The Washington times., 1920-12-02

ike me nor approve OF me- anne,
DO you force yourself 10 be SO de-
cent TO me because it's your pose
TO befriend-the needy? Or are you
almighty fond OF Lane?"
AND VAL sURRENDERs.
Wal" ! cried. "why do you fling
a. bit OF neighborly kindness in my
face with a barb or two attached?
We're neighbors. Our husbands and
families are friends. And aren't We
pretty good pals even II we
haven't precisely the same out
look on life?"
.1The same outlook on life!" Val
flung the words at me with
chuckle to spice them. "You're
Puritan, Anne. You like to look
at life under a microscope. but
you've no desire to live 1t. Heig-
no. Keep your microscope, old
dear. 1t would bore me. Or dis
appoint me. Everything does
and so does everybody. including
your righteous self and my--most
unrighteous one"
Good stuff" 1 ventured. 'And
now tudt tHc llTst page Oh youT
epigramatic play is spread before
my eye-how about Virginia's in
vitation?"
"Oh. yes-Virginia's invitationr'
Val appeared to be weighing II for
a minute or two. She closed her
eyes YEARLY. leaned back among
the cushions of her couch and
swung her sliper from thpe toe OF
cObWebbV stocking.
"No-on the whole, won't
come" she replied at last, opening
her eyes to fix them on me with
bright malice. Aunt Mollie has
asked me to visit her and the Will
loughby twins at their cottage in
the pines. I won't be along. So IL
that was what worried you, you can
just go off and forget me-"
wal, come with u.s." found
myself crying with unexpected fer
vor. "I'd like to know the real
you-the you who saved Lucy Will
loughby. the quick-acting. straight
thinking; brave you who bathed her
hands in fire to save that little
sparrow"
Val laughed, but her eyes were
misty for a second. not hard and
Oriental. Crimson st aimed the
cream of her cheeks, and she held
her hand out to me with an I'M
pulsive gesture.
"Iu CO." she said. "Ill go. You
make me think perhaps / am brave
and steady"
While Jim and 1 were breakfastng
on the day Of our trip to Dreamwoll
Redwig summoned me to the phone,
whence Vals indoent voice greeted
me.
Anne. the top Of the morning to
you. I'm phoning TO tell you l
won't go to Virginia's place with
YOU, after all. l don't like the idea
of being the fifth wheel on the
wagon"
"Oh, Val, you won't be" / pro-
tested. "Jim will beau you around
the place, and maybe Tom or Iony
will be dropping out to console you
for the dear big brown bears ap-
sence."
"Ouite So" replied Val dryly,
But a feminine foursome Is better
than the aforementioned fifth wheel
on the wagon arrangement So save
your breath, Anne, I've changed
my mind" -,
"Of course, you'll be happy with
Aunt Mollie," / acceded. But wed
like YOU to come with U.s.
That goes without saying, ana
you've said it several times" sald
Val at her creamiest. "But l won't
see YOU this week end. Next week
who knows?'
With a feeling of disappointment
] could hardly understand, l re-
turned to the dining room to tell
Jim. He took it peculiarly enough.
Now we won't have to take the
big car" he said, with great salts
faction.
"Why. yes we will. dear. Other
wise Pat and Jennie can't nave
bit Of driving" l said.
They'd rather walk any Day.
"Silly--they would not! And, pc
sides, there's all the luggage.
hate piling it on the little car. IL
makes it look like peddler cart.
Besides. there's Lyons
NEARLY TRIPPED Ur.
caught myself up quickly ana
fished about in my mind for plau-
sible conclusion TO my sentence.
I had almost given away the iact
that Lyons was Bertha's husband
and even to Jim l hadn't a right
10 reveal the secret that haunted