The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-22
When n Girl MuTries
Ann
BY
(Continued.)
BY Ann LAsie.
yr4xhf Hn4 BY King Features synd-
cato, Inc-)

(Continued.)
ugly eurtness in that laugh:
well, neither of US seem to have
much energy TO spare, or you might
have had sense enough to go over to
the Rochambeaq some time today"
Tense. you said 1 should 'phone!"
"'Phoned?" mimicked Jim. my
dear Anne, there are certain decen-
cies in civilized society. My sisters
come home from a year in the West,
and for reasons we won't go into, I
cannot offer them the hospitality of
my home. 1t seems to me that my
suggestion from me, think of some
way of welcoming them to their
home town."
"I didn't think Virginia wantod
me- She wasn't very cordial" Y
MANNERS" asked Jim. incisiveiy.
really, Anne, that's very amusing,
to say the least If I didn't find it
SO funny I might be angry Virginia
is as you would do well to remem-
bar, dearer to me than"--
storned wildly. I was on my feet
now I had backed against the table
and was leaning, heavily on it. with
my clenched hands held forcib1y at
my sides. My chest heaved and
had great trouble to keep my breath
from bursting out in hoarse gasps.
-Anne, do you think you can man.
age to do without making scene?"
he asked in what 1 took to be a
bored tone
but you don't love me- You care
more for Virginia than'-
Jim laid his hands on the arm of
the chair and fairly pushed himself
to his feet He limped heavily as he
crossed the room and stood towering
over me with eyes ablaze-
Virginia is my sister-no one can
touch our love for each other It's
been part of us since we were chill
dren- But you are my wife-I chose
you from all the world IF / hadn't
loved you, why should have mar
ried your he asked grimly.
Why, indeed? What had brought
to jim but love? Tenderness swept
over me- Then came terror-terror
lest by my love deed 1 lose that love-
=. Jim, Jim, dariingM ;odSa1i sod me;
But I'll make up for it'll go down
on my knees to Virginia if you say
So Your sisters shall be my sisters
too. Jim sobbed--my pride brok-
en- "OnIy love me, dearling! Love
me, love mel"
I hung my arms about him plead
rfngIy-and Jim drew me close; ne
laid his lips on my mouth And
knew that he was mine asaln-ln
that moment Virginia didn't count
CHAPTER KILL
Ar breakfast the next morning
asked Jim how virginia had liked the
flowers
Won sweet kiddie, L believe you sent
her some They must have come Al ar,
ter I left, but +unsight, unseen; Ill
hug you for doing just that"
sits really Neal you should hug
the idea was his, and so was the
money that paid for the posies-he
wouldn't let me do anything but Sc
iect them and write the card L re-
piled
what a dear little shyioclk it is
50 exact in it's accounting? cried jim,
in high good humor. well, III nave
to bang on the bathroom door peIo i,
leave and tell the swimmer WITHIN
what a decent young fellow l th1nk
him Pm getting downright fond or
our Neal"
inns beautiful sister would soon be
downright fond of me, and hurled
myself at the phone as soon after
Jim-s departure as I decentiy coud
Eight thirty seemed the ideal hour to
cali the Rochambeau-early enough
to be friendly and to catch the girls
In, early enough also to give Neal q
chance to speak to Phoebe, and still
not early enough to have an alarm
clock quality
But was wrong Phoebe's whis.
pers told me how wrong and told me
also that -Hyee' was sleeping after e
bad night She thanked me for the
poaies with none of the animation
should have expected from her, and
young Neal had to go off without {
That's ali right" he insisted, con
so1ing1y- Whats the use of speak
ing to the visiting lady if you can
invite her out? And I'm down t.
You don't aend me cent, Anne Thi
is where friend Neal shows how say
ing he can be-"
In high good spirits that sent m
whirling through the days occupa
tons with such vim and yigor tina
the little home and L were in order b
10; and by quarter past the elevate
at the Rochambeau deposited me o.
the seventh floor
When I had called Phoebe, almos
two hours before, I heard the tele
phone operator at the Rochambea
say lib" So made a mental not
OF that, and with a pleasant, sisterl
feeling of sociability went up with
out being announced
But II seemed to be as bad a blum
der as phoning at $3.50 had. been.
Virginia was in a graceful pignoi
of amber silk and soft lace, an
though she looked lovely enough fc
all the world to behold, she actual
seemed to feel that there was some
thinf, too terribly informal about al
peaxinE before me at breakfast and
breakfast negiigee-
From the moment of my fir
faux pas everything that could mar
age to go wrong proceeded to do S
Next in order of the horrors tn;
took the sunshine out of the de
was a sudden glimpse I caught of
vase full of wilted flowers Befol
could turn my startled eyes ava
from that dejected-looking mass {
the tea table Virginia began thanl
ing me for my gift
Those dreadful thingsi'' I erie
They're not what we selected
all I'm going right over and gil
that florist a piece of my mind
~Oh- wouldn't do that replit
Virginia, colby
Then Phoebe broke in with
little explanation that did ever
thing except set me at ease, s.
. Intended
You see, it was after midnig
when they got here - so perha
they went to the wrong place
mistake and got spoiled there"
.~After midnight exclaime