The Washington times., 1918-09-07
By Ann Isle.
Copyright, 1918, by King Features
Syndicate, Inc.)

first letter l have ever had
from Jim!
The very moment the tiny
white triangle peaked under the
door dashed of the covers, pat
tered across the room in bare feet,
and fairly yanked in the welcome
messenger It had to be from my
boy; 1 had never a doubt of that.
For an hour had been lying
awake, with my heart in a tumult,
waiting for that letter. OF course
I kissed the address he had writ
ten; Of course 1 held the envelope
close to my heart for a moment
In happy anticipation of that other
words my lover had written
With trembling fingers I opened
the envelope and read:
Thursday evening.
Sweetheart dear:
wish you were here with me, as
Washington is well worth seeing.
It Is sizzling hot, though, so maybe
my little girl is better of in New
York.
eat The board will convene to-
outcome will be, but am hoping for
q good appointment. even II not in
the aviation. Will stay over a day
or two II need be. But will surely
be home some time Sunday.
Betty happens to be here, see
ing about her camp welfare work.
She knows a lot OF the big men,
and Is helping me pull wires. OF
course want to fly, but a captaincy
In the artillery would not pc SO
bad. as that would take me to
France Betty will put me in touch
with some Of the men higher nm
80 hope for the best. When I have
finished this letter am calling for
Betty, who is giving a dinner to a
couple OF the big guns and yours
truly. Guess things will break to
my liking.
Pray for me. Princess Anne.
-Devotsdly. YOUR HUSBAND"
stared at the letter In unbelief.
Then read 1t again slowly-the
nrst time had whirled through it
IN q breath1ess rush to know Just
what my boy was doing. Now
read carefully, word by word,
hunting for what 1 had missed
something hidden between the lines
perhapa
1t was not there!
Not Very Demonstrative.
Except for the "sweetheart-dear."
and half dozen words at the end,
that letter might have been written
to-a man or maiden aunt
And this was my first love letter
from JIM
I sat down on the edge of my
crumpled bed and stared in unbe-
lief at the sheet Of paper in my
hand. 1t STARED back at me malic-
tously.
Then bitterness and suspicion
swept over me in great waves, en-
Eulhng my disappointment and hun
ger for some word of love. How did
Betty Bryce happen" to be in Wash
tngton?
turned cold with terror. Betty
had way OF happening to be
where Jim is
hated that woman.
And yet, when had lain awake
waiting for my husbands letter 1
had practically decided to take
Betty's apartment She was Jim's
friend; she should be my friend, too.
I would be generous enough to ac-
cept her generosity. 1t would de-
Light Jim-of that was sure.
But now Jim's letter,
Cold hatred of Betty gripped me
again. She had everything-money,
beauty, freedom to come and go at
will. power-the power to help my
husband achieve his desire-while I
stood in the way of that desi1e.
Suddenly 1 laughed at my own
heroics and said to myself:
~Anne, you little fool! Suppose
you did want to take the Bryce
~oman's apartment-howc could you.
Jim has the key. Jim is in Wash
ington-with her. You don't even
know where Betty's apartment is
Suppose you found the address in
the telephone book, could you per-
slade any one to let you in?
Automatically l got up and went
ever to the telephone directory
Betty's name was not listed.
That much is settled" / said to
myself again and again as II IL were
the password to some magic way
out of my misery. And then sud-
denly I saw the way out.
with what I told myself was
clear logic. decided that since one
path was closed to me, i must take
the other. ] could no longer stay
at the Walgrave. 1 had no way of
reaching the Bryce apartment
therefore I must take the Mason
studio.
leaped into action at once. As
q beginning. cancelled my break
fast appointment with that dread
full old woman, Mrs. Warden Then
] telephoned and asked Mr.. Mason
II / could have possession of his
apartment that very day. 1t had be-
come necessary. l said, for me TO
alter my plans since my husband
would be delayed in Washington
until Sunday, and 1t seemed better
TO act on my own judgment than
TO pile up expenses at the Wal
grave, which wasn't run on a
schedule suited to army incomes. 1
talked like a stilted prig in my
struggle TO have logic and business
efficiency rule me and drive out
emotion and hysteria-
Mr.. Mason's voice came back
over the wire with a queer. vibrant
note in It:
You little brick! Think of de-
Gliding like that! Jim will be de-
lighted I'm sure. What brought
you round so suddenly"
'Nothing-I Just felt that I
ought to decide and so 1 thought
the thing out logically" / said,
wondering at the little Quaver in
by own voice.
You sound tired. ! don't want
you to get worn out moving all BY
yourself I'm goinR To phonA