The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-07-12
Copyright, 1920. Kink Features syndi- +
cate, Inc.
CHAPTED 619

Copyright, 1920. Kink Features syndi-
cate, Inc.
CHAPTED 619
The cold Indifference of Jims letter
hurt me. But could meet my own
feelings with plenty of arguments like
this.
Hes a husband business part
ner off on an important trip. He's
not a fance or a lover waiting for
your Yes The letter was written
under pressure. Be a better sport,
AnneI"
So 7 could scott at myself until poise
and acceptance of Jim as he is, instead
of is I'd like him to be, were mine.
But the thing which agitates me
greatly because it involves much of
what is vital, is the question-why did
Rosa Cordova delay mailing the let
ter?
As I hurried down to Join Carlotta
and Mabel Storrs. I evaded this prob
lem by telling myself that I couldn't
hope to fathom Rosa's motive. May
be some day she'll explain. Maybe
circumstances will give me the an
swer. There's nothing for me to do
about it in the meantime.
When I got to the living room I
sensed a certain tense quality in the
very air. MabeFs attitude was distant
and strained. The Goddess of Liberty
Girl was at her most formal Her
attitude was as set and stiff as If she
were holding her torch a1oft. Ignor-
ing the signs of frost, 1 made ready to
offer my explanation of the hardness
which [ fancied had annoyed Mabel
Hello, Lady Mabel!'' I cried. I'm
mighty glad to welcome you to our
city. And I'm sure you won't want
me to apologize for being late in view
of the fact that it gave you a chance
to start knowing Carlotta Sturges. I
always think two can manage to find
each other better without a third
around So I read my letter from
Jim calmly knowing that I was giving
foreordained friends a chance to get
each other
81 like meeting my 'foreordaiRed'
| friends, don't you, Miss Sturges?"
asked CarIottta a shade too suavely.
1t suggested irritation.
I'm afraid I'm slow in getting I'M
der way Mabel replied stiff1y.
! Strangely enough, Car1otta was per-
| hitting herself to be almost patroniz-
| ing. I had never seen her like this
| before, and I couldn't determine
whether sheer awkwardness drove her
| to it or if she is a snob about folks
who haven't any family background
| and who work because they really
must. This doesn't seem like Car1ot-
l
| tremendous reserve makes Carlotta
Sturges as i'll at east as it used to make
me.
"You are slow in getting under
wayI' cried, laughing, trying to ease
the situation. at took you ages tc
learn to love me, Mabel; and look al
US now
ct can't understand that. You and
I were friends at sight said Car1otta
I'm sure this was thoughtless-not
deliberate. But I detected signs OF
bridling on Mabefs part. She fell
| back on the cool aloofness which used
to BATTLE me.
"rm wondering if I'll be able to
conquer my reserve and make friends
with Miss Mason as fast as her cousin
Tom, Wishes" she said, dragging in
names unknown to Carlotta in a man
ner which told me something aston
ishing.
It isn't Carlotta Sturges in her IAN
cestral ma nsion" who's the snob. It's
Ma bel-bristling in her fear of being
patronized. And Car1otta, f1ounderins
around for the right thing to say, said
the wrong one:
THAT parallels the way Mr.. Norreys
always insists that Betty Winston and