The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-28
Chapters From a
Woman 5 Life
A SUCCESSFUL DINNER PARTY
By JANE PHELPS
Chapter 46.


Grace's dinner was simply perfect.
She had 8 at table, all congenial peo-
pie and light talk, repartee, flew and
scintiHated. The flowers were pale
yellow, as were place cards. and other
decorations. Her dining room was
mahogany and old blue, and the soft
yellow blended marvelously. Walter
didn't try to conceal his admiration.
and as an artist his enthusiasm af-
fected the others. The menu left moth
ing to be desired, neither did the swift.
noiselesS service. I smiled to myself
as L thought of my party for Mrs.
Page, when poor Jennie spilled the
salad. There would be no such unfor-
tunate occurrence here.
After dinner we had dancing. Har
ter'S home was fitted for large affairs,
and the rugs had been taken from the
placed in one corner. About twenty
more came in for the dance and we
had delightful time.
In pause saw Walter and George
Harter talking, and edged near, in
tending to tell Walter to save one
more dance for me. He danced SO
well it was a pleasure to dance with
him.
Grace put her foot down." Harter
was saying. THE women are all jeal-
Gus of that protegee of yours, Page"
'.Who is jealous and of whom ?"
asked gaily, knowing only too we'll
who they were talking Of
Never you mind! 1 never saw you
SO lovely, Doreen." Harter replied.
you are the belle of the ball to-
night
I asked Walter to save me a dance,
then moved away. What had Helen
Ralstrom done to them all? She was
lovely to look at yes, fairly intelligent.
But there were women there who to
my mind outshone her, several of
them. Were men SO susceptible to
physical loveliness that it meant more
than anything else to them?
I almost decided they were.
1t was 3 o'clock when we broke up.
As we rode home in the chill of the
early morning, Walter said:
Il was as proud as a peacock of
you tonight, Doreen. You were really
handsome. must help you with your
clothes. What you wear makes a
great difference in you"
Fine feathers make fine BIRDS" I
quoted.
Yes if the feathers are the right
color for the bird and are made right
Otherwise they DON'T
"Al right, hereafter you shall Select
the colorS 1 wear. Then III be a fine
Bird I laughed
I was happy that he felt proud of
me, that my appearance had pleased
him. However 1 knew him well enough
to know that it was the favorable
comments he had heard that had
made me seem even more attractive to
him. He was very impressionable. |
easily swayed in many ways. That
Harter and others had so candidly ad-
mired me ,flattered his vanity.
In the morning he retailed at great
length the hit 1 had made, and Mrs.
Page listened avidly. seeming de-
lighted that had made a success in
my new gown.
The paper gave a short paragraph
to the dinner in its social column,
mentioning the guests. but leaving out !
the names of those who attended the |
dance. 1 saw Walter frown as he read
1t.
He thinks Helen will blame him
for. not getting her an invitation. and |
SO will not be agreeable" I said to
myself.
I knew he could not paint whenl
anything annoyed him. That Helen |
also knew this and had used the |
knowledge to make him do as she !
wished was aware. Perhaps she /
would insist he take her in the coun- |
try again, or something to keep him /
with her because she had been |
she would be sure to |
think-and say.
But someway 7 didn't care as much |
as usual. His praise of me, his moth |
er's pleasure. had left the glow that |
always followed any esl ecial kindness. |
He surprised me by coming in to
"Helen's sick-or so she teIe-
he said in answer to my |
questions. Il expect she saw that |
paragraph about Grace's dinner and
wouldn't como because of it,
You don't mean that a working
girl. "a model. would expect to be in
vited in the first place and, if she did.
would remain away from work for
which she is paid on that account?"
Mrs. Page, who had not heard our
conversation regarding Grace omit I
ting Helen asked
"Oh, she's temperamentaI! 1 knew
she would be hurt Walter replied.
NOW because of Grace's nonsense I |
have to miss a whole day!" He
blamed Grace, not Helen.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ary7 r---aof