Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-15
CHAPTER xxx.
Copyright. 191S. Star {


Mrs. Livingstone was very quiet
on the ride from the theater to the
Astor. Cynthia-uncertain as to
how much of the conversation be-
tween herself and Milton had been
overheard by her aunt-was vague
scious of the tense atmosphere.
When the party entered the res
taurant Mrs. Livingstone took con-
troll of the situation. -.....
Dora" she ordered, as the wait
ers drew out the chairs from the
table that Gerald had selected, you
sit here. And Mr.. Stewart, you sit
next to me with Cynthia the other
side of you-between you and her
uncle. Milton, you will naturally
sit next to Dora
But. Mother" Dora ventured, "as
this is Gerald's supper party, don't
you think it might be well to al
low him to seat his guests to suit
himself?"
Mrs. Livingstone shot a reproving
glance at her daughter, but had the
grace to appear to withdraw from
the dictatorship of the occasion.
Surely" she agreed, with her best
society manner. Where do you
wish us to sit, Mr.. Stewart"
Just as you decide, my dear
madam" Gerald said, with a bow.
"As you have honored me by putting
me by you, it would be ungrateful
and ungallant of me to suggest any
other arrangement"
Mrs. Livingstone smiled her ap-
probation of this speech, refusing to
see in it anything but a compli-
s-1, had -
ried her point, as her daughter real
lied when she found herself safely
ensconsed between Milton and her
mother.
She could not have a word aside
with Gerald nor with Cynthia. But
she would not let this fact spoil her
enjoyment of the supper, and she
leaned across the table to make a
laughing remark to her father.
You are in luck, father" she
commented. You have next to you
the only woman who does not actu-
ally belong to you. You might have
had either mother or me wished on
you, and that would have spoiled
your fun"
'T predict. nevertheless" her
father retorted, teasingly, that no.
body will talk to me. Stewart here
will monopelize Cynthia. my right
hand neighbor. while Milton will be
entirely absorbed in you and will
not have a word to throw to an old
man like me-"
The Mother Speaks
you are mistaken, sir" Milton
assured him, for l want to consult
you about a business proposition
made to me to-day"
AS he began to converse in a low
tone to Mr.. Livingstone Dora was
for the moment left TO her mothers
most of her opportunity.
My dear" she said, in low tone
and with a face so serious that
Dora regarded her anxiously. 'you
really must speak a word of warn1
ing to Milton. If this kind of thing
goes on there will be very disagree
able gossip"
What do you mean?" Dora de-
manded. who will gossip? And
what will it be about?"
About the fact, for instance,
that Milton leaves your side to con-
duct your cousin to the car" her
mother informed her.
But" Dora giggled at the alb
surdity of the statement, how
could he help it? Gerald was with
me, Will NOu-difu
could hardly be expected to come
trailing across the sidewalk alone,
could she?"
Mrs. Livingstone frowned. You
are as much at fault as Milton" she
reproved. "You should not insist
upon Gerald's acting as your escort
when you are an engaged girl, and
he is in love with another woman"
Dora's eyes snapped. That is
sweeping statement" she ex-
claimed. Your matchmaking ten
denotes make you suspect every
man you meet of being in love with
some girl you know. Gerald is the
exception"
asked across the table.
His eyes met Dora's, and he saw
that something was amiss and tried
to change the curernt of a conver-
sation whose purport he could only
suspect.
II trust you, Mrs. Livingstone,
he smiled, mot to allow your daugn-
ter to say anything against me. Now
dear people, let us decide what we
are going to eat and drink"
Mrs. Livingstone was so COM
pletely a woman of the world that
she was able to speak and act as II
there had been no paSSage-at-arms
between her daughter and herself,
and Dora soon followed her lead.
Gerald turned his attention to
CYNTHIA, hoping in this way to
make Dora fancy him ignorant OF
her perturbation. The others, TAX
ing the cut from their temporary
host, appeared to ignore any con-
ditions that might threaten to mar
the peace and harmony of this So
called pleasure party.
The Group Talks On
So the group talked on. as such
groups do, each one conscious of
an undercurrent of thought, yet
each acting as IL the topic under