The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-25
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANNE LIsLE.

i didn't try to control. "Oh. please, 1 please promise me that you won't be :! the one to tell Jim of my poor old | prodiga1 father! Let's drop pretence. I There's nothing in the hour or the | mood it brings to make pretence 1 possible between Let's be abso- I lutely frank and talk this out. Will | your"
 And then what?" asked Rosa, sir- 1 ting stiff and unrelaxed. 1 Wont you sit here?" I said, pat I ting big chaise tongue soft with s--.- 1 lows.
 To my astonish1nent Rosa oh,-ryed. She came to the big chaise tongue and flung herself down on it in an exotic posture which revealed every perfect curve of her tiny figure. Her red robe parted revealing bare feet tucked into little scarlet mules. She permitted one to trail ind dOlentIy toward the floor. Tossing back her cloudy black hair she peered at me certly, cha1lengingly. Her changes made her seem a quicksilver lady. I didn't know how to get my hands on anything definite to her elusive personality. but I felt impeHed to try.
 T suggested being frank" I went on taking up the thread of my dis course again. And for me that leads up to what no revelation to woman clever as you. We've gone into this before, but not deeply enough. It's a question of the Harri- son pride You've g1impsed it again and again. Tonight when Pat spoke of Jeanie's democratic spirit in con- nection with her admiraton for our self-made guest, he was sarcastic right to the limit of strain that can be put on language. Remember the Harrison pride! Mrs. Cordova-how would you like to present man like my poor old Dad to Jim Harrison and say, Dear, this is the father you've never dreamed I possessed ?'' 'I would not like it 50 very we'll. But I could not have such a father. I am-how you say-blue blood like Jamie. We have that also in com mon."
 Rosa threw back her head and laughed mockingly. I knew that I had not touched her at all. But she went on to demonstrate in words the truth of my guess:
 Maybe it is because you cannot be expect to confess to Jamie that you had this father and kept him always in the background, that I am going to be good friend and break for you the news.'
 ''But that's just what beg of you not to do-''
 You beg me not to intercede for you?" demanded Rosa.
 ITO intercede?" I began on a note of scorn, but I caught myself back from the pitfall I was digging and went on equably:
 You're sweet to want to save me from confession. But to confess to the man I love won't be such a very hard task. You see there's nothing for him to forgive. I knew no more of Dad Lees existence than Jim him self did until Dick West brought him back into my Ife.''
 Did Dick West bring him back from his-hiding place?" demanded Rosa smoothly.
 felt that nothing but the truth would do.
 "No but it was Dick who gave Dad Lee his first ink1ing that his long-lost daughter was still alive. And it the man Jim and I have always thought of my father by every right of love, who went to bring Dad Lee tO-uS."
 Rosa flung back her head, and peal after peal of laughter rang out. It sounded fairly diabo1ical there in the hush of midnight. My room, despite it's gay chintz, preserved the walnut and marble atmosphere of a place fairly steeped in Harrison traditions. Dad Lee and all thought of Dad Lee was an intrusion, an anachronism. Rosa's laughter was a sacrilege. AS you Americanos say-tell it to the marines that you did not know you had a father. Maybe you think you are like Topsy and-how the book says-just growed. You had a father. Now he comes and plays the game with Senor West. I shall defeat them-me. Rosa Cordova. And then I shall take Jaime. That is my right
 t'So you claim the right" I nnur- mured, aghast.
 All gamin now. Rosa. tilted back her head and slanted her long eyes at me as she chirped out:
 You should not care how Jaime takes this. You have an admirer who is also-from the people. Ralph Lacy will not care -"
 Ralph Lecy!' I cried in astonish- ment. That's perfectly absurdi Why mention MT. LaN? What has he to To with my poor old father? There is only one man in my life-only one for whom I care or will ever care - Jim.''
 Rosa got to her feet and stumbled across the room with the air of a sleepy child. In the. doorway she turned and over a white shoulder she flung:
 You care for Jafme,' she yawned. But that is obvious. You care for Jaime. But Ralph Lecy-cares for you. Ralph Lacy adores you"
 But with an insolent little laugh she slipped out, closing the door after her.
 CHAPTER 692 .
 The door closed after Rosa Cor dova with a sharp click. I stood star ing at 1t without consciously fixing my eyes on the barrier of dark, old wood. My brush stopped in midstroke After a raa1izoJ