Evening star., 1922-02-05

there quite comfortably. not talking
at all. and presently Temple. rushing
out to bring me my coffee, was quite
stunned to see him. He was a ease.
though.
I've helped you so much" he sug-
gested, rather jocularly. I thought.
that you've certainly gained ten min
utes of leisure. Can't you sit down
here and drink your coffee-and may
be can have a cup, too?'
That seemed reasonable, so we sat
down quite !amicably and Temple
brought US toast and coffee and a lit
tie pot Of orange marmalade. Not
as much as he'd have had on his
breakfast tray. but it was my break
fast, and since he'd offered to share
it he might take what he could get.
We had rather nice little talk, too.
mostly about Japan. and I was star
tied when ! realized that our ten min
utes had become twenty. jumped up.
You must run along" I said. This
Is my busy day"
"Oh. I say" he exclaimed. Cant
I do anything more to help"
4*
T KNEW mother would rage, and Let
! tie, too, but he looked so provok-
ingly immaculate in his white fan
nels that I thought I'd take him at
his word. So I let him carry in the
flowers and place them as I directed,
and then there was some furniture to
be moved about, and then-well, I
don't know-I simply went into a
daze Of activity. There were so many
millions things to do, and one of
the extra maids we'd engaged for the
day didn't come. and the others were
stupid. and everything fell on Temple
and me. But. white fiannels or not,
DR.. Blaine was a good sport. He lift
ed and fetched and carried and helped
out wonderfully. Looking back, I
don't see what we'd have done with
out him.
Somehow, I don't know how. the
breakfast trays were sent up, the
place was got ready, the tables were
set-we were going to serve the we'd
ding breakfast q la buffet-the maids
were put into their proper uniforms
and caps and aprons, and Temple was
left to be their general. All this time,
of course. people had been coming
and going. presents arriving. and the
wedding bouquets, and the telephone
ringing-but kept every one upstairs
as much as possible. and, almost be-
fore knew it, it was time for me to
get into my bridesmaids dress and to
dress Edith and Mother. advised the
doctor to go look after Edgar, and he
left quite cheerfully.
II feel as II I'd almost personally
conducted this wedding" he said, as
he went of.
I had to grin at that-and I saved
it up to tell Temple, and make her
grin, too.
hadn't been a bit worried about
the wedding cake-so far-or about
anything. But there was one cousin of
Edgars. Miss Brenda Sparthwaite.
who presently began to get on my
AoA Soos e'A0S AAd1Ays Su0 lEoIu6u Iuo 81
that drove her out Of Lettie's room
and made her take her, fuss and feath-
ers elsewhere. She was one Of these
silly, giggling girls (and she wasn't
such girl, either; she must have
been thirty. all full Of bright chatter
and clever ideas that were about suit
ed to the mentality of a fve-year-old
child. She got dressed early and she
looked too absurd for anything in a
little tipped-down French hat and a
very. very youthful frock, all frills
and ribbons. And it was. "Oh. Lettie
dear. I'm sure the musicians have
come-what music are you going to
have them play hrst?" and "Oh, Let
tie, aren't you just too excited?" and
''Oh Lettie" this and "Oh Lettie" that,
until got wild. So I turned her out
and by dint of some concentrated ef-
fort ]. got Mother into her gray geor-
sette and Edith into her organdie and
noppy hat. and Lettie into her qoyely