Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-31
Tea for Three

TUDY sat risidly on the edge Of her
u chair. A ~ sua
With every breath she drew she hated
Carlotta Young a little more. She hated
her for the intangible charm she pos
sessed. for her ease of manner and,
most Of all. for the way she and Rand
chatted together as II they were old.
time friends.
As for Carlotta, she never forgot the
little sense Of shock she had had when
Rand first introduced her to Judy. She
had made no picture of Rand's wife in
her mind. but at least she expected her
to be colorful. This drab little coun-
try girl with her hair screwed into q
tight knot. and her face expressionless,
had startled Carlotta and filled her with
an indignant pity for Rand. u.s.
Over and over in her thoughts ran
the question, why did he marry her /;
what did he ever see in her?" For Judy
was not even charming: she was q nom
entity, woman incapable of seeing
the beauty in Rand's soul.
Carlotta had tried desperately to draw
Judy into the conversation and had
found 1t impossible.
When faced with direct question,
like How do you like New York, Mrs.
Carlyle?' Judy had responded with
some show Of feeling.
II hate it," she had said fervently.
but moment later she had relapsed
into silence.
Rand showed Carlotta the portrait
he had begun of her and she was charm
ingly enthusiastic. They stood together
before the canvas, and Rand found him. .
self terribly aware Of her closeness. A
faint fragrance seemed to emanate from
her. perfume that was intangibly
mysterious and sweet, and beneath her
small blue hat her hair made shadow
for her eyes. Her skin was creamy
and colorless, and there was about her
that spoke of radiant health and care :
fully selected clothes.
His thoughts wandered curiously
What would it be like to love such q
woman, to arouse in her the turbulence
that at times seemed to consume him
His eyes rested suddenly on the firm
line of scarlet that was her mouth, and
his heart leaped in his breast.
At that moment she turned to him
and their eyes met. Into her own crept
sudden look OF fear. and over the
creamy skin surged flood of crimson
She turned away instantly and Rand
found himself suddenly trembling. He
was both angry and glad that she had
caught the look in his eyes, angry be
cause it had caused her embarrassment
glad because in that moment of revcla
ton they had been suddenly drawn to
gether into an intimate understanding
But If Rand did not analyze his
thoughts. and realize their danger, Car
lotta was acutely aware of her own feel .
ings. She had known from the first
moment of their meeting that he had the
power to rouse her. to make her care
for him. for. unlike Judy, who hat
always been protected and sheltered
Carlotta had met life and conquered It
and knew the dangers that lay in tn,
path of the woman who lived alone.
She knew quite well what she ough
to do. Rand Carlyle was married, per
hhps not happily married, but neverthe
less married. She had no desire to hur
the woman who was his wife, and 4
would be better for all three of then
If she walked out Of Rand's life forever
Emt. woman like. she felt herself capa
Bile of managing the situation, of keep
ing her emotions throttled so that sh,
and Rand could remain friends. Sh,
wanted him for friend. she liked hin
better than any man who had eve
come into her life. and she felt tina
her friendship could mean somethin,
to Rand just now when he needed hell
and understanding more than anythinl
else in the world.
! TOmOrrOw-Judy Is Stubborn,