Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-15

! vously. II telephone Pat and Neal
and told them you were dressing.
so they'll be in dinner coats, too"
It's absurd! Just like woman!"
| grumbled Jim, so absorbed in his
grievance that he didn't notice the
exquisite dress l was wearing for
the first time.
Don't l look nice?" l demanded,
hoping he'd say it was worth while
dressing to be in keeping with me.
"All right! All right" he replied,
very nice. But if you stand there
cabling for the next hour, 1 won't
be dressed when the bunch comes"
So l slipped out to the dining room
for last look. changed the olives
so they'd be near Neal, added a nut
or two from the center dish to Vir-
ginia's individual nut-dish, and then
sailed out to await my guests.
The first to arrive was Neal, look
ing adorable from the crown of his
slicked- back red curls to the tips of
the manicured nails, of which he was
boyishly conscious. He started to
hug me, and then stepped back rue
fully.
You look like a cross between an
orchid and a lily. and little like
butterfly, too, Babbs-too beautiful
to touch, but good for the eyes!
Scrumptious, Babbs - scrumptious.
I'll say so. Hubby doing well?'
You darling!" | cried, hugging
him, and then stepping back to re-
veal my uncrushed draperies. Hub
by's getting richer every minute.
And ! show a very superior line of
brothers. Neal, if Phoebe doesn't
think you're good enough to kiss, L
don't admire her taste"
Then | added a kiss to the hug,
just as Jim strolled in with the
.iny hint of the limp 1 think so
distinguished and he considers so
a blooming nuisance" He and
Neal We're. in the midst of brotherly
tectings when Pat arrived. More
handshaking - the warm, cordial
kind men exchange when they like
each other fully and without men
tai reservations.
Il stopped by for you, young fell
low-but when you were gone de-
cided you'd called for your girl. Is
she here?" asked Pat nervously.
She and Jeanie will come to-
gether," said Jim carelessly.
Pat gulped and Strengthened his
tie. Then he began smoothing back
his hair. and trying for the devil
well and had deserted him so com
pletely. He sidled over to me as if
he were asking for protection.
TOO gentle" | told myself. Too
gentle and humble by half a woman
like Virginia takes wlnaInS.' But
aloud l offered encouragement:
"If any one gave me a golden ap-
pie now to award, a la Paris, I'd
have a merry little time. Boys, boys
you're the three deadliest beauties
l ever did see."
The door bell shrilled. Stiffening
expectantly, Pat got to his feet and
stood waiting. l assumed a smile
and tried to look calm. Jim, BEAM
ing in thorough satisfaction,
crossed toward the door. In an
osher moment Phoebe fioated
through in a cloud of pink and
white like a mass of blown cherry
blossoms. A greeting to Jim and
me, and she was clinging un-
ashamed to Neal and staring in
wide-eyed terror at Pat. She muir
flew to her throat.
"Virginia's coming. She stopped
to pay the taxi" stammered Phoebe.
ITS all right, Lassie," said Pat,
taking her hand in his and fiinging
back his hand with the old reckless
gesture. Don't look so frightened,
little Phoebe"
And TIM, in the pause that fol-
lowed, Virginia appeared in the
doorway. She was in black, cling
ing and diaphanous Her simmer
ing hair was piled high above her
pale face. Her eyes were wide and
star-like and were fixed with un-
wavering intensity on Pat Dalton's
face. But her lips were tight drawn
in a thin line.
l looked at them and said little
prayer in my heart. y long minute
passed. No one seemed to dare
break the silence.
To Be Continued.