Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-15

| NSoPyriSHt, 1SlS, Dy klng FeatureS
Syndicate, 1nc.)
| do you really like my black and
| gold living room Amer" Asked
Virginia, with a friendly air, indicat-
| ing that my opinion really mattered.
/ We had come in from her first
dinner party in her new home. Jim
and Anthony Norreys and Terry and
Sheldon Blake were having their
cigars in the dining room-an old
fashioned custom which Virginia
seemed to like. Virginia, Phoebe and
1 had gone back to the living room
to chat for a bit until the men joimd
us.
II love the room. It's just right
for you, Virginia-rich, but not gau-
dJ." 1 laughed.
| And you'll forgive me for having
our coffee right at the table and
leaving the men to smoke in peace
Somehow, like this recess from par
tying much better than the new GUS
tom of having the coffee in.the draw
! ing room with smokes for women,
| too" added Virginia.
II hate 'em BOTH" burst in Phoebe
| pettishly. THE customs as gloomy
as this ROOM"
| Virginia placidly ignored this out
burst-but 1 was as amazed as II
a pet lamb had snapped at me. And
scrambled around in my mind to
find a topic that would "clear the
| air."
| Over on black onyx console table
stood a basket of silver filagree
brimming with dark crimson roses.
| Tied to the stem with a blue ribbon
was mass of tiny pale pink sweet
herat roses"
| What a glorious mass of colors!'
cried. 1T just matches you. Vir-
ginia, and 1t sets off your ROOM"
There! I said you didn't send
'em," said Phoebe, still employing
that they couldn't come from Anne
things"
| "It doesn't matter. The donor
wanted them to be annonymous-so
suppose we stop trying to ferret him
or her out, Phoebe" replied Virginia
But I'd like to know" persisted
| Phoebe hotly. I'm not such an ice
berg as you. 1 have feelings. though
I think you'd like to believe that
I'm as cold"
Her TRADE was interrupted by the
maid. who came in timidly and said
please, Mrs. Dalton have you
been trying to- get long distance
because they say that Forty some
thing-I couldn't just make out
! what-don't be answering"
At that a great change came over
Phoebe. She leaped to her feet and
muttering that it was a mistake
but she'd fix 1t, the child rushed from
the room.
Virginia. Phoebe.s not like herself
! Is 1t about Neal? She seems to be
/ so bitter" 1 cried. Perhaps she's
still, thinking of him. She may care
more deeply than we know"
Virginia smiled with touch OF
the hauteur and arrogance I hadn't
seen for many days But when she
| replied her words were kindly
enough:
I'm not very inquisitive. Anne. ]
don't believe I've even the normal
amount of curiosity. Take those flow
ers. now. I just accept them. So
treated her very well. Nothing ]
could say would convince her that II
was right for me to send Meals ring
back to him. But 1 don't probe into
her little ways of working off her
resentment. 1t will all come right"
| 1 felt little snubbed. But I was
of a sudden too sorry for Virginia
| to mind how she hurt me. What d
way she had staying on the surface
| of things, of refusing to examine
below the outer glaze of human
4 emotions. I determined for once to
make stand against her and to
| put my feelings into words.
Virginia, you must wonder who
| cares enough for you, who knows
| enough about you to send you those
wonderful flowers" I insisted.
a second 1 thought I saw a mist of
Virginia's face crimsoned, and for
| tears In her eyes. Then she turned
to me haughtily:
| "If can accept them, Anne, don't
you think you might? And about
| Phoebe. please don't agitate yourself
unnecessarily-Tve managed her for
| a good many years. know her."
Neutrality-suspicious. keep your hands
Off and mind your own business.
| Anne" replied. with rancor at vir-
ginia for pulling down the blinds
again and shutting me out from the
house of her life.
With a depreciating smile on her
lips and both her hands held out al
most pleading. = Virginia started
across the room to me. Was she go-
| ing to say she was sorry-were we
going to find each other at last7
And then Phoebe darted into the
room-her eyes ablaze - her body
| quivering.
virginia Daitoni" she cried. "vjr-
Eiufa DaIton--who do you think sent
| thosa flowers? I called up Longiey.
the florist, not long distance as that
stupid maid seemed to think"-- she
stumbled over the words q bit. but
| before Virginia could stop her she
went rushing on. Tho clerk said the
man who bought those feweFs was
very young and handsome, but had