The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-04-05
CHAPTER CCXLIV.

tor car was sufficient to make Jim and me decide to buy it. We were promised delivery in month. Next we went over to arrange for me 10 take a daily lesson in driving.
 Then I began to realize that the Barbara Anne Lee who had once worked hard for enough to support her in boarding houses and ready made blue serges had passed out or existence. In her place was Anne Harrison, who bought her clothes at Wickhams, had two servants ana drove her own car l enjoyed being the Harrison lady who had luxury and love.
 When we got home from making our purchase and celebrating II by a dinner in keeping with our gay extravaganza, we found Neal waiting for us:
 'Evvy'e sick" he began without to do I've been waiting here for an hour or so. She won't see a. doctor.
 '"Then she's probably not very
 sick" I replied wondering guiltily if should have thought of Evyy dur ing my happy evening with Jim. T can't figure out what to do," repeated Neal looking pleadingly at When she says she doesn't want a doctor, her folks give right in Do you think I ought. to ring up Dr. kel- logs and risk her slamming the door ln flS facs
 "I wonder'-began Jim turning to look at me with a flash in his eyes l that communicated itself to me. Was
 Evvy shamming sick to get out Of having Val Cosby pour at her tea? We understood each other. put
 neither of us said a word of our tbouehts to Neal His attitude to- ward Evvy was so protecting and chivairous that Jim and ! were 1n ac- l cord about being very chivalrous. too, 1 i, our dealings with Neal Jim l couldn't say much concerning the l girl who had once loved him and who
 was now engaged to Neal And as 1 the wife of one and the sister of the other, I began to see that my hands
 were tied too. But I didn't care why | the reception was called off 1T only l Phoebe could be saved from the un- | hacuriness and humiliation it must cause here. I By the next day things were out 1 of Evvy's hands. She was so Ill that the firnorous mother sent for a doctor | in spite of all Evvy could say or do, 1 ard within a few hours a trained nurse wasestablished at Evvy's bed i side and rum ors of influenza came 10 1 For a week .Evvy saw no one. l Night after night Neal came to din ner with us and sat staring at his plate of untasted food. l began 10 wonder if he cared-or If, like me- l he was fighting cruel and inhuman
  l problems were going to be solved Tn 1 the higher court I forced myself to pray over and over again that EVvy
 would get well, because I knew in my | heart of hearts that l was having a hard time to want her to.
 l On the day after the date set for 1 the reception, which had worried me so, Evvy sent for me. She lay 1T 1 found my heart going out to her IT
 pity. Her first words, however
 hauled me up short: -a,, orr .. my tea, did I?'' she asked feverishly 1T thought I'd have to give In tt Jiunie. He's always been able te twist me around his little finger ane | get me to do what he wanted Per haps even when-I tilted him. bu this time Fate interfered in my be T half Looks like an oEnen-as If
 were going to get the upper hand o
 our Jimmie now"
 She smiled 1azily, fixing her blut
 eyes on me with an expression tha nuzZted me. wondered if she were
 feyerish, or if there really was pas sion and hate and an ugly desire fo revenge in the air
 aren.f 1fure yeu Amer @ }s1tS9 E1Vy went ee oi brushing aside my attempts to sa. a few words of sympathy. T cal
 remember when you were afraid tha
 Jimmie's old fondness for me sur , 1 VlVed. But we Cdn DUH SSS lAdl III is more fascinated by Val Cosby thai by either of us now And as I'm go 1 ing to be your sister-in-law and t. find complete happiness in the arm
 of your ardent young brother, yo' know you need never be jealous o ' me again but that you can count ol
 me to help you fight Val"
 s'Evvy!'' 1 cried embarrassed an' annoyed by every word she sai' , about herself, but finding myself un touched by her awkward attempts t : make me distrust Jim. 'tFm afrai ! you're feverish-or will be if you g on like this. I'll call the nurse o
 your mother" 5 Evvy laughed. There nnalic and scorn in her laugh, but when sh s spoke, her husky voice seemed almos
 to caress me
 f Don't worry about ne-sistel f dear. I got a wonderful rest her l in bed. You know I've decided it silly to wait till Winter to be married think we'll go out and open Maso = Towers for the summer as soon a
 Pm a bit stronger, say in about thre
 weeks, and right after that we'll b married. It's cruel to keep Nea r waiting. Yes. I'll let the dear, Jim l patient boy have his way and tonigh
 l I'll tell him we'll set the day for