The Washington times., 1919-12-23
~ ANN LISLE.
CHATTER CcxvTI.

CHATTER CCXvII.
Copyright, 1913, King eFatures Syn
dicate. Inc.)
sSI DON'T ike the line Of the
neck. Cut II An inch lower.
= No; . little more Fully two
inches. I don't care II Mrs.. Dalton
did think It was right the way you
had IL. don't like 1t that way and
I'm wearing IT."
The voice came to me across the
unroofed partition that separated
one hitting room At wickham's from
its neighbor. 1t was q voice 10 full
of irritation and ill-controlled
nerves that I actually didn't recog-
nixe IL as Phoebe's until she said
Mrs. Dalton" At that angry use
OF Virginia's name an impulse came
to me. Fortunately L didn't ignore
it.
phoebe" I called. 'T'm 50 glad
you're here. This 10 Anne Will
you do something for me?"
"Of course-what can I DO for
your replied . carefully leashed
voice.
run In here and Sell me how you
like this brown lining for my tan
cape. I'm not q bit sure of my own
me, will your"
In a minute or two Phoebe came
into my fitting room At sight Of
her I fairly ached for the pretty
child she was six months ago. Her
oval face is actually pointed now
and her eyes are far too big. and
black shadows lie under them
There isn't that ugly splash OF
red on her short-lipped. baby
mouth any more, but their own
coral Is gone from her soft lipA 80
for all the bravado of her over
decollette dance frock of rose-col-
ored tafreta, Phoebe looked like q
frightened child as she came and
stood In my doorway, and not like
the vivid, sophisticated society
woman she had been aping for %
long.
A Bit Of Discretisa-
I managed to keep from saying q
word about the neck of her gown.
though 1t had evidently been Just
right-as Virginia liked it-an inch
or so higher. But there was no use
in antagonizing Phoebe over
dress that could SO easily be filled
in with tulle. The gap that had
lain between us for so long couldn't
be as easily filled, and i didn't pro-
pose to widen IL now. For slim
wistful-eyed Phoebe in her gay
dance frock brought an atmosphere
of mystery and Of danger into my
fitting room. felt she needed help.
Mine, perhaps.
) I'm lost without Virginia"
said, batting my trap carefully. Il
don't bcbrudge her the day with
Betty, but until you came didn't
know what to do. / never can tell
il things are becoming or not. You'll
decide for me. won't you, dear?
know you have splendid TASTE
'Of course, I'll help you, Anne"
replied Phoebe with a nice, young
air of Importance.
After I'D deferred to her judy
ment carefully at every point
made my next plea, and Phoebe
didn't guess that il was her own
nervohs. jumpy manner and her
tired little voice that inspired IT.
Please don't doom me to lunch
ing alone, Phoebe / always feel
so awkward going into dining
room all by myself. You'll be a
dear and even break an engagement
IL YOU have to, won't you"
"I'll lunch with you, AnneT
couldn't bear TO be alone either"
said Phoebe with what seemed al
most like a flash of gratitude.
That encouraged me TO go on and
try to find some way OF giving her
the help l felt more and more con-
WINGED she needed and couldn't ask
for. Right through CLAIMS and eggs,
benedictine and asparagus vinai-
grette, Phoebe baffled me, however.
The sense THAI she " as in trouble
came to me more And more stropCiy