The Washington times., 1920-05-08

W frst / don't know. I'm not
w sure whether or not Jim
had It In mind when he said.
There are ways of circumventins
Virginia"
But when / saw how Mrs. Var
denis sneers were adding to Vir-
ginia's prejudice against Neal, those
words of Jim's came back to me
and gave me what 1 felt was an in
spiration.
II had put IT away in the back
of my brain for awhile, and had
taken IL out when ! was all alone
and thought over 1t carefully. per-
haps ] would have weighed 1t and
found IL wanting. But l didn't
weigh IL.
When we sc, home from our
evening on the roof with Carl
Booth and Daisy C-oEdon. Jim was In
a jumpy, irritable mood nearly ap-
preaching that state known as a
crouch. / was suddenly too tired
and detected to get any fun out OF
his jealousy of Carl Booth. / didn't
want to discuss It So I hauled
The idea" out and offered IL to Jim
Hauled 1t out suddenly and without
weighing II, because Mrs. Varden's
cattiness and Jim's QUARREL with
Virginia and my own indescribably
feelings due to coming again In
touch with my old world, has made
my brain whirl Ike a carousel.
"Jim?" I began abruptly. Just
what did you mean the other even
ing when you said that there are
ways OF circumventing VirginiaT
IT don't remember saying Just
that, Anne. What's the big idea?
ct though you had-the idea," ]
replied, smiling guilelessly.
whats eating you. young lady?
You have something on your mind
said Jim, jerking at his tie irrkably.
She'll never consent to Phoebes
marrying Neal" l said smoothly.
Why Not EIopes
"I've told you that, haven't /?
Why do you want to start treating
it. as a great discovery now? Did
she say anything in the dressing
room? Get your goat by snubbinS
that field daisy OF yours? asked
Jim, whirling around to smile at
me knowingly.
mo. She merely took me for
granted with the same Harrison
serenity and superiority you're
showing now. Seeming to indicate
that i couldn't possibly have any
viewpoint but her own. And 1t
struck me-"
hesitated. and Jim said sarcastic
cslly:
"a lot OF things have struck you
today. Your old interest in Booth,
for instance"
l interrupted in turn, whirling
into the heart OF things and well
beyond Carl Booth.
What struck mo was this-if
Virginia will never consent to let"
ting Phoebe and Neal make their
dreams come true, why shouldn't
we just take matters In hand with
out Virsinis7 Maybe you've never
really meant TO defy her. But I'm
sure Neal has And Phoebe, too,
fancy. Jim, why shouldn't they
elopo?'
"Elope7" repeated Jim colorlessly.
"Elopew he repeated distastefully.
well, wasn't that your idea all
along--when you said there were
ways OF circumventing virginia. l
demanded, annoyed at the implied
criticism in Jim's tone.
mot exactly" said Jim, staring
at me.
couldn't interpret his long, SLOW
gaze. II might be that had OF
Tended the aristocratic Harrison
viewpoint. II might be that / had
offered Jim the solution most pleas
ing TO his gambling nature.
wouldn't admit that ] had merely
startled him with . new idea. For
] felt.t that off in q remote corner OF
his mind, he had been watering the
Seeding OF this very inspiration.
How else can we circumvont VIZ.
Finia? She has dsfied you, netnt
chez" / asked with an intonation
suppose I inherited straight from
Mother Eve.
Jim whirled on me ~ anErily ~
IL It were ] who had dchcf him.
"virrinia jolly well told me TO
mind my own business he ssia.