The evening world., 1921-02-24

Stilwell waving TO her.
Just because you're married you're
not going to begin to patronize YOU
old-maid friends!" Molly laughed,
kissing her.
Varia had come out by herself to
walk on the Drive. The sun cleaned
down on the river and Naria, in spite
OF the problem that weighed on her
heart, felt something OF the glow and
life OF the brilliant winter day,
Now Molly turned her thoughts in
ave simply been dying to see you
but | didn dare go near you for YOU
cards said, AT home after January
httc,nthr But now you're married
you'u be able 10 advise me-"
s;hC slipped her arm through Naria's,
rna,tering all the time while they
waited for n nus to come numbering
along; for Molly said tea and tn
Ritz were necessary for her conf
dcuCts.
you look Ldolable, Var,a, 30
bridey! Did your father give you
that sealskln coat? / wish my father
had been in Wall Street instead OF
being a family doctOrl"
Varia looked at Molly as she chat
tered along, and at the warm chestnut
hair that curled a little over her ears,
and the gray eyes that were full OF
light Molly WAS n dear II she
was always getting into scrapes, she
never could quite understand the
reason.
Ever since they had been in board-
ing-school together Molly had clunS
10 Varia as tho one firm support in
a changing world.
When they had threaded their way
to a little table in the corner OF the
Ritz, and Molly had opened her coat
and ordered tea and toasted muffinS
she began slowly to pull off her
gloves.
Varia watched her half dreamily
until the sparkle and flash of a great
sduarc-set diamond met her eyes.
"NIolly! What does II mean?" Nar!a
cried, leaning forward in the excite
meut OF the disclosure.
what does it mean? II means
that I'm growing old before my
time!" Molly said tragically.
She met Varia's surprised eyes
With the words, 1T must be charming
10 be engaged to one man, but you
see I'm engaged to two!."
mol" Varia answered, her lips
parting, her wide blue eyes on Molly's
excited little face.
Molly nOQuGu ueT uGdu NlbOEOuulJ
you see, VaTia, it's all your fault.
Oh. don't look like that and I'll tell
YOU about It. II was after your we'd
ding breakfast. Wed thrown rose
leaves and confetti at you and
stood on the steps watching you &c
off and somehow something Aoou'
your face-you we're so white-and 81
sWeet-, Varia, l knew l was JUS
going TO cry, SO | ran back INTO th'
! Rose Room and wept into the cur
/ tains and-Jim Gather was there. =
~ always thought Jim was dea'
and somehow he was so understand
| ing and all-and ne Kissed me, ant
and / never thought any more o
Molly poured out the tea in th'
u,hite and gold cups, and lifted tn
silver cover that held the crumpets
'sThen that evening Rupert HamliI
! lent that the most stunning name
came 70 see me. He's an English
man, He never says word but n
has the most wonderful manners an'
such n quiet air something master
nl. like an Englishman in a noVeI
Anyway, he began telling me aDou
hi, place in England, said 1t was
shox OF a house and he wondered
glrl could live on five thousand
yosr9 I didn't realize he meant nv
thousand pounds!
.yvered Yes and blushed so that h
Lneu what l meant. And, Varia, b
brought out a lovely old ring. anne
thyst with tiny pearls about H. an
Said IL had been his mothers. Her
IL is" Molly felt about in her beade
har and drew out the ring and passe
"A across the table.
Maria held IL on the palm OF he
bnnd and read the tiny engraving o
fhc inner band, Alice May-June
1883" ,t. ,S.,,.,
III all sounds romantic Molly
Varia said. I'm 80 glad,
"Don't be glad yet" Molly wailet
, "there's nothing TO be glad about.
,SThe next morning special mes
.eneer came and he had tiny whit
/ SoT. with this In i'll"
Z Molly held out her hand with III
~reat aiming diamond on II
, atm wrote me that he'd been Graz
ohout me all these years, at leai
four. but he'd never dared to say any
fbing. OF course was horrlaed!
admit know he was proposing whe
= he I,,ssed me, ! would have refuse
n nlr and told him 1t was all n mis-
,nderstaEdlng, but Jim 10 such dea
and [ hated 90 hurt hts feelings, an
Sesiaes, Narin," Molly leaned fOrwaI
; and spoke In tragic whisper,
J, don't know which Of them l am
! low WIN. .,-s -. S-a..,A A., L.,