The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-08
When a Girl
Marries
By Ann Lisle.
CHAPTER kew.
Copyright, 1919. King Features
Syndicate. Inc.

greeted me with an enormous hat
box-like affair. On its cover was
the name OF one OF the smartest
florists Still aflame with the good
will enkindled by doing Carlotta
Sturges a good turn. I bore the
box UP to my little home.
Suppose II were from Jim. This
time I'd reVel in his extravagance-
II would burn down the barrier OF
coIdness I had set up between us.
It's against my principles to cut
string. but Il was beyond my power
70 stop to unite these knots. So ]
fairly hurled open the box.
There in q deep bowl OF blue
Iuster was a mass OF exquisite
lilies OF the valley. and in the midst
Of their white coOInes we're three
crimson roses. Under them flat
parcel Before I opened that,
ran TO MI the blue bowl with water
Then / set IL on the black and gold
cover flung across one end OF the
refectory table.
Atip-toe with excitement. ran
to open the parcel A white en-
velope fell out. l hardly knew
which to examine first. But after a
second I decided on the package.
What could Jim be sending me?
unfastened the heavy white
paper-and there lay the blue robe
Tom Mason had dared TO send IL
back.
Now all my life when 1 got angry.
/ had turned cold. Always I had
stifened to a sort Of icy stiffness
sarcastic and most aggravating
I've been tOld-to all violently
angry persons who take my repres-
sion for calmness.
But now / became white hot. ]
was dizzy with rage-and sick with
hate,-bdrning, flaming hate. /
seized that vase of blue luster from
the table and hurled il to che stone
fireplace. 1t dashed to pieces and
In there-a trickling oozihg stream
Of water and broken pottery, lay
pallor-stricken white lilies and
angry red roses.
For a moment I stared at them.
heaving, raging, ready to go and
wreak more vengeance on them
The next instant became cold with
bitter shame. Those little flowers.
IL was II I'd struck baby hands.
Penitently, ] crossed to the fire.
place and picked the bruised flowers
one at q time from the ruin around
hem. / found a box. filed 1t with
lamp tissue paper and packed the
lowers safely In il. Then fetched
broom and dustpan and cleaned the
hearth my temper had dedlcd.
Presently I was hated and coated
again and on my way to a tzngle
OF dark and twisted streets in the
poor district. There was a church
there-a little mission church.
I was at peace when I returned
home. Very calmly / took the blue
robe. folded II and laid Il back in
the chest. As calmly opened Tom
Mason's note, and read his little
message:
Forgive. The flowers cay Il for
me. And try to believe that / am
a better man for knowing you.
When you need a friend, won't you
come to me? T. NJ
1 had to believe he meant il. No
woman brings doubt with her from
a shrine.
BY the time Jim came home I was
dressed in a new frock OF the lilac
shade he loves so well-and his
dress clothes were laid out and his
bath waiting. I wasn't trembling
and palpitating with IOve-athirst
for his kiss. But I was warmed
and comforted by the Joy Of service.
I wonder IL that's the true meaning
Of marriage. after all?
Nothing was said OF recent events.
Jim didn't have to so to his collar
box, snce 1 had put the studs and
links and collar buttons in his linen,
so for the time Being he didn't re-
aliZe that / had returned his $40
bill.
Almost timidly, Jim came over
to me. ] laid my hands in his and
he kissed them-first one, then the
other. But he din't take my lips.
I think I was half disappointed.
half relieved.
"Wonder-girl." he cried. you're
the most beautiful thing in the
world. But not a little lilac-prin-
cess tonight. Anne-a queen In
stead. BY Jove, you've something
OF the stately, wOmanly look OF
our beautiful Betty. y queen" he
ended, slowly staring at me with
puzzled eyes as he dropped my
hands and limped into the bed
room.
I wonder if Betty's look OF state
ly reserve came to her through
pain-I wonder if her dead hus-
band caused that pain.
After a minute, Jim came out
again flourishing his pleated shirt
in his hands. He was grinning
boyishIy. He seemed like himself
again.
"Wonder-giTl," he repeated. Ell
you didn't pick out this nice, soft.
ruffly shirt-instead of booming
me to a stiff-bOsomed horror. And
when I think of the bachelor DAYS
OF selecting shirts and Tamming in
studs. could dance. Ready in
Tiff. Anne.
''Oh, by the way, Norreys is go
ing to be there. Funny thing
he and Jeanne met out West last
year. when he was resting up from
his wound. They must have had
tiff or something. or they drifted
apart. It's all right now though
jeanne 'phoned and invited him to
coming
4 strange feeling OF JOY came
over me. / experienced an uuac-
cOuntabIe sensation of peace and
happiness at the thought OF seeing
Anthony NorTeyS again.
To BE Continued.