The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-10-02
When A Girl
 Marries
By ANNE LESLIE

When two women start the evening off like this. it's bound to be-pleas- ant" I laughed.
 Then we went out to join the men. Park had elected himself master of ceremonies. As he bowed to Miss May and offered her his arm with a
 Hourishing gesture to indicate that MT RockhiM could take me in. Max Hoadley stepped forward and placed himself on the other side of Miss May. By right of being the oldest person present." he said with just a suspicion of the usual croak in his voice. "I claim the honor of a place next to the heroine of the evening"
 This left Ralph Lacy to sit on my left when we found ourselves at table in corner of the baEconied room. T. received a queer impression that he did not wish to sit next to me. And l was again all at sea concerning the remarkable mental processes in which men folks sometimes indulge.
 The table was a glitter of exquisite damask, shining silver and glassware, with the soft glaze of fine white and gold china. and of perfect appoint m ents. At my place lay a corsage of orchids in mauye tied with a ribbon of deep pink. At Miss Mays place were exquisite soft yellow sweetheart roses with one marvellous deep req jacque-minot in their midst. Looking down at her flowers she sat for a mo- ment absolutely still. Then she rais- ed her eyes, which had darkened a1- most to black.
 sweetheart roses" she whispered. I've seen them in florist shops But I never thought to have any given me-"
 Blush now. Rafe, my old pirate of heasts!" laughed Park, while Mir. RockhiH murmured to me with an automatically courteous air:
 Really very charming. And that arrangement of orchids suits you per- fectly. You're quite grande dame, Mrs. Harrison. Astonishing in & mere girl. Family does telL''
 It really does." I murmured with a feeling of rougishness as glanced from him to his uncle, Max Hoadley.
 The dinner proceeded with a. fav- ishness that never ove-stepped good taste. Nothing which could delight Miss May had been forgotten. Moth ing that could mark her out for honor was neglected throughout the feast. Park and Ralph Lacy vie with each other in making it evident that 1t was all a. tribute 10 her.
 When we had arrived at our den1i- tasses, Park leaned forward ana quietly said:
 "Mr. Rockhi1l has a statement to make"
 Then with Park and Ralph Lacy eyeing him as if to give him his cue if he turned out not to be Ietter-per- feet in his part, MT. Rockhi1l an- nounced:
 "Our dinner. as we all know, is to celebrate a business coup. We are honoring the lady who made the as- tn ojch deal she put through. So it's par ticularly the dinner of Wayne Parkin- son. 3rd. and your humble servant H. Rockhfll. Ours because we are announcing that tomorrow we join forces in the Yelda Importing Com pany. We fell that this partnership is starting off sp1endidly, and we want to tell the world that Miss May Is the fai -god-mother of the new organi- zation."
 He sat back comp1aoently looking back from one to the other of the men. They had an air Of breathing freely and of saying: ''Bravo!" and Well done"
 Miss May seemed frozen to her chair. Suddenly she flung. out her hands in a wistfu1 gesture.
 You're all sweet" she said - Taking an oficious old woman-s-
  of it. I was going to saddle Park with manufacturing business for which he isn't suited. had an ab- 'urd and crazy idea. No one tells ne how-sfl1y ana off1cious 1t was ou just make me out a heroine in- itead of a-goose.'
 None of us stirred for a moment Miss Mays eyes were wide, her lips rembling as she protested:
 This is beautiful. You're all won lerful. But don't deserve it,
 Then Max Hoadley leaped to his eet. Again he had distinction and authority. He spoke in a voice that lad clear ring:
 T rise to do honor to the little ady who made all this possible ise to thank her for saving me my business and finding my nephew his partner. To the best business woman n New York-bar none. To Susanna Iay.'
 His eyes found mine. I smiled in misty wonder. Was this Max Hoad- ey's way of assuring me I could safe y accept his friendship now?
 CHAPTER 697.
 When Max HoadIey rose to declare hat Susanna May was the best bus ness woman in all New York, I had a aofI IoI -% 41r