The spectator., 1920-11-30
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LAVlNIA BRAND
By ELlZABETH M. LEE.

Susan Mary Evans, or, as she pre- ferred it, Mrs. Peter, pretty nearly everything was changed, as well as her name. She had always thought Hinsvile was darling place to live, but now that they had come to West Greenfield, she was not quite so sure about anything, for in West Greenfield everything was different.
 Of course there was Peter, always there was dear Peter, but even Peter of late had begun to change. He was preoccupied and abSent-minded, and as long as she could Susan Mary Loyalty excused it on the grounds that of course, the office manager of the biggest bakery for miles around would have to be absent-minded. If he didn't have worried, careworn expression, argued Susan Mary determinedly, he wouldn't be working, and if he weren't working, he wouldn't be thinking about what happiness he could bring her.
 So 1t was all for her, she thought defantly, until one awful day when she was tidying Peter's desk i'll the den, Il bit of work she particularly adored. Sorting out the envelopes of different sizes, she had dropped bit of paper with a scrihble of Peters writing on it. She read it once twice and even third time, and each time her world got blacker, for the writing on the paper said:
 "Layinia Brand"
 Now who could Lavinia Brand be? Susan Mary sat down on the uncam- fortabe edge of chair and thought and thought, and the more she thought, the more certain she became. For up ill Hlnsyile there was a fam fly by the name of Brandt. and one of tine daughters had gone to school with her What could be more nat ural than in these days of anti-eVery- thing that sounded German the family had dropped the obnoxious 't' and become plain Brand? And that girl her name began with l., she was sure. Lucretia. Leonora-what was it?
 I'm p-p-positive it's Lavinia' wail- ed Susan Mary, and with a sudden, fierce little gesture she tore the offend ing slip of paper in hundred pieces.
 Then one morning a bit of paper fell out of Peters coat pocket as he pulled out his handkerchief, and Susan Mary, picking it up, inquired innocent ly as to what it was, knowing perfect 1 ly well that it was That Name"
 With an expression almost guilty Peter snatched ii and crammed 1t back In his pocket, hurriedly telling Susan Mary that it was nothing at all and | it was very late and he must hurry or i he would miss the car.
 The climax came that afternoon when Peter called up and told her that he was bringing Mir Grayson to supper Mr. Grayson was the man. ager. and Peter worshiped him.
 Of course everything went beauti- l fully. Susan Mary was too proud to let Mir Grayson know that there had | been any suspicion of coldness be tween Peter and herself, and she was hOney-swect to both the men. Peter was a bit puzzled. for the atmosphere of late had been decidedly frigid, and, manlike, he put the croWning touch upon 1t all. As MT. GraysOn was leaving Peter went out to the hall with him, and stood talking in low voice. but not quite SO low but what Susan Mary could hear the managers voice.
 And Lavinia Brand?" And then Peters voice worried, hasty-"For heavens sake-my wife doesn't know anything about that
 Quite convinced that her heart was broken, Susan Mary still bided her time.
 She had become quite resigned to the bits of paper floating around ev- cryWhere. and she was really very calm and cool and collected when Pc ter called her up and told her that he was bringing I.avinia Brand home that evening.
 'YeS, I remember her. said Susan Mary sweetly, and was rewarded by a burst of laughter from the other end l and then the receiver clicked aggra vatlngly.
 But Peter came alone. CnlY he car ried bundle, which he waved at hei as she stood on the piazza, and then wondering at the eXultation in hi: face she felt herself picked up bodily in his arms, and heard only con fused-"parling Lavinia Brand success--fortune's made before sh' had sense enough to disengage herself and demand hysteriealy what it al meant
 Here's what 1t means" cried Pc ter joyously. waving the package again. and when at last they were safely indoors he opened it. talking all the while. You see, Grayson want ed some other line besides just bread and rolls, and I sent up to mother fo