The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-10-17
When 4 Girl
 Murries
By ANN LESLIE

CHAPTER CCCLXXxvII.
 "JimI' I cried. -Oh,- Jimmie Boyl How can you say that you've got your tag? Indeed you are a good pro- wider, but far more than that, you
 was talking to an empty doorway, for, with an impotence which long had been foreign to Jim's dealings with me. he had slipped out of the room. I stared at the place where he had been. Then I sprang to my feet-but stopped.
 In other days-those days in the early months of our marriage when the sweetness of our honeymoon had been replaced by a, terrible period of frequent unhappineSs-I would have rushed after Jim, demanding and peladiny; or I would have shrunk back cold, choked with tears, eyes br1mming with unhappiness, waiting for him to explain his actions and seek forgiveness. But now it is diff ferent.
 The months that have brought me lgreater boise have also brought a greater measure of understanding. As calmly as I was able I sank into. my chair and returned to my dinner. But the hand with which I lifted the spoon was far from steady-and then I realized that both spoon and soup plate were empty.
 I laid the spoon down with an un- | comfortable feeling that Hedwig was
 
 the room silently. Before I spoke to her I wondered just how much of what Jim had said had she over heard. When my eyes sought her of his angry words-enough to make | her eyes burn with anger-enough for her to be formulating some words, feared of sympathy, to speak to me. I couldn't stand her gaze, nor could I permit her to speak. I sough' refuge in coldness.
 Please clear the soup away. And ask Angy to heat 1t again. MT. liar rison has returned. and as soon as he is ready I will ring and you may serve dinner for us."
 T understand. ma'am," was all Hedw1g said, but had an uncom- words to imply more than under standing of a simple order. It was with the sensation of one | who retreats from what will be de- feat if he remains, that I fed from the dining room into the living room. But there I stopped. For the life of me I couldn't go on into Jim's room, nor into mine with the bathroom be- tween us. where knew as though l saw through the walls. that he was preparing for dinner. And so I sank upon the couch close by the living room door.
 Just what had caused this unex- pected outbreak of Jdm's I did not | know, could not guess. That his | coldly accusing words, his violent manner, his utter disregard of my | feelings before the maids, was for eign to the sweetness with which he had recently treated me, I well knew And 1t hurt. But there was Some- | thing that troubled me at that mo- | ment even more.
 This was Virginia's insistence that l Phoebe and Neal should be married | at once, and not wait for Father An drew's return as they had promised Had Phoebe gotten in touch with Jim? Had she 'fbeaten him to it'' by | telephoning Jim and urging him to | her way of thinking before I could reach him. If she had-if Jim had consented then I must instantly get in touch with Father Andrew though just how I did not know. What are you sulking in the room for, anyway" Jim's voice shattered my thoughts and swept me to my feet with angry protest upon my lips. | But I caught myself in time. The | light which slanted from the dining | room upon Jim's face showed 1t as gray as when he had flung into the | dining room, had reproached me SC | hercely and then had swept out with out waiting for me to finish my reply. Something was troubling Jim deeply "Jim, dear," I said as calmly as ] could speak. Is there something you haven't told me-, something that troubles you, something I want to | know right away?"
 The hand I had laid on his arm Jim permitted to remain. From this took comfort. But his voice it was no less violent than before, although its tntonattons were softer, as he re- | piled: | Plenty of time to talk after din. ner. But whats worrying you? You 1 can't tell me there isn't something There is something," I said. "Did Phoebe get you on the telephone after | you phoned me?''
 1 t'No."
 Then" my words rushed headlons I now. "You don't know that Virginia l is urging Phoebe to marry Neal al 1 once trying-and I fear succeeding | into frightening her into the marriage before Father Andrew comes back'' | Well, why shouldn't they get mar. ried ?' Jim burst out. "Oh, of course I understand. We went over all thai | before. You're right, dear, Phoebe and Neal must wait until Father An. drew returns. There is such a thfne as the sacredness of a promise - it.: | the foundation of honor"
 1 Even In the rush of gladness tT1at
 Jim was stanch1y standing by me =
 that by Phoebe's promise to me sht
 must now keep her word to Father | Andrew-I sensed the inpressio o1
 Jtm'S voice carried. To him this wa.
 but a trihing matter.
 By the way, Anne" Jim went o1
 without waiting for me to reply "I'v,
 just discharged Lyons. No''-he pu
 up a hand to forestaII my amaze,
 question: didn't catch him selIinj the tires off the car. I've sold tn
 car."