The Washington herald., 1921-04-03
Twas a Painful Duty She
Had to Perform, but
She Did Her Best.
IN

F" hammock on the wide veranda of
Ava of the Capen camp. on the Maine
coast. and surveyed with satisfaction the
awestruck faces OF two girl frinds. The
two girl friends were not merely awed.
They were thrilled. They revealed by
this an absorption in Miss Darts narra-
tive which made them draw their va
randa chairs closer and closer as she
talked. till the usefulness of her ham
mock became seriously impaired. With
deep solemnity Arabelia produced her eli
max
-At last Fred saw that meant what I
was saying. so he left. In the moment
when i watched him walk down the gar
den path to the front gate 1 rooted him
from my heart"
-O-h-h,' breathed the listeners.
1T gave me queer. icy sort of feeling
to do it." the raconteur admitted. "and
perhaps you won't believe what I'm say
ing. But in that moment. girls: the
strangest change came over me. It made
everything seem different. and for q little
while couldn't understand what it
meant. Then, during the afternoon. Jack
Brandon called. had Always liked Jack.
but suddenly / discovered that i hated
him! In the evening viii Beasley and
Henry Martin came in. / had liked
them. too. Now hated themr'
Arabella paused. Her friends sat
speechless., The magnitude of the conf
dence was too overpowering for words.
1T took me days and days to discover
that when my love for Fred died" Ara
bella finally resumed in low. sad tones,
something else had taken its place
hard, cold. bitter dislike of men-of all
men-of every man. 1 simply loathed
Her friends gave to this impassioned
peroration the tribute of another moment
of silence. Then Anne Capen, daughter
of the camp and hostess Of the other two,
resolutely threw of the sensation of con-
viction that. to her surprise, had settled
upon her during Arabella's recital.
Il never listened to such ponsense in
my life" she said briskly. But, thank
goodness. Arabella, it won't last a month.
You're hurt-that's all there is to it
and you're letting of steam But l won't
believe you really mean . word you say"
Arsbella looked at her forgivingly.
1T has lasted three months" she cor
rected. "An through the finish OF my
Red Cross work. And you know Row
many delightful men one meets in that!
And the feeling is growing stronger all
the time. You needn't believe it If you
don't want to. You see." she added, with
the candor of true friendship, "it doesn't
make particle of difference to any one
whether you believe 1t or not But I'm
going to ask you q favor-or. rather"
she corrected. I'm going to make q con-
dition. You must leave me out of your
mixed parties. Don't ask me to have
anything to do with your brother Frank
and his chum."
"But-good heavens, Arabella- gasped
the dismayed hostess.
Il came up here to loaf and invite my
SOUL" continued the exacting guest. II
simply won't have anything to do with
. men. can't be civil to them, and I've
stopped trying. But it needn't embarrass
you," she kindly added. You and Mary
and Frank and his chum will get along
beautifully without me. Who is here
with Frank now, by the way?"
Bob Hendrick." Anne spoke from an
abyss Of gloom.
Then I'd be one too many, anyway
You won't be anything of the sort"
groaned Anne Capen. That's lust the
trouble Frank sent an invitation to a
new friend of his. Richard Larkin. with
out saying anything to mother or rae
about II, and he will get here on this
mornings boat. He'll be a stranger to
everyone but Frank. and 1 was counting
on you to help US make 1t pleasant for
him." she almost walled
Arabella's soft lips set suddenly, in .
line which was familiar to her intimates.
and her face hardened. To change Ara
bella's decision after such an arrange
ment of her features had taken place
was task no discriminating person
would attempt Before it. now, Anne
Capen's mouth and shoulders dropped in
acce pied failure
I'm sure I don't know what we'll do"
she muttered.
Il can go home" Arabella made the
suggestion with calm decision,
Nonsense. When you've just come
and you need the change, you poor dar-
ling! No. we'll make the best of it. The
boys will be off by themselves a good
deal. fishing and sailing. and we three
will flock together-unless you've learned
TO loathe girls, too" she ended suspic-
iously.
Arabella laughed. and the laugh ban
ished the new hard lines of her charm
ing face, restoring, as by a miracle, its
exquisite dimples and soft curves.
NO" she said. 81 haven't turned
against friendship. yet. When 1 do
I'll let you know. In the meantime
I'm going to be nicer than ever to my
friends. SO they'll forgive me IL I'm queer
and rude to their bfothers and their
brothers pals"
She twinkled at Anne, and Anne twin
killed. back at her. but a certain shadow
fingered on her austere brow.
Just the same" she murmured, its
going to be queer and-and different"
Not unless you make 1t so." Arabella
pointed out Just tell the boys tact
fully and frankly that l hate them, and
they'll keep out of my way"
And Incidentally, out of ours" spg-
gested Mary Howard. It was Marys first
contribution to the conversation. but it
was . pregnant one. Under the shock
of its obvious truth the other two SAT-