The Washington times., 1920-04-23
BY Vincent G. Perry.

TN inc library OF hcTalu nome
Pearl stopped. She could hear
\ Gerald speaking quite plainly.
AS the words became clearer her
ringers Ioosened on the pansies in
her hand. and they fiuttered 20 the
noor.
the only girl 1 want. No other girl
for me but you. Don't you love me,
too?" she could hear him saying.
No wonder she paled. The man
she had promised TO marry declar-
ing his love to anotherl The wretch!
Pearl hurried from the house; her
feet moved like lightning as soon
as she was outside, and she ola not
stop running until she was safe on
her own side OF the wall that sepa-
rated their homes.
On the pansy bed she wept out
her disappointment. She had been
taking him pansies-the flowers OF
tears-the flowers OF love! Oh 1t
was too much! Right there she re-
solved never to speak to him again.
Never to let him see her face again.
She was through. She was
through with him-with all men
with everybody, everything. the
whole world. But she could live.
oh. YES. she would live. Certainly
she would live. Live, LIVE! And
cry, cry, cry! That's just what she
ibid, until her fountain or tears
lwent dry, and then she went into
1.-The house and went to bed.
\ Pearls discovery had made her
itrifie hysterical, but even when she
twas cool and collected she did not
,change in her resolve to have moth
ing further to do with the lover who
had proved untrue. When Gerald
called that morning he was politely
refused admittance, and Pearl feit
a trifie glad when she was told that
he looked surprised and remorseful.
But being angry Is a difficult thing
when the object of ones whole de-
.votion lives right next door.
Pearl might have succeeded In
her resolve had not her family
gone away and left her in charge
OF the house the very next day.
Suddenly she realized that II was
her birthday. She had planned
little party for that night. but her
discovery of Gerald's treachery had
knocked II all out of her head.
Why, she had even written Joke
invitation for Gerald-she had
planned just a party for two. When
those two are lovers that Is enough
for a successful party. you know.
z The invitation she found on her
desk, just as she had written it.
Miss Pearl Batten requests the
pleasure of your company at
party in honor of her birthday" 1t
read.
! Pearl cast It aside and waded
I into more difficult writing-a let
ter just as formal as the invitation
was and one that was to carry back
her meaning. When she finished the
letter she could not keep back the
flow Of tears any longer than 1t
took her to address the envelope.
,As soon a. that was done she fled
to her room. 1t was half an hour
later when she gained courage to
have her maid deliver the letter.
"You will find 1t on my DESK"
she told Martha "Deliver it to Mr..
ISangster, to whom it is addressed
Martha, of course, didn't know
there were two letters on the desk.
She took the wrong one.
I What was the use of crying?
Pearl woke up to the realization
of how foolish she was. On her
birthday, tool! Why couldn't she
have q party even YETI A party for
one! How ridiculous 1t sounded,
But Pearl saw some attraction in
II. Away back somewhere in her
ancestry there must have been
some stage folk. for she had q
great taste for acting and pretend
ing. In her pretenses she often
found happiness. Why not pretend
party-put on her party dress
and everythingf
II was fifteen minutes to nine.
Just about time for the guests to
be in their places. Arrayed in her
party dress, Pearl was starting in
pretending. With q genuine flutter
at her heart, ~ II the whole thing