The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-09-21

that wanted to come because the
Neal. "Only Neal" indeed! Wasn't
Neal my brother the lad 1 had al
ways adored
When everything was ready I
ran into my bedroom and began
perfume bottle across eyelids that
were heavy and burning. Neal must
have come in without my hearing
his key in the lock or his step in
the hall, for suddenly 7 heard his
voice from the kitchenette, and
very hastily I put away the tell
tale cologne.
liable set for two, Babbsie. Who
told you / was going out?
With sinking heart I remembered
that he had spoken of a party with
Envy and Seldom. And deter
mined that L wouldn't spoil his
him cheerily.
Didn't you speak of this party
last night?'- asked.
"Yeah-and that naughty beauty
sister of Jim's didn't think it good
t think 1 wa Was good d enough n either.
supposed" began Neal angrily.
Then he must have noticed how I
| was clinging to him for he held me
off at arms length and his eyes
| searched my face. I smiled at him
| as best could but his voice chang
| ed to stern accusation:
| has MIS- 1IdllOH Uecu Will yOu
| today?"
mo, dear. I phoned and she was
out. And stupidity enough I didn't
| leave a message or phone later or
! icate things Jim would have loved
| me to arrange for his sisters
| you haven't seen them! Has
JIM" went on Neal inexorab1y.
| Yes, dear, he's over there now"
Neal drew out his watch-father's
hunting case gold watch.
Its now. Is Jim coming hons
to dinner?'
I tried to He-but couldn't.
| mo, Neal-he isn't
I explained about the apartments
But Neal was wild with rage-he
| whirled to the telephone and can
| celled his engagement for the even
| ing, and then came to face me at
| the table, where I had seated my
self at the percolator.
| Its a meaSly Shame'-he be-
gan.
But I interrupted him. I wanted
| him to realize some of the things
had figured out in the hour that
had gone by since Jim's phone call
the hour I had spent in thinking
thinking hard.
'Laddie, listen. I'm going to make
l a long speech. but I want you to get
| everything clear"
| go to it," said Neal gravely.
Virginia and Phoebe are all Neal
has. They're the last of a once rich
anu lIhPoA tdhI ldullly. AND jim Is
wounded, lame, thrust out of the
| army he was SO proud to be in. Can
you think what this means to him ?"
| Neal bowed his head and mutter-
ed:
ct can see what his darn family
means-to you'll"
Il L did not let him see me vince
as I went out.
Jim is poor, Neal. He hasn't
much to offer his sisters. So he
gives them-himself. Virginia isn't
very happy woman, can see that
back of her coldness. To her, los
ing her husband is nke-is like Jim's
lameness. 1t brings them very close.
This is the first time she has seen
him since the war changed Jim, and
when she comes back to him need
ing him most-here I am. He has
, to make it easy for her. They are
his people, Neal-hfs own flesh and
/ blood. And I'm new-Ive taken him
: from them In way. I couldn't be-
srudge Virginia a little of the love
was on earth. Could II"
Neal leaped to his feet, flung hi,
napkin to the floor and, rushint
4 around the long table, knelt at my
:, feet and laid his strong young arm
about my waist.
Babbsie-Babb sie. darline-vo,
. wonder! You have me-maybe I'm
not much, but ibid Just die 70,
Il you. And If Jim Harrison ever hurt
h you, Ill-I'll kill him. he cried /,
his ringing young voice.
q CHAPTER XIII.
When supper was cleared awa,
Neal made a suggestions:
Let's go out and h11v I'M 80,