The Washington times., 1919-05-29

fortune in hts "Salt Water Oil" in
vestment. The gray chiffon took on
a soft silvery tone as I draped It
over the rose taieta-and delicate
lights appeared in the tafeta a.
the swirIing chiffon drifted across
it, I shipped a bit from the sash
Of my lavender organdy, found q
bit otFuiIe green ribbon, and laid
green and lavender and rose in
folds 10 form a girdIe for the
chiffon. -
III mcanne In while I was work
ing, began laying out his linen. and
left TO run his bath. He made no
comment on what was doing
The money lie had that very day
made seemed. TO push between US
IKE wedge.
Stray thoughts huttered across
my brain-Betty. Betty it hardly
seemed decent to be giving this
dinper when we didn't know
where Betty was-if alive or-but
wouldn't permit myself to fnish.'
II was too morbid. Besides, had
my problem 10, face-the problem
OF either accepting or working to
alter Jtm's attitude toward me.
must adjust myself TO my new
status az a person called "Kid" and
''Girlie"-or must win my way
back 70 the Lilac Princess" relG-
ton TO my husband.
Seven o'cloek!T raSped Jim's
voice. Are you going to sit there
and sew all night, or are you COM
ing to dinner with me"
Seven, And I've a lot more to
sew! But maybe you can pin me
In q few places after 1 get it on.
I'm all washed and combed. I'll
only have TO change my slippers
and stockings and slip into my
dress"
I'll call taxi for TBS. Mind
you're ready" ordered JiEl- Luck
lily IL only takes minute or two to
! drive over1fe the Rochambeau. Sing
out when YOU want me. I'll go out
and take forty 'winks before slip
into my dinner coat"
After that I set a worlds record
for speeding. I'm sure my fingers
few as fast as ever did those Of
our soldier boys to adjust the gas
masks from the Alert" position
And by twenty minutes past !
was all ready except q pin or two
Jim must adjust il for me.
Ny own rejection in the mirror
consoled me q bit. Ny cheeks were
flushed and nay eyes bright from
the excitement and hurry / had
just gone through. Ny neck white
and slim over the gray chiffon: the
soft silky stun cast a silVery radi-
ance across my throat and shout
ders and hung in graceful folds
over the swishing taffeta-the git
die Of pastel shades really looked
like q French touch.
/ hurried out to the living roo.n
TO wake Jim with q kiss. had be-
gun to understand what a nervous
strain he'd been undergoing for
days. Those two hours OF whirling
along at top speed and alternating
between hope and fear that my
dress would come out right were
about / per cent Of what Jim had
been going through while chasing
Fortunes caF-wondering IL his big
deal would end in ruin or success
And all Jim's ugliness to me could
be explained in terms Of his sudden
nervous letdown when the hours Of
waiting were Overdrowned with
success.
So ali malice-alI anger and all
hurt were wiped from my memory
when went out to wake Jim, and
ask him to add the finishing touch
OF a friendly pin or two to my cos
tune
"waire up Mr.. de Millions and
play lady's maid TO your WIFE" said
J. "BSnchette, the real maid, is
getting out my ermine coat and
furs."
had no more than said the
words when longed 70 recall them.
could anticipate Jim's reply. "Cut
out the w.ould-be-humor, Anna"
Jim rose, stretched his arms above
his head and turned lazily to in
spect me Ny heart gave a hop
skip-and- Jump. How handsome he
was as he stood there with his
white shirt-sleeved arms stretched
above his dark head? Why must we
quarrel and hurt each other and
drift apart on the tide Of our angry.
irritated words? 1 loved my boy
he had once adored me. Why could
not we learn to accept each other
and adjust ourselves TO the daily
task of living together:
At the thought of ali we had lost,
] sank down in a chair and shut
my hands over my face. wanted
TO coniure back the poverty in
which we had been so rich.
Suddenly Jim's right arm went
about my shaking shoulders, and
his left hand tilted my head back
against his heart. / nestled close
against him-What peace.
I'll l. =
tenderly. How those clever fingers
must have kown, You're beautiful,
dcar-beautifUl! I'm proud OF you,
my clever little Lilac Princess
I leaned against my Jim's heart
happy, / vested 10 sob. I wanted
10 laugh. And a little of both got
into my voice as ] whispered:
How rich we are. dear-how
very rich-we have each other?"
Jim's fingers slid up under my
hair and lay. electric and vibrating
against my forehead for a second
when he drew me 20. my feet his
tender, mood was succeeded by my
"A practical one.
Give 9s the pins-and Wen take
'Fanchette's place" he said. And
then all aboard for the dinner
Toms face will be worth watching
when he sees his blue robe defeated
asanL"
a little steel band frightened
around my heart. At such a mo-
Dient as this. why must Jim bring
~ Tom 1iason. Would I never be
raa OF the man? Must ] always
- pursssd kN hiR blue robe2