Americus times-recorder., 1919-02-25
The
Promoters
Wife
BLANCHE ORTON INVITES NFU
AND BARBARA TO DINNER
By JANE PHELPS,
Copyright, George Mathew Adams)
CHAPTER XVI.


for his mail which had accumulated
during his absence, that I did not at
tempt tc talk with him / would wait
until dinner time.
He was in one of his excitabIa
moods. Things had not gone more than
well, he said in response to nv in
quiry if the business upon which ha
had gone had turned out ali right
Il wished l had taken you" he said
81 met several people whom shouId
have been glad to have you know"
Next time I'll make you take mel T
was horribly lonely most of the time
although I.orrain" and l went to din
ner and were Joined by Mr.. Frederick
and he took US to show afterward."
Frederick took you?"
Eyes. 1t was all right, wasn't it? 7
knew he was great friend of vours
so supposed, of course it was all right
for us to go. Lorraine quite admired
him"
"Of course it is all right. Did he
ask you any questions about me-mv
trip to Boston?'
Not question" And he had not,
But after Neil had gone | recalled that
he had had a sort of anxious look up-
on his face as we talked about Mr..
Frederick.
He had been downtown but half an
hour when the telephone rang. You
haven't anything on for tonight, have
you Bab?' he asked.
"No-why?"
Blanche Orton just called me up
and wanted to know. She is giving an
impromptu dinner tonight She will
probably call you up in few minutes.
called to tell you that even if you
had arranged something to call it off.
I am particularly anxious to meet
some one who is to be there. Please
have my clothes laid out l shall be
detained down here until the last min
ute"
Very we'll"
had scarcely hung up when the
telephone shrilled again This time it
was Mrs. Orton.
81 am giving a very small informal
dinner tonight. Mrs. Forbes. Will you
and Your husband waive ceremony and
ccre%
iJr. Forbes just telephone me Yes,
We Will COME" l had no intention that
she should think me in ignorance Of
the fact that she had called Neil first.
Yes-I telehoned him as soon as l
thought he would be in his office. He
is such popular man tAat / feared
he would make some other engage
nent before 1 could reach him Then;
dinner at seven
Cnce again my Jealousy o. Blanche
Orion asserted itself. Once more l
determinedly put it from me. Really /
must not be so foolish. One would
link ] was Is years old, instead Of 26
and an old married woman at that.
1t showed a littleness in nv nature
tcst l must rid myself of--or il would
grow upon me. At least haG Rad that
'"y giving way to jealousy it only in
creased its power to mlEe one mlser'
able"
loved Neil. | must always love him.
Nothing could change that He had
shown me what love meant, and tor
that reason l must always love him, or
else lose my self-respect. l would
fight to the death for his love, II neeu
be; but l would not insult myself OF
him by thinking he held me lightly.
l knew that some people claim that
people can love many times. But l
knew should love but once. he-
lieve that many second and third mar
riages, even, are happy ones because
they are the only love marriages-lhaI
the others were not, though there ma!
have been liking, respect, even coiil-
radeship. But that real love Is ca
perienced but once was then IS now
my sure belief.
would make myself lovely for Men
that night, had a new gown never
had worn. 1t was shimmerlng Inlns'
all soft shades that were most oecoln-
ing. Daring as she was in her dress
Blanche Orton would not outsnlhe me-
But 1 had not gauged her daring
Tomorrow-Neil Brings Barbara ."
String of Pearls.