The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-09-05


 You weren't bitter, Phoebe" pro- tested You didn't condemn me You ust thought Ir failed you. So you came generously to me and ask ed me to be square with you and your ideal of me. You pointed the way to what you felt it would be unwo--hy of not to do. And I was ht - I'll make up for that, though
 Hush It's all made up for. You did stand up for me. That's all I wanted. You were loyal Virginia isn't. I don't mind losing her so much since I have you. And you need her friendship, with Jim so far away. and everything-'
 Phoebe's voice trailed off. But [ knew she hadn't finished. I didn't interrupt. I merely sat passive, wait ing for her to determine what she wished to say next. After a moment she took up the thread with so much of steadiness and calmness that it l seemed as if a woman of twice her years must be speaking.
 Its like this, Babbsie. You must give me a promise nat to take ad- | vantage of my misund erstanding ev- 1 erything. I'd feel cheapened and | humiliated if you tried a second time to make my own sister act like hu- man being where I'm concerned and | she wouldn't. I'd hate her then. I'd | risons have such trouble conquering when once we let it get a grip on us.'
 Aren't you being proud now7" I l demanded.
 ] Perhaps But I've 6 right to- since you interceded for me once and got put out of Vfrginia's life for your pains. I don't know how you came to make up. But can guess And you need to stay made up. So with con1on sense and efficiency saying | that you can't afford to quarrel with Virginia, I won't let you take a risk which would cost you so much If you 1ost.''
 "I'H chance it, insisted-"and I won't lose"
 l "Oh, but you might! And if knew you were trying to get Virginia. to come to me and that you'd failed then I'd get stubborn. I'd never for give her; can be certain of that. It wouldn't be Harrison-or me-to turn both cheeks and after they'dd both been soundly slapped, to offer my chin for another blow. Oh, no! I'd be through. So it would be silly to risk it on the off chance that Jeanie has | thought peter of things"
 Perhaps it wou1d,'' agreed.
 'I know it would. So never refer to it again. Babbsie-after you've giv- I not make a move in my game"
 "1 can't let you tie my hands," protested.
 Your word of honor-or mine tha. I'll not SC you again. insisted little I Phoebe, grin1Iy.
 "I give you my word of honor" I said with something of annoyance. be- cause there didn't seem to be any way out.
 That's right. The subject Is about to close. But there's this I must \ tell you, Anne: Never, never, as long as I live. will I make the first move toward making you spoke for me once and were badly treated for your daring, I'm going to take a stand. Virginia must come to me I was melting. I'm frozen again."
 Maybe you'll melt again." I said hopefully.
 'Nevert" Phoebe exclaimer. .<Now you can listen to me taking a VOW. If Virginia Dalton wants me, she'll come and say so. If she doesn't, I l guess I can manage to get through the rest of my life without her." | Phoebe was all Harrison when she said this. I had no way of inf1uenc- ing her. She had travelled a long way from the tender mood in which she came to meet me. I wondered how much of it was my fault l CHAPTER 677
 Lunching with Phoebe cost me two precious hours. They wouldn't have seemed so sadly wasted if they hadn't served to harden Phoebe's heart against Virginia But the conscious ness that I'd been cut out of Virgin ia's scheme of things for trying to reconcile her to Phoebe's marriage seemed to chystallize Phoebe's attf- tude toward her sister l The two hours which had done Phoebe so little good served me iIl They delayed me so I was not ready l to start for Dreamwold when Pat called for me at 3. He sent up word l have the car come back for me at 6 | that he'd drive out to the house and So I worked away all afternoon in a mood of deep gratitude for Pats 1 thoughtfu1ness. The mood melted like ice in a February t1aw when I ran gai1y down to embark in the car at and found Rosa Cordova tucked away in corner waiting for me.
 'I am again SUIT ~ise-not?" she called, with flicker of impishness on her face. Her tone recalled the last | time she had been "surprise'' when I | found her in the summer house at midnight.
 "A pleasant one" I managed, with elaborate courtsy.
 | NO one likes to make the drive of over an hour alone" replied Rosa. She had an air of accepting my en- thusiasm with mental reservations Then she went on with serene imper- | thence: 50 any company is better than none? verdad?"
 NO, that isn't the truth" I said as we rode along. with the prickly feel ing under my collar which Rosa, eith- CT deliberately or enerely by force of being herself, produces on me. l Sometimes the thoughts by your self are better than a. companion which does not think the way 1t is congenial,' laughed Rose
 She accented her difficulties with English in the fashion she was when she thinks the contrast between her and the persons to whom she is talk