Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1919-02-27

the epithet recurred to me.
81 wished you had asked me first
before you invited her.'
"Too late now. What's the mattel
with Blanche9 Jealous of her and want
to entertain both men yourselfY you
women are beyond me. She is always
gay and dresses stunningly. One would
think you would be delighted that
was thoughtful enough to ask her."
"l'm sorry you asked her all the
same. Why didn't you invite Lorraine
Morton insteadl She's single"
"Lorraine Morton's all right. Have
her too, if you like. But when it comes
to entertaining people who count in a
business way, there is no one like
Blanche, She's a great little. pushel
for man."
''But Neil, you wouldn t ask another
woman than your wife to help you in
a business AFFAIR."" l asked, astonish.
ed and puzzled at this phase OF arrairs
l"I'll ask Lorraine, but l have hazy
impression that she said something
labout having date for tomorrow
night. !"
As I feared Lorraine had an engage.
ment. But I had learned to accept the
unexpected where Neil was concerned
SO | made my arrangements for the din.
ner for five.
Neil came home early. I was in the
dining room looking after the decora.
tions for the table when he came in.
He called Tonko, the butler, and order
ed what he wanted to drink cooled.
could not help gesture of discourage.
ment. That was another thing which
had come with Neil's financial success
the constant need of stimulant.
The dinner was a jolly affair for
Blanche, who looked absolutely charm.
ing, tho in almost maddeningly immod.
est decollete. At first l was embarras.
sed, accustomed as l was by that time
to the extreme in dress. But l knew
1 also looked well, and putting all un.
comfortable thoughts away, 1 exerted
myself to entertain my husband Is
guests. would not allow Mrs. Orton to
monopolizc them; or to put me in the
background.
Neil had cocktails served, and Blan.
che Orton drank hers and then begged
for another one. She drank a good deal
of wine too, as did Neil. Blanche fairly
scintillated, but most of her conversa-
tion was directed to Neil, her rNnartee
flung at him, while was left to enter.
tain the. two business men.
They were plain sort Of men, one OF
them especially. Rather heavy and si
lent. One could easily see that, even
tho they were very rich men-Neil had
told me they were millionalres- that
private home dinners were not an every.
day affair with them.
/ finally spoke of the business-Oil.
They could talk about that and talk In
so interesting fashion that I almost
forgot to watch Neil and Blanche, OIL
to pay any attention the their convers-
alton.
But just before we rose from tho tab.
lie, while liquors were being served
heard her say:
elf people had q little more sense
they never would mistake my uneon-
ventionality, which shall never give
up, for common, sinful vulgarness. Tc
be conventional myself or be with peo-
pie who are, bores me to extinction"
l realized perfectly that Blanche Or.
ton would not allow herself to be bored
ard that consequently Neil must in.
terest her or she would not devote her
time to him. But what / could not un
derstand was his feeling that, tho mar
ried, he could keep up the same friend
ship with her that had existed before
his marriage.
yTo no continual