and
peered out Jim was nowhere 70 %
seen The street wore the air -
desertion that's typical OF Sunday
at .
A taxi turned the corner and
drove to our door. Ny heart sank
Jim-iIl perhaps. Trembling. stood
the cab.
Then the door ooensd and q
woman stepped out Of the TAIL Shs
wore a beautiful dress Of orchid
colored chiffon flowing out fron
under = cape OF purple satiu
Orchid coIored? She looked like Nv
familiar orchid she pail
the driver and looked up.
II was Betty Bryce!
The curtain shook under nv
hand What was Betty Bryce doirS
back In town? How had she found
Us? How could she have found us
have known our address. unless
Jim had sent II to her-unleSs jim
had been writing to her?
A wave Of angry jealousy swept
over me and ! stood staring with
dull malignity At the taxi that had
brought her to our door. And tn
second II drove away. and the
vanished through the
entrance OF our building.
stood with beating heart struG-
Cling for composure.
Then came the whir OF the tsle-.
phone bell crossed the room and
took down thsNreceiver.