Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-21

moil of my own thoughts. 1 was in
no mood to play neglected wife
while Jim and Envy raved over
the success of her lunch
This was my husbands first party,
and-Evvy serenely took charge OF
1t. 1t was like Jim's generosity and
gratitude to let her, but why
couldn't he see how this belittled
me?
Envy practically ordered the din
ner. She made the seating arrange
ments. Jim was at the head of the
table, at the foot. And stretch
Ing between us were Betty, Terry.
Virginia, Sheldon at one side and on
the other Envy, Neal, Phoebe and
Tom. 1t looked natural enough, but
as I sat between Sheldon Blake and
Tom Mason l wondered why Envy
had put her old friend Sheldon as
far from her as possible and had
chosen to place Neal on her right.
There was dancing in the big din
ingroom behind us, and without
even waiting for their CLAIMS, Neal
and Phoebe ran in at the first note
OF a fox-trot and circled the room
happily in each others arms. saw
quick flash of glances between
Betty and Terry, and then the hand
some English captain leaned down
the table and said coaxingly:
Mrs. Jimmie-first a toast to our
bride and groom-and then this
very dance with the bride herself,
please"
Tom Mason replied for me, lifting
his glass high:
Wen rise to your toast, Captain
Winston-but the dance is mine."
Terry bowed gravely, and stood
up for the toast to Jim and me.
Then there began a contest be-
tween Terry and Tom Mason for the
honor" of my society.
One side of me seemed to be
standing off and wondering why
the other side of me didn't enjoy
this half-laughing, half-serious COM
petition for my dances. But all of
me was a-tingle with awareness of
the situation of which 1 was part.
Neal was leaning over Phoebe so
intently that he seemed almost like
tragic young Romeo-but a Ro-
meo with all his boyishness gone.
Evyy, half turning her back to
Neal and bending toward Jim with
an almost audible call in her wide
blue eyes; Betty, grave and quiet
missing. perhaps, Terry's usual de-
votion.
Virginia, cold and aloof, watch
ing Phoebe and Neal intently, al
most unaware of Sheldon's glances,
his ardor.
There was a tension in the air
like the stiffness before summer
storm. Then. up spoke Betty:
2 Anne, you two. honeymooners
have bluffed long enough. Now I'm
coming down to get acquainted
with Mr.. Mason. and you are going
to stop being the belle of the ball
and come up here like a sweet, lit
tie old-fashioned wife and give US
one more beautiful glimpse of the
Jimmies as they are"
There shot through my brain this
question:: Can Betty be jealous of
Terry?"
But the thought went again, as
Envy lifted her eyes from Jim's
face, and set them on Betty's COM
posed features with a long look of
undisguised hatred.
Jim rose to greet me, a smile on
his lips. He took my hand in his
and made a little laughing speech
that gave me my first moment of
happiness in twenty-four hours.
Friends, behold the happy jim
mics reunited. And now to the one
dance this game ankle of mine
dares venture in an evening-with
my Princess Anne"
Quickly Envy darted about and
flung her command to Neal:
Come, lad. here's the waltz
promised you"
And as Neal stood up, manly If
reluctant saw Phoebe's sweet lit
tie face cloud over misty like a
rose in a shower.
Ito Be Conttnued.)