The Washington times., 1920-07-14
CHATTER yXXyII.


there is a pleasurable excite
\ - ment about the first few weeks
Of her engagement.
This was especially true in Bar
bara Paige's case. She was popular.
and all her friends were interested
in the announcement that she was
betrothed to John Brandon.
At first she protested feebly when
her aunt proposed that the news be
made public Immediately.
"Oh, no, Auntie,' she began. But
before she could demonstrate any
further Cynthia cut her short with:
Now that Robert Elliott knows,
ii is only fair that other people
should Anyway. he will write to
some of the girls or men about II.
And your friends will have cause
for wounded feelings at your hav-
ing kept them in ignorance of the
facts"
Would Robert write to his friends
about it? The question thrust it.
self into the girls mind, but she
banished it quickly. What did she
care what Robert did?
Daisy ought to know the truth
Aunt Cynthia continued. would
you like me to tell herr"
NO, Woulu uols vas thO PfO''bS
reply. Il prefer telling my most
intimate friend myself. please"
"Well, you need not be so abrupt
Cynthia chided.
II beg your pardon" Barbara
apologized meekly.
This was the second time in the
past twenty-four hours that she had
. spoken sharply to Aunt Cynthia.
She was ashamed to reflect on this
fact. In spite of her efforts to alter
her sentiments, she was conscious
of a feeling that, now that she was
engaged to John Brandon, she need
not do exactly as her aunt ordered.
She recognized this mental attitude,
and deprecated it. She must guard
her speech. For some unaccountable
reason she loved her aunt less
than usual, while she loved Uncle
Arthur more dearly than ever.
A BIT IMPULsIvE.
She spoke gently now, in order
to prove her repentance.
IT did not mean to be so abrupt,
Auntie / only mean that, as Daisy
and I are so intimate, I think IT
would be well for me to tell her the
news myself"
Just as you choose" Miss Gym
thia rejoined stinly.
Barbara sighed, oppressed by the
consciousness of her relatives dis
pleasure. Yet surely this same rela-
tive was rather inconsistent. she
had insisted that Robert must know,
first of all, that Barbara was to
marry John Brandon-then made
the fact of his knowledge a reason
for a public announcement of the
betrothaL
But perhaps Barbara herself was
to blame for not seeing matters as
her aunt saw them. The girl was
puzzled by her own mental atti-
tude. All her world was changed.
The only persons who were stable
and certain at this juncture were
her uncle and John Brandon. To
the latter she turned with sense
of security that he might well mis-
take for affection. His heart swell
ed with happiness at what he sup
posed was Barbara's growing love.
After the conversation just re-
corded, Cynthia went to her room
with dignity that her niece recog-
nlzed as disapproval. The child's
conscience smote her. She must
make amends for her impatient
words. To this end, she raped at
ner aunt uOOI anu OpcSOu NhO sum
mons to "come in"
"Auntie," contritely, "I have
come to apologize for the way 1
spoke Just now. / was very cross,
I am afraid. l do not know why 1
am so irritable these days. Please
excuse it."
Miss Cynthia took advantage OF
this repentant frame of mind to
utter a word in season.
YES. Barbara, you are rather
sharp-I am sorry to observe. But
I make excuses for you, for l know
that an engaged girl Is apt to be
self-centered and Independent
"But advise you to guard
against these faults. Remember
that you are young. You have
much to learn. You will be calmer
and moro content when all the agi-
tation and excitement of the an
nouncement of your engagement is
over, and when you know definitely
when you are to be married. A
long engagement is a mistake"
A NEW SHOCK.
Married. kssped Barbara. oh,
Aunt Cynthia-surely II is entirely
too soon to begin TO talk of thati