The Washington times., 1919-11-11
CHATTER &C.

Copyright, 1919. King Features Syndicate.
aTHE first fruits Of my chat with
= Virginia about spending
money gracefully were pluck
ed by Tom Mason The talk ended
just as we arrived at his studio,
and promptly I decided to have my
bedroom done in the inlaid French
woods and stifr taffetas / had in
sisted only the week before we
couldn't afford.
You can afford anything here.
Donna Anna" whispered Tom while
Virginia was critically considering
the value of curtains or French
doors between Jim's den and the
bedroom. ..
1--WE come to the conclusion that
/ can't AFFORD anything but the best
for my home" / replied stiffly.
I'D give you the best whether
you ordered it or not" declared
Tom. Il want everything around
you to be perfect I'm building
your nest; you'll have to remember
that at every turn. Yeu1l have to
remember me. Ny work is there in
your own room with you-where
I"
With burning cheeks I darted
across the room to Virginia's side.
Whatever barrier Of reserve had
heretofore kept Tom Mason from
making himself completely oBnox-
ious to me was gone now. real
lied that / had always hoped he'd
turn out to be a real friend after
all-that 1 needed a real friend, one
in whose sincerity 1 could trust and
on whose judgment I courd rely.
'Virginia-we've linens and silver
and pots and kettles to buy today"
I said breathlessly. Lets decide
on the French door with the little
curtains. And now we're through.
When will you have the things in
the apartment. Mr.. Mason?"
added, turning to him with an air
that was meant to tell him that our
relations were strictly business
from now on.
\ "Oh, by the end Of next week.
I'll telephone you," he said with no
air of knowing he had been dis
missed. Now may I take you ladies
out for bite of lunch?"
mo, thank you,'' said coldly, so
coldly that Virginia thawed the
consequent ice with a bit of expla-
nation:
We've such a lot to do. Mr.. Ma
SON. that lingering for a mans idea
of lunch is out of the question"
This was true enough, for we
hurried out to snatch a sandwich
and some salad in little tea room,
Then we dashed around all after
noon selecting an endless process
sion of things. There were things"
from dishcloths to pillow-slips, and
from ice-picks to butter-spreads,
things from after-dinner cups to
before dinner potato mashers-an
orgy of things" And yet, Virginia
assured me that after 1 got into
the apartment I'd spend weeks buy
ing perfectly obvious other things
we'd forgotten.
Like soap, for instance" she
added.
So it was with the clean, sudsy
thought of soap that we washed our
days shopping-list. clean.
what a real sister you are.
Jeaniew I said in farewell, when
our taxi stopped at her apartment
late in the afternoon. "pd have
been lost without you all through
this whirl of home-making.
things on a scale beyond five thou
sand a year. You'll always stand
by this little newly rich?"
Virginia stood on the curb smil-
ing at me warmly. There was a
glow of real feeling in her eyes.
81 think We'll always stand by
each other, Anne" she said
AS 1 drove home gratitude welled
up in my heart and made ME long
for some way of proving how ready
l was to stand by this proud, aloof
woman who gave her services SO
freely-and herself SO charity.
Jim was in the bedroom of our
suite when / got in. He looked up
irritabIy from q sea of clothes scat
tered all about him on beds and
chairs and floor. The crease between