Evening star., 1922-01-16
"a Friend Of Mine Told q Friend
of Hers"

when meeting over the tea
tray. The two girls were cousins. but
prior to Cecily's present enforced
visit they had never been especially
confidential with each other. They
had Just been through q serious acci-
dent together. 1t had been Cecily's
quick action that had saved Mer-
RAMS life. They were really much
impressed with each others cour-
age.
An absurd situation had grown out
Of the tragic one. Together they
were awaiting the widow of the man
who had been killed in the accident
Both cordially hated her.
/ Cecily, her arm in sling. moved
restlessly up and down the room.
bad lot, Leir is." she decided. IT
| used to think she had her good
points, but mostly she's a bad actor" F."
tumbled against the heap of. cushions
Susan Sue had stacked about her sofa.
shook her head.
you ought not to say that. Cissie.
you and Leil' have trotted around
heaps together. / always thought
you were the best OF friends: ends ..
naive. II doped 1t out years ago that
couldn't afford to have a girl like
Leir my enemy"
Merry sat up. Her brown eyes
flashed. She and Cecily were peri
lously near wordy battle.
'Is that the way you choose all your
friends?" she asked scornfulIy.
Cecily balanced herself on the end
of the sofa.
"'Deed no" she mounted her hob
by. II have this friend business down
to a fine point Look at 1t this way.
Friends are awfully time consuming.
We shouldn't have any that don't
count Don't you see? Every woman
needs several kinds. You need about
one like Leila. She's smart, both as
to brains and clothes. A friend like
Leila keeps you from getting frumpy
You need one jolly one like your
ting grumpy" Cecily's eyes were
twinkling as she piled up the rhymes.
And another one like Grace Gordon.
who swims and golfs. keeps you from
getting lumpy."
Her droll catalogue was interrupted
in the fair Leila Graham.
The two cousins audibly gasped.
For they both knew that Leila had
hurried from Reno. where she had be-
gun divorce proceedings against Put
nam Graham, to attend his funeral.
for the profuse mourning with which
she had arrayed herself.
She might have served as a manlkin
in a mourning specialists salesroom.
With flowing wells. artfully draped
over a demure hat faced with white
crepe that terminated in a wide nun
like band under her chin. the little
blonde person posed herself In wing
chair and sighed.
MY word, Leil'." calculated the
plain-spoken Cecily, how did you get
that way?"
Merriam was too dazed to say any,
thing. Susan Sue slammed down a
pot of fresh tea with an eloquent
bang, and stationed herself back Of
Merry deflantly.
why. it's the least 1 could do for
poor dear Put" Leiia's husky sweet
widow, you know. I suppose it's none
Of my business what you two girls
were doing in my late amented's car.
But must say 1t looked a little queer.
considering that you two were about
considering divorcing him."
''Considering" Merry's smothered
feelings could not resist interrupting
at this point. why. Leila. you'd left
him, weeks ago! You were in Reno
you?"
"Sssssssh" Leila threw back her
wells with a saddened gesture. II was
out west for my health, and I do ad-
nit I'd had the bad taste to joke
about divorce the same as everybody
does. more or less. nowadays"
did you tell your lawyer 1t was a
joke?" Merriam demanded.
Leila shrugged her shoulders.
You are so blunt. Mary DEAR" she
drawled. Cant you see how diff
cult you are making a perfectly
simple thing? I've just come from
the Blaisdells; they promised to say
nothing. Naturally. my lawyers
won't. So If you and John and Cecily
will keep your lips closed. why"
she lifted appealing eyes. Il was
awfully hasty. Poor dear Put! He
could be very exasperating! But I