The Washington times., 1921-03-30
5BIRTI1RIGHT
"A Fascinating Romance of Society In Which
Poor Rich Girl Sponsors
Ia Rich Poor Girl

absence in Europe.
They won't dare" said Janet's
mother.
"They know everything. Aunt
Lou. For instance. they know that
Roberta Throckmorton gave a din
ner when it was informally an
nounced, and the girls gave Janet
cups''-
''It was nothing of the sort--it
shall all be denied" Mrs. Page
said monotonously. "If Anthony
has to bring a libel suit they shall
not have it,"
"For Heavens sake, Aunt Lou,
don't talk of libel suits! Why. sup
pose they put any one OF the girls
on the stand, in a counter suit?
Suppose they cross examined LEM"
Let them try it," Mrs Page said.
her head high, her nostrils dilated
and her tone proudly confident.
But a second later she collapsed.
"Pat," she said wretchedly, this is
awful. Anthony will be simply sick
over it. How did it get out?"
IN THE AIR.
How does anything get out? 1t
was simply in the air, that's all.
They get everything"
Mrs. Page bit her lip, stared into
space, her brow troubled. 1T will
ruin my little girls life." she said.
pathetically, half aloud; both of
them so young, so happy in this
new happiness" Patricia, who
realized perfectly that young Leon
ard Thayer was the financial catch
of the city, could have laughed
aloud. But she preserved her
anxious and sympathetic express
sion.
1.-THE one thing we could do" she
began slowly.
what? What is it?'
"Why, ! know a mani"
"The editor, OF course. why
didn't we think OF bribing him.
They'll all hold anything back IL
they're properly approached"
mo, I wasn't thinking OF that"
Patricia interrupted. II don't know
who he is."
"Who does Them" the other,
woman asked, impatiently.
"Mr. Palmer - Daniel Palmer.
does. He happened to mention to
me that this man spoke OF the en-
gagement and I said that I was
sure you and Anthony"
Heavens, yes! You were quite
right. You must find out at once
who he is and talk to him, II get
the Palmer boy TO talk to him, IL
he has influence with him. You'll
do that for Janet, won't you. Pat?
she simply adores you, you know;
it's Cousin Pat this, and Cousin
Pat that, all the time! See him
now. won't you? Explain IT all to
him."
Lou, how can 1 ask him?'
How can you ask him! Why,
I'll ask him! ! should think that
working there as you do"
But the awkward thing is,"
Patricia interrupted, "this--this
Entire Nous matter!'
do you mean to tell me-" Mrs
Page asked hotly, that that fellow
has had the impudence to bargain
with you-"
"My dear Lou" Patricia assured
her. with equal heat. "he hasn't the
faintest idea of any such sugges-
tion! But If you tink that I have
so little pride that ! can go to him,
and ask him to protect my cousins
name, while that same cousins
mother refuses his sister-whom
he adores-" She stopped, with
an eloquent shrug. There was
dead silence.
"I'd do it IL / could. but / can't"
Mrs. Page said mournfully. after
while, in a pathetic tone. "rd just
as soon have the girl. as far as
am concerned"
Another silence. then Patricia
said philosophically: after all.
they are engaged. Len and Janet!
And l don't see them breaking the
engagement just because it's been
prematurely announced"
Len, no." Mrs. Page admitted,
panic-struck once more. But what
ever we do, wen have to stop the
announcement; that's all. Mrs.
Thayer's only sixty after, all, and
while she lives. Len" She rose
to her feet. "Oh, fools that we
were ever to let the childyen men
tion it.' she exclaimed passion
ately.
WORSE AND WORSE.
"well, I can't ask Dan Palmer
to do me a favor under the cir
cumstances." said Patricia firmly.
He mightn't do 1t, IL you did,"
her aunt suggested despairingly.
"Oh, yes he will! He'll stop it.
Lou. absolutely. You need have
no fear of that" the girl answered.
"Well, IL he will do that" her
aunt began with sudden eagerness,
then you can tell him that you've
spoken to me about the dance and
that the list is closed, positively.
That's true, too. 1 have too many
girls now! You heard me say
that, Pat. And Ill tell you what
I'll do" added the matron gen.
erously. "I'll send her a guest
card to the last dance; I can do
that. I'll promise you that. Pat"
Patricia sighed and shook her
head. In a frightened end excited
sort of way. she was immensely
enjoying herself You're awfully
sweet, Lou, and I do appreciate
It," she said pleasantly, but my
position in that house ia such
that I-well, can't explain it,
exactly"-
ITS so utterly absurd of her to
want to belong" Mrs. Page said
fretfuly, after a some what lengthy
pause.
'I'll promise you that it's man
aged nicely, and she dances beau
sifully," Patricia suggested mildly.
For answer her aunt drew to-
ward her tho large sfatinpnr's hav