The Washington herald., 1920-12-02
The Marriage Mill
By Mildred X. Barbour.
Copyright. 1890. BY TIE wheeler
Syndicate. Ine.l

Diane Evans met her eyes coolly.
yes, i believe you found that
out"
It was late in che evening before
Gwen Parker's tea guests began to
depart
Alison, flushed and weary. poured
endless cups of tea, added "one lump
and lemon, please" mechanically for
stately matrons and chsttering girls,
and vapid young men who hung
around the tea table more from in
terest in the pretty dispenser than
in the liquid itself.
Finally Warren Bradley, deftly
incinuated himself between Alison
and her circle of admiring youths.
Isn't it time to close the bar.
I've come to bear you OF for a bit
Of refreshment. You haven't had
time for a bite yourself, now, have
your"
Alison smiled up at him radiant
ly. There was nothing about her
TO suggest the weary, half-fright-
ened, wholly petulant girl he had
last seen three nights before.
Il would like a cooling ice. But
take me away from the sight of tea,
please. II / weren't a. dub at math-
ematics. ] could tell you how many
gallons I've poured this afternoon,
and You wouldn't believe me-"
Rtght-o! II these gentlemen
Will excuse you"
With an air of unquestionabIe
authority, Bradley deftiy extracted
her from the clustering youths and
bore her to a secluded window seat
the 6rSF Ia % a.
stairs
Well, of all the nerve" remarked
young Comstock. with a shrue,
looking after them.
Never mind, ladr comforted
Tony Grant. grinning. Bradley
will get his pretty shortly. The
Evans vamp's got her eyes on him,
and all I've got TO say is. God help
him. Whew" mopping his round.
red face, I'm glad I'm married and
got woman to fight for me-"
Alison sank gratefully down into
the cushions on the window seat
and looked UP invitingly at Brad
ley. She knew that numerous eve.
had followed them to their retreat
on the stairs.
Never mind about the ice, ia
rather talk. First / want to ask
your pardon for being such an un-
grateful little beast the other night.
You rescued me from a .wretched
situation, and il wasn't your fault
I that we had an unfortunate en-
, counter on the way home
He dismissed her apology with a
gesture, lighting a cigarette.
Please don't! feel that / han
died that situation very badly. 1
only hope there has been no come
back. Sometimes Mrs. Bradley
takes a-er-a peculiar view of nv
actions, and there is-ah-trouble." I"
Alison looked down. her fingers
nervously smoothing a fold of her
gown. She was undecided whether
or not to tell Bradley about his
wife's telephone conversation with
Gwen Parker, Perhaps nothing
would come of it after all: perhaps
Mrs. Bradley shrewdly calculated
! that Gwen would tell her CAlison)
and she would be frightened into
abandoning her acquaintance with
Bradley. She would be a fool IL she
fell into such a trap.
So she merely shrugged, and said
lightly:
1T was nothing after all. I have
forgotten il already. haven't you?''
He bent closer to her. tossing
away his cigarette.
Il forget everything when / am
with you"
Alison gave him a roguish glance.
$50 you told me the last time !
saw you. Can't you be more orig
inal?'
Not at all taken aback. he smiled
easily.
II can only say what is in INV
heart. though I run the risk Of rep
etition."
Suddenly wearying Of his. obvi-
BUSINESS. Alison rose.
Then the only suggestion that I
can make is that you change girls
frequently. You haven't known d.
ane Evans long enough to have ex-
hausted your repertoire"
Dismissing him with an fnsolent
nod, she ran up the stairs.
Continued Tomsrrswl