Evening journal., 1922-05-08
op11 ~ Lcuss Jossphnscs

Mrs. Bellamy Brucel Rather a
mouthful. thatl"
"Is that why you make a face
over It.
Didn't expect me to relish 1t, did
you, Cinda?"
I'm afraid l wasn't thinking OF
you at all, Dobbin, when 1 took it,
Meaning, II you had been, you
might have thought twice before
taklng?"
"No fear; I was too madly in love
with Bel"
"Was7"
"Dobbini"
''Sorry-didn't mean 10 be imper-
tinent. I only-weli. naturally. I
wanted to know whether or not your
matrimonial incubation had taken
II think one may safely say It has
I've grown so old and wise in mar
riage, It really seems funny to re-
member was ever an innocent.
TITS seemed long time to me
Cinda-five years since these eyes
were last made glad by the sight Of
you"
at least, time hasn't impaired
your knack at pretty speeches"
Nor your power to inspire them"
I'm not so sure. To myself I
seem ever so much older Lucinda
Druce turned full face to the man on
her left. anxiety feigned or real
puckering the dellcately penciled
brows. Doesn't It show at all, Dob
bin. the ruthless march Of advancing
years2"
The man narrowed critically his
eyes and withheld his verdict as II
in doubt; but a corner OF his mouth
was twitching.
You are lovelier today than ever,
lovelier even than the memories OF
you that have quickened my
dreams"
Truly. Dobbin, you've lost moth
ing OF your ancient eloquence. That
last speech quite carried me back
across the bridge OF time to the
days when. more than once. you all
but talked me on my feet and into
your arms"
PITY ever stopped talking"
How direct and persistent you
are. It's only fair 10 tell you, the
traditions OF our kind TO the con-
trary notwithstanding. I'm still in
love with my husband"
For a moment Richard Daubeney
was silent, staring at his plate.
Then he reused with a light-heart-
ed shrug and smile.
IT'S like you, Dobbin, TO start
making love 20 me all over again.
precisely as II my being married
meant nothing. in the fret minutes
Of our first meeting in FIVE years.
without Offering 20 tell me single
thing about yourself"
Nothing much to tell. Everybody
knows. when you engaged yourself
to marry Druce, I rode of to the
wars"
I'VE heard you'd later taken up
ranching in the Argentine. and made
a tidy fortune"
"I didn't do badly. that's a fact.
But what Is a man profited II he
shall gain the whole world and lose
his own soul?"
"Is one to understand you lost
your soul in the Argentine7 1t
sounds so amusingly immoral"
"I realized down there my soul
was in a fair way to prove a total
loss So sold out and shipped for
home"
"HopIng to find me unhappy
enough with Bell"
That's unworthy OF you, cinda.
No: simply to be in the same world
with you"
After a little Mrs. Bellamy Druce
said severely: "Dobbin. II You keep
on that tack. you will make me
cross with you. How does New
York look to an exile OF long stand
ing? Much changed?"
"Ohs I don't know Skirts and
morals a bit higher. jazz little
more so. prohibition just what one
expected. society even more loosely
constituted-a vast influx OF new peo-
pie. I don't know half these peo-
ple. Astonishing lot of pretty girls
seem TO have sprung up since my
time. Who's the raving beauty on
Bill sedley's right?"
"Amelie Severn. Amelie Cleves
that was before she married. sure
ly you remember her"
Good heavensi she was in long |
dresses when I saw her last"
Pretty creature. don't you think?
Rather. Can't blame the chap |
next her for his open infatuation."
Laughter thrilled in Lucinda's re-
ply: why, don't you recognize
him? That's Bel"
As II the diminutive pronounced
in the clear accents of his wife had
carried through the murmur OF taxi
Bellany Druce looked up. Perceiv-
ing I.ucinda's smile at the end OF an