The Washington times., 1919-08-21
When a Girl Marries
A ROMANCE OF EARLY Welded LIFE
Virginia Declines to Speak to Phoebe
About Dick West and Leaves
Tt For Anne to Do

through that narrow dark alley
way to a restaurant that had q
bright enough front entrance And
I'm convinced that Evvy's q cat
ready to claw all the Harrisons.
And Sheldon-Sheldon's q dirt"
Virginia flushed and bridled.
-Oh, really, Anne, I'm not sure
that-all women aren't-cats." she
said smoothly.
We'll. let's not set out 70 prove
It," / laughed nervously. Then, en-
cOuraged BY the flicker OF q smile
on Virginia's lips, rushed on:
Sheldon is a hirt, Jeanie. He
was tremendously taken with you
at sight, that I know. So he just
flung Envy over like that-pouHl-
for you. And when you did not en-
courage him-as, OF course, you
wouldn't, since he's not clever
enough to interest yOu-he talked
a bit Of nonsense TO me, and now
he's using Envy to further his dir
tation with Phoebe. Am rightT,
you put Il rather cleVerly,"
smiled Virginia, recognizing my ef-
forts to be charmingly tactful, but
not resenting them for all that.
"Of course, you wouldn't bother
with him, but he might turn the
head Of baby like Phoebe" I went
firmly on my appointed way.
Then Virginia surprised me.
''You don't think Pat has ever
seen Shelly out with me-and is
doing this. on that aecountr she
said disjointedly, but not at all in
coherently.
would her" I asked boldly.
Virginia sat thinking for a mo-
ment-her face was grave and white.
I wondered IL she could don the
Harrison pride. IL she could warm
her own coldness to the ardent hame
Of a big, fearless love, what then
would be her answer. I wondered
IL she were capable OF a big fearless
love. I wondered II Pat had asked
Il Of her and she had been too wrap
ped in her icy mantle OF dignity %
give it. Or had she given lavishly
and had Pat flung 1t back at her un-
wanted, or trampled il in the dust at
the shrine OF his own egotismI
wondered, but I wasn't sure that =
had the right even to want to know
would a big man like Pat Dalton
stoop to revenge himself on a little
one like SheldOn?'' asked.
'You think Pat Is bigTs
big and strong like a real man,
with big, strong faults: and weak
and helpless like the boy he has
never quite outgrown-he's Ireland
itself" replied.
yes" said Virginia. starting
ahead and sitting so still that I
was afraid to breathe lest break
the spell. -s..
Then she turned and caught my
eyes fixed on her And her pride
took fame. L could see her strug-
Cling to retrieve her cold dignity,
and the fash that came into her
eyes when she had found her way,
warned me that the ice around Vir-
ginia's heart hadn't melted-might
indeed never melt.
He's Ireland. indeed. And I'm
England. So now you understand
the situation" she said with elab-
crate lightness OF touch "And now
about Phoebe"
yes" I said hopefully. you'll
talk to her after all?'
There's nothing 1 can say or do,
Anne. Nothing. She won't listen
to me. She and I don't speak the
same language She resents me
I'VE told you that And under the
circumstances I don't want to make
myself utterly ridiculous. Have
you spoken to Jim?
He won't listen-pooh poohs Il.
Dick West is his partner, you know,
And he believes in EVvy's busy
stare"
$50 that's-well, then there's only
one thing to be done, Anne You
speak to Phoebe. That's quite sim
pie isn't it?''
But, remembering Neal some
thing in my heart told me it wasn't
so simple after all.
CTO Be COntihued.O