, 1918-02-21
The Flaming
Moment
@0
BY HoPsoN
1913. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per S~yndicate.)


II don't like to criticize people, espe-
cially when I'm visiting them, but 1
must say 1 never saw a bridal party
where everybody concerned acted so
much as If they wanted to crawfsh
out" she la%ughingly declared.
Patricia, who had just arrived,
looked surprised. "Surely you must be
mistaken, Bess," she demonstrated, re-
Numbering the latter's propensity to
exaggerate things during their college
days.
Bess shook her curly head. 'Tve
been here a week, and that's long
enough to-see a good many things"
By this time they had reached the
dining room, where they were Joined
by others, SO the conversation neces-
sarily became general. Nor were they
alone together again that evening. But
Patricia thought over those words
many times next day, when she and
the other young people decorated h
house with roses and smilax for the
wedding. Apparently everyone was
blithe and gay, but over all was an I'M
mistakable atmosphere of ~tenseness
and foreboding.
Late that afternoon Patricia went
to the drug store OF an errand, and as
she was leaving, a rather showily
dressed young man came forward and,
with an apology for addressing her,
asked: you are n of the Warren
house-party, aren't your"
She acknowledged this fact, and he
drew from his pocket an envelope.
"Then I'm going to ask vol to do
me the favor of giving this to Miss
Ada Warren, when you have the
chance to see her alone"
Almost involuntarily she took the
letter, her gray eyes raised question
ingly.
81 am an old friend of Miss Warren
she'll understand" he added with a
disarming smile. He bowed courteous
ly and was gone.
With deepening misgivings, she COM
piled with his request. Ada's child
like face whitened when she saw the
writing, but she offered no explana-
ton.
That evening there was to be a re-
hearsal for the wedding, and as they
waited for the clergyman who was to
officiate, Alice Marshall, Ada's mar
ried sister, proposed a little dance.
There are five girls and five men,
and l will play for you; so improve
The golden opportunity! !" said she.
-Isn Fred Landreth a typical bride
groom? He's SO pale and s~cared-look-
ing" whispered Bess, her dark eyes
shining impishly, as they stood to-
gether a moment before the dancing
began, To Patricia the gay strains of
the music seemed intolerable. Some
how the whole affair seemed like a
travesty. Surely she did not have
these forebodings for nothing! She
could not bear to think of unhappiness
coming to Ada, who had been her lear
est friend at college, o to Landreth,
either. Surely, after his hard struggle
in the business world, he deserved
happiness. She thought of that hap
py summer OIL the Maine coast two
years ago. when she and Ada had first
met him. At first he had paid more
attention to her, and she had thought
-. Patricia pulled herself together
sharply. Those were memories she
must never think of again, for to-
morrow he was to marry her dearest
friend.
AT that moment the doorbell rang
loudly. 1t was a messenger boy with
a telegram.
This is to be delivered to Misther
Fred Landreth," said he.
I'm your man." returned Landreth.
and signed for the message. He tore
open the yellow envelope and Patricia
saw his face grow grave.
rs it bad news?" she asked timidly.
"Readr" He handed her the paper.
mines at Ell Paso blown up. Cen
eral ins%urrection Much damage.
Come"
us 1t very bad, do you ~suppose?"
Even as she asked, Patricia subcon-
sciously wondered why We are prone
to ask futile questions in time of
crisis.
1.-The message sounds like it. Prob
ably all machinery is ruined"
"Oh, Fred, I'm 10 sorry. 1 hope
things aren't as bad as they SEEM"
Voice and eyes were sympathetic.
THANK you, Pat. Good wishes help.
1 must go and tell Ada and the War
rens. 1 may have to start back to-
night"
He went over to the piano and said
a few words to Alice Marshall. The
gay strains of the fox-trot stopped
abruptly.
please take my place a little WHILE"
she said to Bess, who sat nearby,
and left the room with Landreth. Pa
tricia slipped away to the veranda.
She felt as If she must be quiet. a few
minutes to get a grip on herself.
""They mustn't see me so upset. 1t