The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-03-22
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANN LESLIE.
CHATTER CCxxXv.

t'I hate to break bread with him, but he insisted that he had a heavy date tonight and the dinner hour was his only free time, so I hadn't any way out,' explained Jinl, turning from the telephone after a curt inter change of words with Dick West
 He folded the check which I had given Phoebe and she had endorsed over to West, slipped it into his wal let, took me in his arms for a mo- ment and 1iInped out. What he was going to do with West I couldn't inn agine, yet found myself waiting TOT Phoebe eagerly, certain that l had had other things for her-that I must tell her of NeaFs engagement
 The minute Phoebe arrived the cru city of what I had to do came over me with rush. She was so little and pathetic Her heart-Shaped face was pale and her big eyes looked as if they were brinIning with unhappf- ness that might flood Into tears
 What's the matter. honey .nd cried. taking her into my arns ana kissing her trembling lips
 ooh. Amer" she cried. cEnging close to me like a child afraid of the dark. .+H's so long since I've seen you. But you will help, won't you? I'm so scared and unhayppy;
 tTJnhappy?'' I questioned. cupplrS her face in my hands, why, wear,
 'sDick West is pack,' said Phoebe simply. .. ba- as liftef off her hat and fuffed I'D her bright hair T know hes returned. But he doesn't count Jim has gone to dispose of hln:
 "Jim?' repeated Phoeoe m d hpinp o voice seWbat can, Jim do? Dick west made me meet him for tea He started off telling me that two could live so much cheaper than one-so ne thought we ought to get married kept saying I never would. But ne said the business wasn't paying very well and that he was hard up: knew that meant he wanted to have his money" T said positively "Come now, dash little cold water on your eyes, I've a smart new waitress and she musnt see that I'm so lonesome to- my guests that they cry at having to be alone with me-"
 Phoebe dragged out little fugi- tive half-hearted smile and she man aged to keep it about all through the dinner which Bertha server without allowing us more than nlnut@ privacy at a time. But even the old fashioned strawberry shortcake couldn't tempt Phoebe to do more than pick at her food I lost my own appetite wondering how the poor chi1d would stand the blow of learn ! ing that Evvy had stolen Neal from | her. knew I must deal it to her l this very evening. There was no l evading my responsibility. If Phoebe didn't know she mustn't be allowed to hear it under circumstances that | would take her entirely off her guard. The minute dinner was over led l Phoebe to the living-room, pumped her down on the couch with a box of | chocolates at her side and started my lcampaign:
 | .Now we can talk. First let's tackle Dick West and dismuss him for all tine."
 1T wish we could," said Phoebe, smiling wistfulfy.
 tswen, we can," persisted, but Phoebe interrupted in a tone of worldly wisdom that didn't become her at all:
 Paying off Dick West doesn't matter, Anne. That doesn't wipe out the fact that I let him pay for my stocks and once owed him a thousand dollars If people want to talk they can, just the same"
 ''Who says SOP" demanded, furious that Phoebe should have just the ugly point of view I had been determined to spare her.
 MT. West,'' returned Phoebe sim ply. He says he'd never have let
 me get into such a position if he'd | known that I wasn't going to marry him. He says he thought we were ] engaged and that he can't understand my jilting him just because he hash
 made money in his investments. It | sounds as if I were an awful person a regular vampire, Anne.''
 Looking at Phoebe's wistful, little girl sweetness, it was all I could do not to chuckle at her calling herself | a vampire But I managed to re- ply without a flicker of a smile:
 Honey, he's all wrong Twisting