The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-09-23
THE CLUB BRIDGE"

Special invitations to attend the
bridge dance" OF the Arcadia club
were sent to the Ferrols and the BlakeS
The Arcadians were sharply and evenly
divided in membership between the city
crowd composed OF those who had
come from the city only recently and
wanted to rule the club and the "coun-
try bunch who had been old residents
in Arcadia before the city discovered il,
and felt that the club should be theirs.
Each iaction-the rivalry between them
was Sharp-wanted 10 ally the two new
families on their sidc-and united on an
urgent invitation TO the clubs f%es,ivi-
ties.
Edith dreaded the party which John
had made up his mind to attend with
her. To him it vas the agreeable dis
charge OF a %neighborly duty. To her 1t
was an enforced attendance on a gath
erlng' for which she had neither heart
nor raiment. The discovery that living
in the country cost as.much if not more
than in the city the constant worry to
meet the calls Tor money, more moneys
her break with Lillian; LilIian's unfair
retaliation through John, but above ali
her lack OF fresh new clothing fit to
pass that close scrutiny OF women's eyes
all these depressed Edith as only an
aggregation OF small worries ar
Her protests to John hat she had no
iroCk fit for the occasion ELECTED only
his repetition hat Lillian Blake tells
me simple dresses are the stunt for this
affair
THAT blue thing with the gilt stuff
IN II aud the whatchercallit at the back
will be Just right, Eide" he assured her.
Lis going to wear a plain rig she
told me So
Again Edith ilinchcd, but did not care
to reveal to her husband the resentment
she felt toward Lillian lie would be
sure to think her ungrateful to the
woman who had shown such friendly
Interest in the\past. Men always think
women are unjust to other women
especially II they Ike the other WON
en-" John was beginning to like Lii
Blake. and call her Sensible" and the
pos,c,sor OF a good head" Lii knew
exactly how to make men think we'll
OF her.
SO Edith once more silently sacri-
iiced her own wishes to the general hhr-
mony. hoping terycntly against her best
j Judgment that Lii had told the truth
about the simplicity that would grace
the club affair.
The Bldkes called Tor the Fcrrols on
the night OF the bridge The two women
pretended something OF the cordiality
which the men supposed existed between
them. But Blake's eyes. sharper than
FcrroIs-hc knew women better-dis.
covered a dcg'ce OF pretense under
Edlth'S forced cheerfulncsS. He liked
both the FeTrolS in a real, im]pcrsonal
fashion, the genuine irlendlincss OF a
man whose heart is kind.
He admired Edith's refinement and
quiet humor He adored her children
and apprt iated her training OF them
In his heart he knew Edith was a WON
an OF finer character than his wife. He
loved Lii, but he was not blind to her
sellshncss and love OF ruling L
troubled him that Edith, so o o after
moving TO the home in the country.
should seem depressed about something
He let John Ferrol walk on ahead with
Lillian.
Tell me, Edic, how, the country
working out with YOU" he asked
kindly The truth, now-don't try to
salye my feelings by saying everything
lovely 1t 1t isn't, Something on your
mind"
well, A." said Edith slowly. 81
think we could make a go Of it It only
! were a wee bit encouraged in IN,
home baking and preserving industry
! want to make a LITTLE money that way,