The Washington herald., 1920-08-11
XXXIX-A FOND ILLUSION

1t was well that Osborne had left
! the room in answer to James call
| before Alison made the discovery of
the five dollar bill. else he would
have suspected his brides sanity.
She stared at the bit of green
currency unbelievingly for a
moment while the COlcr mounted
high in her face. Anger held her
first bat before she gave it ex-
preston. ii was superseded by
humOr. The abSurdity of the situa-
tion struck her fOrCibly, coupled as
| il was by her imaginary picture
! Of Lawrence bestowing upon her a
ChcGuc for "A hundred dollars and
murmurinE Erandly that a similar
amount would he deposited to her
account in a bank every week
She began 20 laugh, sitting her
merriment with the hair which
flowed over her shoulders. The more
she thought of it. the more ludi-
CrouS the whole thing seemed and
sh" rocked back and forth in a
IaroXym of mirth.
And he said-he said" she gasp-
cd. not realizing that she was
speaking aloud, he said-to tell
him-when it was gone"
"Alison,"
Her mother-in-lLw's amazed ex-
clamation brought her back to
earth.
Sh" sat erect in the little chair
before her dressing table and push
ed back her disordered hair.
Whatever is the matter. Alison. ."
demanded Mrs. Osborne, Are YOU
werping?"
Alison shook her head. wipfnE her
ey' : on the lace of her negliree.
"LauEhing," she exclaimed hon
inS that her mother-in-Iaw would
not ask her the cause.
Mrs. OsbOrne's perfectly shaped
brows went up suggestiveIy. She
seated herself and waited.
WELL" after a moment. "au 7
not to share your amusement? |
like good joke"
"Oh but the jokes on me" ex-
planned Alison. and people have to
be awfully good sports to tell Jokes
on themselves. I'm afraid I'm NOT
always a good sport" she added
plaintively.
I'm glad to hear it, said Mrs
osborne. She hesitated a moment
ana her lovely face said plainly that
she resented not being told the
cause of her daughter-in-Iaw's
laughter, but there was an earnest-
ness about her whole demeanor snr
gesting that this was not an idle
visit
Lawrence is downstairs. Soma
man called on business matter and
will likely detain him for seversI
minutes. In the meantime. want
to say word to you"
She leaned forward and lowered
her voice.
when I said just now that am
glad that you are not what is vuI-
carly called ? good sport I meant
it. ! have always feared that I,su-
rie might marry girl who nrided
herself on being ultra-modern. who
smoked and drank cocktails and
wore indecent frocks. 1t is a great
relief. Alison, to know that YOU do
not belong to that type"
Thank you" murmured her
daughter-in-iaw meekIy. wondering
to what end the conversation led. IT
seemed incredible that Mrs. Osborne
was seized with sudden desire TO
pay a tribute to her sons wife; ana
even more incredible that she should
choose the dressing hour before a
fashionable dinner to voice II
Now this party tonight: will vou
and Laurie be together"
The latter part of the evening
we will" answered Alison, wonder
ingly AT the dance after the
dinners, that is. But the dinners
themselves are 'stag-Myra's maids
at one and Tony's ushers at the
other"
Mrs. Osborne frowned. She tapp-
ed the end of her fan against her
cheek thoughtfully.
Il have never approved of Lau-
rie's friendship with Tony Grant.
He is very wild and an habitual
drunkard This dinner tonixh-l