The Washington times., 1920-01-29
When a Girl
Marries
BY Ann Lisle.
whose preseat serial has sesree .
big popular suecess-

walked across the hotel lobby
AT Terry's side to join Betty
and me. And l had longed TO see
Jim. 1 waited for the peace ana
calm l always felt when Tony was
near TO come and drive away the
disappointment that choked me
when / saw II wasn't Jim. But
was so hurt / couldn't cheer up
not even when Tony took my hand
in his wiry, nervous left hand ana
said:
"You don't know what a Joy II Is
to an old soldier like me to be with
the three best pals In the world.
It's as good as spring sunshine and
summer breezes. Anne, Betty,
Terry! Jove! This Is a holiday"
"Nice Tony" laughed Betty.
Don't you know it's just as import
ant TO us TO be with you as IL Is
TO you TO be with u.s.?
And on that happy, friendly note
our luncheon party was keyed
After a while peace came 10 me.
Ny bitter talk with Jim the night
before and its cruel ending faded
from my mind like bad dreams.
AT the end of the lunch, Tony
made n suggestion:
"Terry tells me your train doesn't
go until O, Betty. How about a
spin out to the country In my car
and tea along the road? My after
moons clear, but II you girls have
other plans. and you tell me to run
along, ] won't act like cry-baby
about it,"
"Spiendid. That just suits me.
and Anne daren't begrudge me
these few hours, since I'm goinl
away for four weeks" said Betty in
a tone / thought it best not to
deny.
SAY, Sister Anne. want to tele-
phone Jimmie to join us?" queried
Terry. and his words fiicked me on
the raw again.
"Oh, let me-" begged Betty, and
I wondered II she had interpreted
Alright the crimson tide ! felt rush
to my cheeks at Terry's question.
Gay and Kittenish.
"Flirtw laughed Terry, and
turned to Tony with beaming eyes.
"She's so gay and kittenish these
days I can't hold her."
As plainly as II he had said II.
heard the Bless her heart" with
which Terry finished that sentence
his own mind. What a splendid
night those two were putting UP for
each other. Fighting together side
by side.
We all went with Betty while she
phoned. But she came out OF the
booth, shaking her head sorrow
fully:
poor Jimmie! That West per-
son hasn't come back yet. Iim's
afraid he isn't coming until tomor-
row-thats the second Of the month
and I'm sure all travellers ought
to get back on the first as we in
tend to do next month"
You'll be back the hrstr chied
Anthony Norreys boyishly. Then
we four must get together and have
our reunion"
As his deep, clear voice rang out,
a telephone booth back Of us opened
and out came Tom Mason-his face
gray-white, his eyes swapping red
sparks. He bowed curtly, but he
seemed to demand my attention and
I felt compelled to look after his
retreating form. As ne got to the
door, he turned and glanced back
at us-and there was something in
his eyes that startled me.
We'll have Jim and Virginia,
too" declared Betty in a voice
louder than 1 had ever before heard
her use.
Iwonder II she had meant Tom to
hear; but he passed through the
swinging door without paying any
further attention to us. The words
he had said down at Evvy's were
ringing in my mind. though they
hadn't any connection with the
scene Tom had just witnessed.
'T want you to be happy, and II
Jim hurts you or wrongs you in any
way, I'll kill him" Tom had de-
clared as we stood on the veranda
of the old Harrison place that
memorable afternoon when Envy
and Neal upset their canoe. "Tf
you won't let me try to make you
happy. I won't let him make the
most glorious woman in the world
miserable"
Anne Relents.
Now, Tom Mason had seen me
standing in a group of which my
husband wasn't one, and had heard
us planning a reunion of which
again Jim wasn't to be one. And
he had turned with a look that
seemed directed at me. l wasn't
afraid of his jealously. What ter
rified me was the realization that
as Jim was now living at his club,
Tom Mason might find it out and
interpret it as the hurt and wrong
it really was.
Not even the glorious ride out
into the country nor the jolly tea
party with my friends could make
me forget Tom Mason and my fears
for Jim.
When Tony and I were leaving
the station-where we had gone to
bid Terry and Betty a flower-dcCk-
ed, bridal-looking FAREWELL
thought / glimpsed Tom Mason's
figure in the crowd at the gates.
But when j searched the crowd
couldn't find him-so l put II down
as a flgment OF my overweight
imagination.
But when I said good-by to Tony
and came back to my apartment,
my absurd fears came in with me.
Then / faced them and acknowl-
edged them for what they were. |
knew perfectly well Tom had been
indulEing in the pastime known as
Clearing himself talk" that day
down at Evvy's. felt sure Jim
wasn't in the slightest danger from
him. But l wanted an excuse to
call tho Aviators' Club and ask Jim
to como homs-any excuse but tho