The Washington times., 1919-08-19
When a Girl Marries
A STORY OF EARLY Welded LIFE
Anne Almost Tells Virginia That Il
Was Pat Dalton Who Warned
Hef to Look Out for Phoebe

peeted-guessed. Jim's growing In
difference to me-the thing / had
been frantically refusing to recog-
nize-was becoming evident to his
"Jeanie." The half-cOnffdence, the
hint OF her own trouble she had
just given me, showed that,
Then a queer. submerged sense
gave me hint OF something else
"a word Of my own troubles would
bring me closer TO Virginia than
i had ever been before Ny pride
submerged for a moment in the
longing to talk IL all out. and I
just ached to cOnfide in Jim's sis
ter. But two things prevented.
First, the mere fact that Vfr-
ginia Is Jim's sister, and that. in
loyalty to the love he didn't want, I
couldn't talk about him to her.
Second, the fact that II was
Phoebe who needed Virginia now.
Little Phoebe had first claim on
Virginia's sympathy. I didn't count
Il ought to be able to fight cut my
own battles.
These thoughts flashed through
my brain while Virginia was speak
ing, in the brief second that IL took
me to echo, Jim" My answer was
ready after a moment Of silence.
''Jim!" 1 said again -
But it isn't Jim I've brought you
here to discuss, Jeanie. It's Phoebe."
"PhOebe?'
II was Virginia's turn TO echo
nOw-and she did it rather blankly.
You don't like her friendship
with Envy, 1 know that began.
Yes, you're right about that, but
can't interfere merely on the
grounds that 1 don't like the friend
Phoebe does like"
mo, you can't" I agreed. That
would be stealing Phoebe's free
dom. But you would interfere.
wouldn't you. II EVvy's friendship
were sweeping Phoebe into real
danger?"
I'D try. But I'm not much vood
at managing Phoebe confessed
Virginia.
Between US, we must. manage
somehow" I said, thinking aloud.
"Of course, 1 haven't any list OF
acquaintances- But we might give
her a debutante tea or dance and
have her meet the Right People"
The Reason why.
Unconsciously capitalized and
italicized my words I hadn't any
snobbish feeling, but I realized as
soon as had spoken that Virginia
had. Her reply told me q great
deal
Il don't think we'd better try.
The Harrisons had a real position
once. But our loss Of mOney-and
we'll you see my own position Is
difficult now. Anne. And jim hasn't
the money. The MasOns are a good
family; that makes II easier TO
reconcile oneself to Evvy's ways"
Virginia stumbled and stammer-
ed a bit, and I felt the tiny, impal-
pable barrier Of caste between US.
But I charged right against it.
"Evyy's ways are getting inex-
cusable." I declared.
you mean"
81 mean that she and Dick West
and Sheldon Blake are seen night
after night at that horrible Chinese
dance hall where Mr.. West took rs
the night Of Jim's last dinner. And
people are talking"
'Oh, no, Anne! Really, dear, you
rather alarmed me for a moment.
But Jim's partner-and Sheldon. No
seen about with them Really, Shell
don is a splendid fellow and the
Blakes are quite one OF our best
families. I've the utmost confidence
in sheldon
'.But, Virginia! People ARE talk-
ing. I tell you! Phoebe's crowd Is
aWfully hilarious And they're cut
so late! Such gay, conspicuous
places, too! And they don't drink
lemOnadeI'
what a catalogue! Ny dear.
that's society. And, Of course. now
I know that Sheldon Blake Is IN the
party. I discount all the malicious
details some jealous cat OF q Eos-
sipy woman has been giving you
'But it wasn't a jealous eaf!@
flashed out in reply. 1T was"
I paused, amazed at my own
temerity. I had actually been On
the verge OF telling Virginia that
Pat was my informant