The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-07-07
When 4 Girl
 M0rries
By ANN LESLIE.
(Continued)


 FHhe vines had been pruned and tended and that building was going on.
 At sight of these changes in his boyhood home, perceived how Jim Whitened under his tan and how the muscles of his jaw grew taut as fiddle strings Phoebe's cheeks cr1rnsoned than ever. Only my brother puzzled me His manner was alert ana f watchful. but not at all surprised. hhave. bought in the old place.'' cried From -sWho do you suppose is re- kstoriny the-old mansion?"
 I echoed his question. Who is do-
 CHAPTER CCCXvu.
 Toward noon on the day atfer our gexcursdon to inspect the estate Tom Mason wanted to buy, Phoebe ran In [ for a visit
 I've heaps to tell you," she ex- claimed, as we settled down costly on my living room couch like a pair of : boarding school girls stealing sln af- ter-hghts-out visit.
 'sSome such dark secret as what darling my brother Neal ds, said
 nhis produced an astonishing effect on Phoebe. Her face darkened to an uncomfortable crimson. and her eyes dulled over while her pointed chin ] set stubbornly.
 N 'Don'tzta1k about Neal. I can't bear f it today He's so set!'' she cried ex- plosiyefy. Virginia is making life unendurahle for me and Neal won't do thing about it. It makes me almost hate him, though I love him eo.''
 Come now, dear,'' I ventured, plungingr in where perhaps angels ttfat precisely what you've come to talk over-with me?"
 What do you mean to insinuate ?' ; demanded Phoebe, giving her mead a ~ @.Youd planned to start with our good times yesterday, and how at and how lovely Hidden Brook is, and thow remarkable it is that some one Is putting the Harrison Place Tn or lder. and how loyal lr1na warren "sao ae sdtne, with her 'uncle and-- Smlnng land almost out of breath and a-mmu- nition I stopped and gave PhoebeS hand a quick little squeeze before | | {went on After we'd gone over all fthat. you were going to get sarounu to what is nearer and dearer to ooen
 indeed, said Phoebe rather top. | 1ofticalty.- .-and since you know Just s-what I'd planned to say why ooh '- .eIs that fair. dear'' I asked Are ;evo,1 telling me I've been tactless and spresumptuous? Aren't we sisters aI- fter a1l?'
 Then Phoebe softened and was ar, an Eeager child again instead of the icy Harrison grande dame she auto1nat- ficaIly becomes now ana sbe .l2>S ,5irnurea. ...t,vervthingy Virginia is drfVfng me mad She goes around the house like an injured saint-stately anu aloof She talks as little as she can can and has the co1dest expression Tn her eyes when she has to look at me. You'd think she was poor, pale steel uf&erneath. Yet I can't put ut my fiHger on her or pin her down to .Yes. dear; I can picture that But '. " " .<vS @What of it?" asked Phoebe in- dignantIy. ''When am I going to discuss my wedding with her! Does sshe think I'm going to wait almost three years till I'm twenty-one? Does !any one think that? Living with d silent, gliding ghost is bad enough- tBut when it has power to sraalu aaal pc, DC, ftween you and all you want~can want, you fthink how dreadful that is
 = ,"Fut YOU must wait''-I began with tthe patience it is so easy to presGrIoe .iri sher eyes scornfully over my face'
 s.I,> must wait. You sound just like srrleal with his everlasting idea that Swe must wait. If Neal loves me, why idoesn't he take me out Of my prison i've have only to cross the State DOT Eder and be marrleu ana Ihen ,.a5 Scan Virginia do? If some one had 4the courage to defy her, it might Rbring her to her senses and snow Jher Lshe isn't the queen of the world. II YNeal really cares TUT
 eff Neal only wanted you, dear" ssJ said very gravely, |he would take syou like this. You'd elope and be Edal-mongers' mouths. And there Srwould be a family feud and more fcheap notoriety because of that But gNeaI has adoration and respect ana $rvorshfp to add to merely wanting lvou. He's giving you big love for Eyour whole life, and that's worth srwaiting for He's eomRng- to the kyou royalty before all the world sIsn't that worth a little time and pa E;aience?'' ,,, ,.uS,,ng herself into my arms and sob fned like the poor little spoiled child she sometimes is. After Q minuLe kof comforting she strengthened back, ktook out her little vanity case and kwith a concluding sniff or two grave Ely powdered her nose and adjusted eher hat. e.I only wanted to hear you insist kthat Neal cares for me as much as l Edo for him. I can stand HTIng Ewith Virginia And having Sheldon sBlake snooping around if I'm sure SNea1 cares the way I do But l nave Ito be sure, and I lose courage to oe- lIieve now and then"
 .Phoebe, look >at me,'' com : kmanded, seizing her shoulders in my ftrwo hands. ''are you jealous? Are xyOu going to let the Sreen-eyeu uloA- sster get you? Don't For pItys sake, don't Of all the misery
 --"'Course I'm not jealous, said Phoebe. wriggling away and going to fsthe big French mirror to prinn a so1t- ssDo I look nice-nice enough to go down to Mrs. Cosby's for lunch ?'
 ..To Mrs. Cosby's?" I repeated duly NTo vaTs2''
 lYes wasn't it dear of her to ask
 me fo7'' Then at sight of my blank fsce stOh aren't you going? I'm So sorry. I hope you're not offended, Anne. suppose she has you so often she probably thought it was nicer not to have the family all together (To Be Continued.)
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