South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-14
HOW MADGE FACED HER FIRST
"EXTRAVAGANCE

In spite OF Lillian Underwood s
kindly admOnition 1 could not enjoy
the delicious lunch we had ordered
in the little English tea room. The
presence Of a mysterious man at the
table opposite ours robbed the meal
Of its flavor and me Of my self
possession.
could not be sure. OF course.
that the man had purposely fol-
lowed me from the little reception
room OF the Sydenham. where I had
waited for Lillian. There I had frs;
seen him staring frankly at me with
such a sad. mysterious. tragic look
in his eyes that I had been most be
wildered and upset by II. But his
appearance at the tea room within
few minutes Of our entering it,
and his choice OF chair which
faced our table indicated rather
strongly that ne had purposely fol-
lowed me-
Whether or not Liuian's flashing
ewes and the whitening look she
gave him deferred him from gazing
at me as steadily as he had at the
hotel had no means Of knowing
AT any rate. ne did not once stare
openly at me. I should have known
it II he had. for his position was
such that unless 1 kept my eyes
steadily fixed upon my plate I could
not help but see him. He was unob-
trusive. but ], received the impress
sion that he was keeping track Of
our every movement in the furtive
glances he cast at US from time to
time.
simply ignore Him.
Although he had ordered after
us. his meal kept pace with our
own In fact, he called for his
check. paid it and left the restaur-
ant before we did. As he passed
out OF the door I drew breath of
relief and fell to my neglected
lunch
81 hope I've seen the last Of him. -"
I said vindictively.
Lillian did not answer. I looked
up surprised 20 see her chin cupped
I'm her hands, in the attitude which
was characteristic Of her when she
was studying some problem. her
eyes following the man as he made
his way slowly down the street,
swinging his stick with pre-
occupied air She continued TO
stare after him until he was out Of
sight. then. with a start, she came
back to herself
You were right. Madge. and 1
was wrong" she said refectively,
still as il she were studying her
problem, that is no masher'
I looked up startled. What
makes you think so?" she returned,
but he either thinks ne knows you.
or you remind him OF some dead
daughter, or sister-Or sweetheart.
or-oh, there might be any one of
dozen reasons why he wouldwant to
stare at you. / think he's harmless,
though. He probably won't ever try
TO speak 20 you-just take il out in
following you around and looking
at you"
oh" I gasped, do you think
he's going TO keep this up?'
looks like it," Lillian. but sim
ply ignore him He has all the ear
marks of a gentleman. I don't think
he Will annoy you. Now forget him
and enjoy your ice. and then well
20 and get that hat"
Under Lillians guidance the Sc
lection Of the hat proved an easy
task.
"One OF These"
you poor child" she said.
"tramping around through those big
shops with their thousands of hats.
it's a wonder you didn't land at
Bellevue instead OF at luncheon with
me We won't waste any more time
hunting things There is a little
side street shop up here, and the
woman who keeps it is a genius.
She was head designer for one of
the biggest New York firms for
years. and she has entree TO the ex-
elusive Partisan establishments.
con each trip from Paris she
brings a number Of actual models.
of course, but there are a numb Der
OF others that she brings only in
her brain and sketch book All she
needs is a glimpse Of any hat. She
can go back 10 her hotel sketch ii
accurately from memory. and jot
down the materials Of which il is
made She has built up a very sub
stantial clientele Of women with
good taste and pocketbooks that
will stand a moderate strain. for Of
course. she never makes a really
cheap hat. I've bought every hat