The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-08-22
When A Girl
 M0rries
By ANN LISLE.
(Continued.) PIER CCCXLVII.

MT. b1ake call1nS, ana ne dShSu if he could have a minute with Mrs. Harrison, announced Hedwig.
 It was a few days after Phoebe came to live with Jim and me, and we three, plus Neal were lingering over a bowl of nuts and raiSinS, after finishing cosy family dinner
 Ask him to come out here," said Jim.
 But in a moment the maid return ed to say that MT. Blake had asked as a special favor to see Mrs. liar rison.
 Run along. Pussy" bantered Jim, but it sure is a surprise to me to find out that Shelly's another of your victims.''
 When I got to the door of the living room and Shelly turned to greet me, his face confirmed my sus- l picion that he'd asked for Miss liar rison, and that Hedwig had misun- derstood. But disarminS smile promptly took the place of his con- | fusion.
 Do you mind minutes tete,a- had it, will you be cordial enough to invite me to spend the evening? I'm a lonely fellow these days"
 1Ig "Xoq didn't, didn't expect to see me. I thought I would surprise you"
 You do surprise me! Whom but you could I expect to have receive
 me in your homer, asked Sheldon.
 
 Mrs. Harrison, you once started to
 be friends with me. I think I called
 you Anne. Then you decided that the dear old friendship I'd always
 had for Tim and the Harrison girls
 ought to stop. Why? Have you any
 thing against me? I've always seen a lot of this family. Why have you wanted to put an end to It? "Is being a true friend to a woman one of your giftS?" I asked, hoping to pin him down without my sus-
 picions.
 '.Try me and see." he said in a low
 voice, seizing my hand and carrying
 it to his lips.
 j I jerked it away ungraciousIy
 startled out of the suave role I in- tended playing. Shelly shrugged his superb shoulders and spread his 1.-the
 brown hands in a picturesque ges- ture.
 That's it-you don't trust me! You read sinister motives into my natural fondness for you-and yours feel that you want to cut me of l from my old friendship--almost to
 forbid me this house. Do you in : tend to add this crowning humilia- ton to all I have suffered through your not trusting me Aren't you twisting things to suit your romantic fancy I asked. "Ot course, I don't want to forbid you the house. wen forget the things And start over?' demanded shel-
 don, "Without ever mentioning V1r- ginia's name or the part you helped her play in my life?
 couldn't discuss Virginia with
 him, and I wouldn't keep on at this
 game of calling a spade diamond |. so I suggested sending for the rest o1 7 the family. who'd be disappointed il 7 they couldn't share his visit. } Then you're asking me to spend the evening?" said Shelly. That's splendid"
 l Of course I hadn't meant to ask | him and once he was established as a welcome guest and we were all as senbIed. I noticed how jumpy and nervous Sheldon appeared Yet ever under Meals eyes I fanc1ed him try = ing to get a word alone with Phoe'
 be.
 When the doorbell rang he sat LII with a tense eagerness I couldn't l fathom. But I dismissed the thought l Of if in my own excitement wher Hedwie brought me telegram whicf proved to be splendid news from Father Andrew
 . eI,isten children!" I cried in higf
 feather. "A message from Father
 Apdrew. It reads:
 "'Re with you Thursday for shor l stay. Arrive six. Mlgh1V happy. FATHER ANDREW 9 ''Hurray!" cried Neal and Jim, and Phoebe echoed it. while Jim's further common. showed how he was begin ming to understand the very essence of dear Father Andrews
 Isn't that like him :! Doesn't Sa.