Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-11-23

ment I felt shut out. alone. I had
[ hejected Betty's efforts at friend
/ ship-Nirginia had refused mine
and they had found each other. Envy
I chilled me for moment, then l
/ conquered my feelings and called
/ Virginia. The line was busy, but the
/ operator downstairs promised to call
me as soon as she could get the
number.
/ y ring of the door bell summoned
me from the phone. And l opened
/ the door 10 find ENVY on the thres-
/ hold. She was smiling and radiant
! and her greeting restored my con-
/ tidence in myself. After all. | had
| wanted an old friend of Jim's to
| help us-and one had come to me.
Instead of being Jealous because
+ she liked my boy, l must use Evvy's
/ liking for his benefit
/ But before l could embark upon
my purpose Envy stated hers.
Anne, l want you TO come down
| to our country place for the week
end. We're closing the house early
I this year-but before we do you
must see it. Wen just be cosy lit
tie foursome-you and Jimmie and
Neal and l. Does next Saturday
suit?"
Just the four of us, Envy? Sup
pose Jim doesn't want to leave his
sisters? or Neal might-have an
engagement" l replied.
quite true, dear. But I've my
heart st on this. Don't you think
you could manage it-for me? Don't
you thing, perhaps, you-owe me
! this much"
As I stared at Envy in amaze
ment, she went on:
Don't you think, dear, it is about
time we come to an understanding?
Now your game is
Her words were punctuated by a
sharp ring of the telephone. Betty's
clear voice greeted me when l took
the receiver.
Hello, Princess Anne! Your oper-
ator tells me she's ben trying to get
us for half an hour. How about
your running right over TO help us
stow furniture in the right lights and
corners? Your own place recon-
mends you as a home-maker. Will
you Gomez"
oh, Betty, how sweet you are
not leaving me out even now" 1
cried, impulsively Then l continued
deliberately in the hope of making
amends to Envy. "Evvy Mason's here
it was she who helped me put my
house in order
waited for Betty to say, Fine!
Bring her right along" But instead,
she replied, coldly:
"Oh, Miss Mason! Well then. of
course, you can't come. Virginia
will be sorry"
Her words set up a wall between
us. Inside that wall were Virginia
and Betty-and shut out on the 9TH
er side were Envy and /. For one
moment l had felt myself approach
ing-through Betty-a happy init
macy with Virginia. Now l was
thrust into outer darkness" again.
As l hung up the receiver and
turned to Envy, l had a quick
glimpse of her face. 1t seemed al
most venemous. Eyes narrowed and
lips in a thin line, the wistful ap-
peal of Evvy's face was entirely lost
but only for one fieeting second
then her eyes widened again to blue
depths and her lips curved into an
engaging smile.
so they don't want u.s." she
cried in a tone that established us
firmly as partisans. Well-who
cares? We have each other, so don't
let those snobs hurt you, honey girl.
l came to take you for a little spin
in the car-and then tea at Car
lier's. Let's go out into the air"
Anything would have been better
than staying alone, prey to my
thoughts. l was in dire need Of
friendship, so / held out my hands to
Envy in actual yearninS.
You are real friend, aren't you,
Envy? You'll stand by-won't you?"
l begged in a voice that, strive as l
might. would tremble.
Envy kissed me lightly on the
cheek, but she didn't take my hands.
And her voice had a note of cold
ness under its laughter as she re-
piled:
We'll both stand by So much
for so much--that'S the basis of
friendship. isn't il, Anne?"
(To Re COufinupu1