The Washington times., 1918-12-28

tense and strange / sensed in Neal
What could he have meant by
clearing the decks and getting
ready for. action?r
Fussing and funing over Neal
didn't further my housework. /
stopped in the midst of my lacka-
daisical efforts and took myself to
task:
Now. look here, Barbara Anne,
the only one OF your problems that
you can do a single thing about
right here, and now, is the Virginia.
complex. And il you let Betty
whisk you off this afternoon, you
won't have a chance to straighten
that out"
Whereupon i gave a last pat to
the bedspread with which ! had
been struggling, and flew out to my
studious Jim. who sat poring over
the pages of Meals volume on
double entry bookkeeping. And
running my fingers through my
boys hair. interrupted shame
leSsly: .-.
"Jimmie-boy--do you want to bo
alone with Virginia today7"
Alone? What do you mean.
DEAR"
Well-Betty said she'd come to
take me out for a breath of air
But I'd like to stay in and see III
can't come to a. better understand-
ing with Virginia"
why. you mustn't run auay
when Virginia comes. Wen give
her nice tea and invite Betty 70
share it-isn't that q better pIan ?,
asked Jim.
To my joy. however. Betty in
sisted. that Jim mustn't have, foo
much company just yet. and that
shed not come to tea. but iust nm
IN at and motor Wee" home
That little family party" might
mean so much to me.
No debutante dressing fo- h.r
hrst ball ever took more main, IN
look her prettiest than 1 for Vir-
glnia- L actually tried three com
olnauons Of color and costume he
lore decided that a white hIouSe
ana skirt looked simplest and best
By three / was ready for our
guest, and by the time she arrived
. AZ 1our,. had made so many read
)ustments OF the stunning teawagon
that Jim fairly chortled at The
BUSINESS OF my housekeeping.
but all the while I fused I
was trying to nerve myself to the
point OF kissing Virginia when she
arriVed-and did it, cIingin- to
her almost tenderly and not letting
myself be hurt when she pulled her
selI away and flung herself into
Jim's arms, crying:
You're not cross with Your
boy?"
Jim held her close.
virginia seemed all Tenderness
and no tide OF cold self-conscious-
ness welled up to nip her warmth.
When she came into the bedroom 70
remove her hat and furs, she chat
tered away eagerly. Later I came
to realize what all her small taTlx
meant. what subject she was trying
TO avoid. And yet-perhaps her OBJ
ject was kindly-she may have been
trying TO avert the very thing that
happened.
We had. two delightful hours.
Virginia and Jim reviewed for me
some OF their childish escapades.
And our party and the laughing
"reminiscences seemed to bring me
close to. the warm, human Virginia
who had always eluded me hereto
fore
At six Betty came in on our
laughing group. Then Neal-and
NJ ~
and I could be friends.
"oh, Mrs. Dalton, I've been phon-
ing you" Neal said eagerly. "T
want to take Phoebe out 10 dinner.
May I?'
THAT is quite impossible said
Virginia, with a suggestion Of her
old frigidity-then she added more
kindly, "Phoebe's really too young
to dine alone with men"
| suppose Neal should have asked
Virginia to chaperone them, but in
stead, he insisted with enthusiasm
that strove TO override her obiec-
tions:
''oh, please-just this once. I've
very special reason. You surely
won't refuse now. We're all friends
aren't we?"
Virginia lifted her eyebrows
slightly-it had somewhat the par
alyzlng effect OF being stared at
through a lorgnette-and said.
I've told you my rule, Mr.. Hy-
land"
Meals face crimsoned.
Virginia rose and followed her
into the bedroom. leaving Betty and
Neal to amuse Jim. And when we
were alone / made an effort to
plead Meals cause.
ut isn't as IL he were An out-
slider, Virginia. He's one OF us-ot
our family. Think how spIendidI,-
he proved that last night when we
needed him"
Really, Anne" replied Virginia
freeZingly. 81 think you might have
better taste than to drag that boy
into my brothers affairs"
For a minute I stood as hurt and
amazed as IL she had struck me
then my temper fiared up.
You dare call my brother an ont
sider," / gasped. But you didn't
hesitate to take two real outsiders
into your confidence when YOU were
presuming to manage my husbands
affairs. Do you think Jim would
ever forgive you IL he knew that
you went TO Terry and Betty. and
begged them fora job?'
'Your husband happens to be my
brother-kindly remember that.
did what l thought best for him.
But that didn't include lying TO
him." retorted Virginia smoothly.
And as she whirled past me and
out OF the room / realized that
thera WAS war hefUeen na