The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-28

NOHss"SCo yTOUs cSsoVeoys
The night Of the dinner which
Jeanne dreaded came aroLnd 1t
last
Until almost the last moment she
hoped that something might hap
pen 10 postpone the elaborate
spne4on which her nother-in-ia~
was -Ssyins
Iin1R almost ne last moment
-zss had hoped mat she might see
Bonnieetti and find out from him
&hsther IL was safe to wear the
sG6y necklace. She had waited I'M
til the morning of the day of the
dinner before ringing him up, in
the faint hope that the sprained
ankle might not be as serious as
at first had been reported, and
that he might be about again.
But the broken-English voice of
his valet informed her that Signor
Bonnicettis condition was worse,
and that he was confined to his
bed, and, therefore. unable to an
swer the telephone.
Jeanne expressed her regret, and
asked that her message Of SYM
pathy be conveyed to the violinist.
The Eavesdropper.
When she had hung up she
turned around and perceived, with
a start that Vera Dayton was
curled up in a corner of the couch.
idly Tipping the leaves of a new
magazine.
oh. excuse me, 1 didn't hear
you come in" Jeanne quickly
cloaked her dismay.
How much had Vera heard?
What would she suspect?
She hoped devoutly that the
other girl would believe that Bon
nicettrs servant had rung her UP
and that it was not she who had
made the call, although either way
about the jealous girl could make
capital of the occurrence.
Didn't want to disturb you. old
dear" remarked Vera flippantly,
; at the same time giving Jeanne a
knowing glance. You seemed 20
engrossed in the person at the
other end of the wire. Bonnicetti,
wasn't it?"
nails, to avoid meeting Vera's
glance.
Vera stretched 1uxuriously.
q
he's" she drawled.
Say an acquaintance, rather"
corrected Jeanne with a slight
smile.
"Um, A peach of a little jewel
box he gave you for a wedding
present" she remarked. WIGS rath-
er jealous Of him. isn't he? See him
often7''
Jeanne flushed at the imperti-
hence, but she answered carelessly:
Not since my wedding"
Il hear the poor dear is laid up.
Evidently his ankle was not an ex-
cuse. after all, to get him out of
Dick Canby's dinner party"
Apparently not" agreed Jeanne.
There was a moments silence.
then Vera chuckled. a slow, silky
little chuck1e.
How you young married women
can put IL over, You can have all
the young interesting men in town
dancing attendance on you. and no.
body dare say boo"
Yelled Insult.
Jeanne rose abruptly.
Il think that is rather unwar-
ranted, Miss Dayton. If you will
excuse me I have a number of
things to do. There is a dinner
here tonight. you know"
Vera dragged herself up lazily
from the couch
Surely I know. am included
among the guests. I came over this
morning to see IL I couldn't arrange
the flowers for Mother Barstowe
She likes the way I do them. 1t
has been my own particular job
ever since wore my hair in braids.
used TO amuse myself when I was
kid thinking about the days when
j should be grown up enough to
come to the Barstowe's dinner par
ties"
TO be hostess at the Barstowe
dinner parties" Jeanne corrected
her mentally.
The ill-concealed anita gonism of
Vera Dayton was making Jeanne
realize more and more what a blow
II had been to this girls plans when
Victor Barstowe had given his
heart and hand to the interloper.
She knew, too. that Adele's warn
Ing had not been vain.
TIL go up and see Mother Bar
stowe now" said Vera. May I