Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-23
Margaret CARROTS : :
HuSbas :
By JANE PHELPS X
X \ 4 n \ 4. 4 \ X X X X y
ELsIE's DINNER PARTY.
CHAPTER CXVU.

| CHAPTER CXVII.
I said 1 ne"er before had seen the
look in Bob IS eyes which came to them
when he heard Miss Keating's voice. 1
had seen it, or one very like it ONCE
before-when Donald was born.
felt as il l were choking, and so
had turned to John as a relief, although
it left them alone.
You are exquisite tonight, Mrs.
Garrett" +" he said as we shook hands.
q Am l not2 have a new dressmak-
er, you see!" l replied with a laugh. All
the time trying not to turn around to
watch Bob and Miss Keating. If you
never have been placed in a position
where you were wild to see and know
what was going on blind you, yet com
PEELED yourself to turn, you can have no
idea of how hard it is.
''It ism t all the dressmaker although
| give her cremt for turning out mas
terpieee,' he continued. 'But you
wear it so well, and it is so becoming -.
$50 Bob said. There you have flatter-
ed me long enough. Tell me all about
Miss Keating.. She is talking to Bob
What an exquisite voice she has!p
Her voice is only one of her charms.
She is one of the most, if not the most
wonderful woman l ever have metz
At each word of praise my conviction
that in some way this woman was to
hurt me increased. [ now turned and she
and Bob were talking IN animated fash
ion, she gesticulating, using her hands
in a peculiar fashion which fascinated
me.
She is-someway = different, ism It
she?" [ asked John.
"You have hit it exactly. She is very
different. That is one of her charms.'
Just then dinner was announced. 1
was surprised and pleased that Mr.. Ian
sing, who had consented to be an eleven
tn hour guest was to take me in. He
was interesting, he would talk to me
and perhaps l would forget the uncanny
feeling of disaster 1 felt.
Bob took Miss Heating in. I had
someway known all the time that he
would. They sat where could not see
them; but often Bob 8 laugh would ring
out in boyish fashion, showing he was
at least interested.
The dinner was perfect, like every
thing Elsie attempted. But 1 scarcely
hHbW Wudb l. WdS GellASJ sllbuOuSH
tried to be attractive when Mr.. Lansing
talked. A very quiet man was on the
other side of me, famous somebody
whom Elsie had placed on her right.
But he might as well of been the
veriest nobody for all the interest 1
felt III him; and it was only my duty
to Elsie as hostess, my fixed determine
tion not to give Bob cause for complaint
that kept me from bursting into tears.
Every time Bob laughed it was like a
knife thrust. Once when the table was
quiet, I heard her soft flute-like voice
It would be impossible even after all
this time to explain how it affected
me. I felt numb and cold, yet when Mr..
Lansing spoke forced myself to listen,
and to answer.
1t was with a sigh of relief that I |
saw Elsie give the signal to rise from
The table. The long dinner had seemed |
to me although Judging
by the hilarity, none Of the others shar-
ID my opinion.
The rugs had ben taken up and the /
floors cleared for dancing. As he had !
lone once before, at Henry Creedmore s |
beefsteak, Bob danced first with some
me else. Then it had been Soma Wells. |