The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-02
When Il Girl MurT,ies
By.Amns1asae. 81,
Copyright ysKinxsFe ztzres sxnd,-
caIes 1nc.3

apple-pie order by highland I felt
vaguely disappointed
1t would have been such fun to have
done a little of the nest-bsdlding with
Jim, but Jim was in washington with
his friends. I was lucky to have
such kind friends here in our little
home-tolbe.
There was one deep closet in the
bedroom. It had wide shelves built in
and two clothes poles stretched across
| it with hangers all ready to welcome
coats and suits and. dresses-the
shelves on the right for J5m's hats
and shoes and boxes; those opposite
for my belongings When had ar
ranged them, the precious Intimacy of
that cupboard shared gave me my
first feeling of home.
| There were bits of shouted CONVEX
sation now and hh en-, butt for the most
part we worked in silence like old
friends who understood each other.
| At last Nfr. Mason called that it was
half-past seven and that he would like
a little feminine company on his mas
culine home-malzing ability and an
hour off for supper. So Evelyn and I
hurried to the door of the living room
and there a splendid picture greeted
US.
Tall, slim, black iron lanterns Of an
Gent Venice were sending out fame
color lights from their hooks between
| the windows, where curtains of apri-
| cot silk shut out the daylight Thick
white candles burned on either side
of the white stone fireplace in the
north wall. Cool and gray were the
rugs on the hoor-soft and broodinS
was the high, gray ceiling. Candle
light hickered over the apricot and
du1l-green damask Of the chairs.
| On the refectory table, which was
drawn UP against the deep couch in
! the south wall, stood a lantern whose
fame colored light was mantled 10y
the wings of iron birds. On a little
cloth of damask there was a great
bowl of black cherries and another of
peaches. The fragrance of coffee rose
from electric percolator.
1t was beautiful-and HON elfke Tom
Mason beamed like a happy boy at our
praise.
Now I'll run to the corner for some
Sandwiches, and then wen have a
lhouse-warming supper party" he an
lnounced.
At that my heart sank How could
I take my first meal in the new home
with any one but my husband? But
la minute later realized how much
owed these good friends-a cold sup
per, after all their work, was SO little
to offer! I determined to atone for
imy moment of ingratMude.
'"IG1is is my paT'ty-the first in my
new home-a little thank-omering to
Ith.. good friends who have helped me
make the home I'm going to the cor
ner for the eats" I cried with gay
determination, from which I refused
to bulge.
A clock in the village was Ginning
eight when I returned with my pur-
eihases noticed it idly. I wonder if
II can ever again listen idly when a
clock strikes eight
CHAPTER XIX.
There was no one in the living
room when I returned. 1t seemed
big and lonely in spite Of it's glowing
flame-coIored torches and Pickering
candles. was suddenly glad I need
not eat my first meal alone-that
would have made my longing for Jim
| too cruel!
arranged the cold meats and
| bread and crackers, and the radlShes
and little cream-colored pat of cheese
on the plates that were laid out in
rea diness Then I called Evelyn.
Tom Mason strobe in from the
kitchenette with an air Of being COM
pletely at home. His coat was off.
and he was just rolling down the
sleeve of his tan silk shirt.
i've been WaSh1nS-SCTQ
rather" he announced.
Evelyn, too, L suppose. Oh, Eve
1yn," called.
"Eve1yn's gone" replied Mr.. Ma
son quietly.
"Gone? You're joking!" I cried
running to the door that led to the
kitchenette and bath in my haste
to end this game of hide and seek.
"Mrs. Harrison, you needn't look
1 to5
Sallie Royce phoned out to Hemstead
to invite Evelyn to join them and
Sheldon Blake on a motor trip up the
road. And EveIyn's mother gave Sal
lie this number-so, of course, when
Sally called Evy here, what was there
to do?"
''Then must eat my supper alone
after al1!'' I cried, feeling decidedly
sorry for myself.
The man smiled.
i mot at aIl-Pm here"
"But you can't stay, Mr.. Mason
: said with a frankness that might
have been called downright rudeness
| Cant stay? Don't be foolish. Why
can't stay? I'm here, and you're
here and the supper is here. The OBJ
vious thing to do is to eat it.
shrank back in amazement Mr.
Mason actually thought that I would
let him remain. Perhaps it all seemed
natural enough to a New York soci-
ETY. man, but to me the very idea
was revolving. First Of all, did moi
want to have guests at a little "house
} warming before my husband had
eaten a meal in his own home. Nov
it no longer seemed a question Of
feelings and desires alone, But one
actually of dignity-of decency.
Of course I couldn't WOULDN'T
permit this man to remain alone
with me in the apartment Even il
: I offended him and seemed to him
. narrow-minded and old-fashioned,
must make that clear.
I tried. But Mr.. Mason smiled al
me in fashion that made me fee
like an ignorant little girl talking te
a wise old man.
| IL obi h, oh