The Washington times., 1920-04-13
When a Girl MnrYies
BY ANNE LISLE.

"A As we drove up the circling
~ road that leads from the gate
of Mason Towers to the porte
cochere at the left Of the house, we
noticed Evy-y's blue car standing at
the herfrpnt-steps. f, '~8 'tr
Maybe, she was coming to town
to get me- said Neal In voice
that SuGgested he. was whipping
hiupseif to an enthusiasm he didn't
feel.
Pretty late rfor that. isn't It
dearr.. asked without taking deep
thought of the matter.
''0uess It Is"
Then Neal .leaped out. swung me
and his bag out of the car. and was
just at the point of pressing his
finger to the bell when i cried:
See II the doors open. first 1t
ought to be, here In the country.
And We might as well have real
surprise party"
The screen door gave, At Meals
first touch and so we cyept In like
two conspirators. Through,the cor
ridor to the living room we went
without finding Envy. The house
lay cool and silent. suffered and
brooding. hidden away from the
copper sun of late afternoon. We
tiptoed along. stifiing our giggies
and feeling very young and mis-
chievous.
'"lill bet she's In the little summer
house." whispered Neal when the
conservatory and the breakfast
room had Joined the, rest Of the
floor In refusing JUS tEyvy.
So we-ran along the corridor to
the little house where Val and"
had found Envy with Neal the night
she announced her engagement. AS
we approached we heard the click
of ice in a glass and Evyy's voice
throaty, provocative, unmistakable.
Some one with her. said Neal to
me; then he called: s
"Evvy-surprise party! Guess
who's herer'
f.. A Hasty Motion.
And then we stepped over the
threshold of the sweet-smelling.
vine-hung summer house. For
second my eyes refused to adjust
themselves to the outdoor glare.
Then l saw Envy on her feet by
chair her hasty movement had evil
IDENTIFY overturned. She was stand
ing straight and taut and looking
with a queer, strained expression
at her companion, who was rising
from chair at the farther side OF
the rustic table around which the
summer house was built
/ turned my head and met Jim's
eyes.
Jim! My jim! Alone with Envy
Mason at her country place. For
moment i trembled, tortured beyond
thought of faith by q burning rush
of the old jealousy. This was the
second time ! had surprised them!
How they must have laughed be-
forc--how they must be laughing
now! Harsh and ugly l felt laugh
ter we'll up in my own throat. And
then, as II they were hands to touch
me gently. ] became conscious OF
Jim's eyes on my face--on my very
soul 1t seemed. His eyes were in
tent. desperately earnest. they
seemd to be waiting for what I
would do.
walked across the. summer house
and laid my hand opJim's shoulder.
His hand went up to take 1t.
Then Envy broke. the silence
Turning to Neal, she cried in high,
stridcnt tones that bore no, resem-
blance TO the throaty, purring voice
/ had always heard: ., ,L,
"Whst are you doing here. NealT
thought you were coming out to-
morrow with mother"
Anne stepped for me. We drove
out I'm her little car--to surprise
YOU replied Neal with, emotion
that astonished me. Did be care
for Evyy, after all?
80 surprise mel" laughed Envy
curtly. well. you did. What arc
you going to do about it?'
Take my sister homer.
Meals voice rang out and he'stsrt-
ed toward, me with boyish concern
for what he. thought was under
goins. Bht strangely enough 1 was
: undergoing nothing Of what he
thought. Jim's eyes-the touch OF
Jfm's Hand had told me that had
nothing to fear or to resent; that
there was reason for his being
here and that the reason would sat
isfy me completely. At Meats words
Jim turned and looked 81 Neal
smiling as II he were waiting for
something. '..
"I.li. take Anne home. Neal. Per-
hsps you owe Neal SONG eNplanar
ton OF our. tetc-a-tete, Evvy.'" he
added carelessly. "well run along
add leave you to--strsiEhten things
out" ~ -.
AS he spoke. his arm slid about
my shouldsrs and leaned close to
him. expressing silently the love
and fsith I felt,
= she SPilngs hack the Rirg.
Envy studied us sneerinEly Tor a
n,oncnt-then she furg hcr arms
out IN o Ecsture OF fNf;:
- A. (~A sxN