Evening star., 1922-04-09

You poor dear" said Alice. ~
should think you would be. Eut
wha. does Dudley say about it:"
Il haven't said word to him about
it," wept Kitty. Il ca-can't. When
ever 1 try, l simply choke up and
can't say a word. / know If i did ask
him about it he'd tell me some story
or other, for he tries to pretend that
he comes from the office every even
ing. He slips down there and changes
his clothes. I suppose-or maybe
changes them out at the club, and
then he comes in with a law book or
bundle OF papers. and he pretends
to be so kind and interested and just
as-usual that l can't somehow say a
word"
Alice's mind strove to hnd a fitting
solution. II suspect" she began bril-
liantly. that it's all Caroline Man
sons fault. You know how she is
she'd ask the rector to stand on his
head II it suited her whim. and she's
probably seized on Dudley to play
golf with Mrs. Kilmartin because he's
so awfully good at it. Think Of all
the cups he's won"
But why doesn't he tell me them"
persisted Kitty. Hes always been SO
good-and so kind-why. Alice. before
this I'd have sworn that ne never
had a secret from me. No. he's just
tired of his stupid. stay-at-home wife.
and that woman's SO good looking and
so fascinating-he-he' grown to
care for her." And she began to cry
again.
IF that's the case" said Alice. in
what to do. I've seen it in stories a
hundred times-you've got to fix
yourself up. and get some really
smart dresses. and fight her with her
own weapons. If she uses fascination.
be more fascinating. II she dresses
wells you must outdross her. You
must simply wis poor Dudley back
without letting him know what you
are doing. Oh, Kitty, don't you re-
member that story of kipling's-
about Mrs. Hauksbee and Mrs. Gu
sack-Bremmil? I suppose suppose
beside being well dressed and fasci-
mating. you really ought to let Dudley
see that you are still attractive to
other men. It's always done in the
stories"
KITTY was now listening with
wideeyed credulity. But. Alice"
she protested at this point. ryou don't
10 V<
seems dreadful-married and with baby
even TO think Of
"If Dudley can do it. it seems to me
you can," said Alice. presenting her
case purely on its merits. Hes mar
~ied. and baby's as much his as yours.
isn't he:"
Yes assented Kitty. Yes. Of
course But STILL
well" went on Alice, 'if you don't
You say you won't talk to Dud about 1t.
Are you going to sit by and let this
woman simply carry him of from you
without struggle""
"N-no," said Kitty, 'T don't want to
do that. But. anyway. I haven't any
new clothes and l can't afford any.
We've been awfully hard up ever since
baby came. He was such an expensive
luxury. The doctor isn't paid yet. Still.
I daresay 1 could fix up some of my old
frocks"
That's the idea" said Alice, and
make them startling. so that every one
will notice them Cut the sleeves out
of your evening dresses, and-have you
got any conspicuous colored things"
Kitty shook her head. I never wear
anything but pinks and blues and
white" she said.
"Then you'd better dye some of them
said Alice. rAnd-oh, kits,-I've got a
lot of things I haven't worn this sum-
mer; I had no use for them at that
fresh-air camp and some Of them are
awfully extreme and-gay. No one in
Greenfields has seen them. and I'd love
to lend them to you. 1 have a rose
color taffeta that is-honestly, I would
not wear it in Greenfelds myself. but it
will be just the thing for your purpose.
And I've white voile with big. queer
colored flowers embroidered on 1t In
wool-it was q French model. And
there's an evening dress-emerald green.
nine inches off the floor. You put that
Club dance. You'll simply take Dudley
Off his feet and throw that Kilmarten
woman completely in the shade. You
must take them, Kitty-rd take them
from you if the conditions were re-
versed.'
IF you put it that way" said Kitty.
gratefully, II will take them and
thank you. You're the most gener-
GUS, kind-hearted girl. Alice. And so
clever-nobody but you would ever
have been able to tell me what to do.
And 1 couldn't have stood it to have
any one else know how hurt and hu-
inflated 1 am about Dudley"
I'll never tell q soul as long as
live" said Alice. Not even mothec.
But there's one thing we're neglect
ing, Kits, that is, to pick out some
one that's safe for you 70 f,irt with.
1 wonder-what about Ray Lowrie?"
II never liked him." said Kitty.
mournfully. but he'll do. 1 suppose"
Il think he'd do awfully WELL" said
Alice. He's so sore over being Tilted
by Amy that he'd welcome q little
kind attention. You know, Kits, ]
read a book once where this very
same situation was worked out in
this way perfectly" She did not
tell Kitty the name Of the book-for
one thing. she felt some doubt as to
the correct way to pronounce the
authors name-(he was a Russian).