Evening star., 1922-07-09


house dress, poured the morning cof-
fee, 81 don't quite like the idea. do
you. Eleanor?
him inQuiringly-
What don't you like about it.
DEAR" she asked
"Oh. this fool notion of husbands
and wives dressing separately-not
knowing about each others cos
tunes
Often in the eight years of their
married life he had been disturbed
by her trait of remaining silent when
she disagreed with him. and now, as
she did not reply, he stated more ex-
plicltly what was in his mind. say
ing: Il think we'd better tell each
other what we're going to wear"
Well find out when we unmask,
she said.
But I think the idea of secrecy is
all nonsense" he insisted with a lit
tie show of heat.
Pass Mr. Welkins the marmalade.
his wife said to the maid.
He helped himself then repeated
u think its all nonsense
-->-~
never known a woman with Eleanor s
capacity for silence 1t gave her a
mysterious power.
The steward at the club told me
they'd had over 500 acceptances." he
went on. That means a mixed
: crowd. and Id like to know what
your costume is going to be so 1 can
look after you
That's sweet of you" she answer
ed. but I'm sure I shan't need look
ing after"
You might he declared.
'Oh. I don't think so-not at our
own country club.
But 1 tell you it's going to be a
mixed crowd. You're a darn pretty
woman-and a blonde" And. as again
she was silent, he added in tone
that held a hint of accusation:
BLONDES always attract more atten-
ton.
Take some hot toast" she said to
him as the maid appeared. He took
some. and waited till she left the
room. Then he said:
"T wonder why men always think
good od-looking blondes are But
he did not finish the sentence.
Are what?" she asked.
Well anyway he declared.
fancy dress makes people reckless.
They feel that the lids off Therell
be a lot of TASKS. too. There's so
much more drinking since prohibi-
tion. That's another reason why 1
want to know"
Know what?"
h
Just what I've been asking you
what you're going to wear
L don't think it would be playing
the game to tell" she said. How do
you like this bacon? It's new
brand"
Look here" he said sharply. "you
can't put me off that way! You say
you don't need looking after. but
your memory doesn't seem to be so
good as mine. Before your filtration
with that dolled-up French officer
you fell for / used to think you
didn't need looking after. too. But
guess /" He stopped.
Having thrown in her face the one
indiscretion of her married life. he
instantly regretted it. He always
did. He always told himself that to
keep referring to it was to take a
mean advantage of her, and that he
would never speak of it again.
Strange that he could not overcome
the jealousy left with him by that
episode of several years ago, when,
ever since, she had been so circum-
spect. After all it had been only a
mild Irritation, and the Frenchman
wasn't very young. He was a fool
to keep thinking of it, and a greater
fool to harp upon it.
He said no more, but left the
table. angry with her and with him
self.
TN the interest of secrecy it had
been arranged that the wives
should dine and dress together in GER
tain houses in the neighborhood,
while the husbands dined and dressed
in others. and that all should arrive
at the club masked. Archibald VEL
kins consequently left the limousine
10 be used by his wife and her friends.
and taking the bag containing his
costume. which was supposed to make
the wearer resemble King Charles II,
drove in his roadster to Tom Bavne's
house. where he found a group of
h,en. some of them already to their
tloery, some dressing, all with cock
tail glasses in their hands.
ay the time he had donned the regal
wig and knee breeches and drunk
three cocktails, he began to change
his mind about the fancy dress ball
It was an amusing idea, this secrecy.
lie was going to have good time.
Nevertheless. when he asked Eleanor
what she was going to wear she
should have told him. He still felt
some resentment about that.
Tom Bayne had an excellent cellar.
With dinner he served large high
balls. and his Scotch was exceptional
ly good. AS Archibald Weikins was
leaving the house with the others he
caught his reflection in a mirror and
approved thereof The jeweled star
shone brilliantly upon his breast; the
black silk stockings admirably set OF
his legs. and the long dark. curly wig
gave him, he thought. mysterious
appearance. What did he care. after
all, about Eleanor's refusal to tell
wasn't going to worry about Eleanor
tonight Not he! He had offered to-
that was enough. She didn't know
what he was wearing, either. Yes. he
was going to have good time!
With an Arab sheik, a Cinnamon
a,d 4, eoldiar in ha h,If and h1na nf