The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-10
When 4 GirZ Mnrries
By ANN LISLE

mere mention of Dick West. That was enough to remind him of my father Dicks friend. He took on a look of sombree bitterness which changed to one of worship as his eyes rested on Phoebe's face.
 Under the circumstances" he ask ed-but in a tone which declared there was no answer-"what other
 girl in all the world would have mar ried me?"
 What other girl would you have | wished to marry?" demanded Phoebe | belligerently.
 Well, let's see," leased Neal 'There'S"
 Phoebe's hand went over his mouth. and she cried, in a voice whose daring | hid the memory of the ugly old scare | when we were all afraid that the chiv- l alrous young fool who was once Neal 1 would marry Evvy: l NO other girl got a chance. I | eloped with you!" she cried Her words brought back mem
 ory can't afford to revive just now It | was of that ugly moment when Vir-
 s1nia burst into my room at the hotel
 to demand that I should tell her ! where Phoebe was. Then I saw again
 the mounting scorn and fury which | ended in the words:
 | The Harrison ia mily has smashed | oe1ore my eyes. Do you expect me to be-grateful
 The night when news of Phoebe's elopement came to us had marked
 the end of what I felt could never | have been more than a pretence of | friendship between Virginia and me,
 1t had compelled me to stand under
 the lash of Virginia's scorn and try 10 placate her for Leale and Phoebe 1 Ana now l was facing the humiliatine
 need or forgetting all that and going
 humbly to the woman who had hurt
 me-and these dear kiddies-so cruel ly.
 For Jim's sake. for my own brides
 sake-and in its immediate develop
 Rosa Cordova know the truth was
 facing the need of seeking a recon
 cfliation with Virginia.
 A happy thought came to me- Per.
 maps the return of the bride and
 groom would make it all simple ant
 natural. Here they were in Pats of
 f1ce-perhaps he had arranged oul
 meeting with this very idea in view.
 found a moment to think this out II mental flashes while Neal was pro
 testing that Phoebe would have to sto1
 saying she'd eloped with him or he't get the marriage annulled and start al , over.
 You're my girl-you always were ? you witch. And if have any provin; 5 of that to do-Tm game," he shouted 'Is it that the nice Mister Pat ha , an how you call it-amateur theatri
 calls in his office?" asked a gay lfttl , voice.
 . I looked up and there facing us il . the doorway of the inner office stoo, Rosa Cord ova. Her mocking little fac
 was alight with mischief and interest l Before I could present Phoebe am Neal, she went on with a great shoy of delicacy:
 r Tt is maybe that I intrude Blu ] came through this way to show |: am one of the family if you woul, r call ftthat. And now to show I am good fellow, I run away. Yes?'' "Of course not" I laughed comin
 up from the depths of the big chai I which had hidden us This is m S brother, Neal HyIand, and with hir = we have his dear little bride, my hus
 bands sister. Mrs. Cordova-Mrs. lily 2 land and MT. Hyland" g Phoebe went forward to greet tn f woman she had heard me speak of s t recently. Neal and I followed owe n the threshold into the inner office An e then the door from the corridor be r yond opened and in walked Virginia 0 She stood staring at Phoebe wit r cold and hostile eyes a Without word she turned and tn l door closed after her. e Gro Be Continued)