The Washington herald., 1920-10-27
The eMarriage Mill
By Mildred X. Barbour
Copyright, 1920, BY The Wheeler
Syndicate. Incl
MAKE-BELIENE.

nhht-bEBlENE Il.
/ Alison made no defence against
: Larry's quiet accusation. She real
lied that she had none. and the less
said the better. She also knew that
this was the best time to settle the
question OF Warren Bradley and his
attentions, since the little dinner
: party was in the nature OF a con-
ference, and Larry, undoubtedly feel
ing himself in the wrong as the re-
suit Of the previous nights esca-
pade, could not afford to be ungen-
erous.
She stared COOlly across the table
! into his eyes while the waiter
placed the hors d'oeuvres.
Shall we dine before going into
all the narrowing details?" she sug-
gested; I'm ridiculously hungry"
so am !. No time for lunch and
: breakfast wasn't exactly a success "
he replied with grin. Let's call
on the dogs Of war until / get some
/ chow under my belt"
Suppose we pretend we're not
married at all" Alison flashed a mis-
chievOus glance across the table.
| that's the only sure way of pre-
| serving the entente"
Great idea" he agreed enthusi-
! astically. well pretend This is last
year and we ar just beginning to
be crazy about each other.
! And therefore We are very much h
| on our good behavior"
! Larry took up his role smilingIy.
J 4 shall look at you and see only
your alluring eyes and your dimple.
and ] shall fOrget that know your
hair isn't naturally curly and that
you make up your brows."
And l." promised Alison. shall
! forget that YOU aren't always clean
shaven and are given TO wearing
! an ancient and bedraggled bathrobe
when you loaf about the house on
Sundays"
And well both forget that we
have the devils own temper and are
| selfish as the. deuce" he supple
mented
Alison flushed. but she was sport
| ing enough to play the game.
She gave him gayly smiling
glance.
Il had a charming time at the
Cunningham's dance last night.
Larry" she said in a tone that be-
longed to the past. You should
have been there-we missed you
frightfully."
Following her lead. Larry slipped
into his role.
His eyes met her and held them
There is only one person whom
care TO have miss me and l know
she didn't"
Alison's eyes fell demurely.
Are you sure, Larry?"
TOO sure, worse luck"
Nothing is sure but death.
Larry" she said softly.
His hand. moving EuardedIv
across the table. closed on hers.
Allison, why do you torment me-
he pleaded in the voice Of a year
ago. Why do you play this game
with me, seeming to give me en-
couragement and then plunging me
into the depths of despair? Sweet
heart, you know 1 love you. Must
you make sport of it7',
The echo from the past, the VI
brant tone of Larry's voice, almost
caused Alison to lose her lines. For
moment she forgot that it was a
game of make believe they were
/ playing: for a moment it seemed
that their married life had been
| only an unpleasant dream and she
and Larry were still dsllying in
that ecstatic plane where love, shy,
hesitant' exquisite, awaits only q
| mutual acknowledgment before
springing into bloom along their
path.
Almost unconsciously she stretch
ed forth her hand with an appealing
! little gesture.
Larry, we've lost our way, some
how! When? Where? Can't we 60
back and find it again."
To Be Continaed Tomorrow.