The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-24

HEIR honeymoon had hardly
begun before she began to
discuss with her husband how
they should spend their first winter
In san Francisco after their return.
Society had tolerated Leila good
naturally for number Of years;
now. with money behind her, 1t
was prepared to receive her with
omen arms. For the first time
IN her life she felt sure Of her
aelf. She could discriminate now;
ahe could cultivate certain affilia-
lions. she could pay off some old
scores that had ranked for many
years.
"We must give q dance, Phil,
ana it ought to be early in the
season. so people win know just
where we stand, and we want to
have IL In our own home. The
old house is ideal for the purpose
with those big rooms and wide
doorways."
He had been enthusiastic when
ahe had first discussed the mat
ter. but as the time drew near,
when the plan was to be realized,
he was filled with misgivings.
He nnistrusted his wife's ability to
manage the affair properly; he
had no faith in himself in the
role of host, and foresaw he
should be ill at ease. self-con-
scious, miserable. He tried to
dIssuade her, but she ridiculed
his apprehensions.
what perfect nonsense! You
leave It to me. assure you 1t
win be an unqualified success,
There's nothing to an affair like
this. The floors win be canvased,
the Misses Worn win tend to the
decorations and Ludwig will man
age the supper. On,
know how I want things done.
I'm going to order. tho
invitations this afternoon. and to-
night Beckie. Lucy and I win get
busy on the lists"
The Dance.
The dance, a few weeks later.
was all she had prophesied. Philip
saw the old house transformed.
Two days beforehand an army OF
workmen had descended upon Il.
The heavy furniture miraculousiy
disappeared. the wide carpeted
floors Of the spacious rooms-the
library, the ''backIibrary, the
long hallway, the big parior, even
the dining-room-were covered
with white, tightly cam
vas. In the square ''well'' Of the
staircase, an arbor was erected to
screen the orchestra. The deco
Eators massed palms, great
punches Of huckleberry and
chrysanthemums in the corners
and framed the tall doorways
with green feathery branches. A
striped awning reached from the
front door to the curb. Supper
was to be served on the lawn in
the back garden; little tables were
set about on the grass, colored
lights gave an effect Of fairyland.
Philip lived through it in a
state of misery. He had had a
new dress suit made for him just
before his marriage, bur he had
put on twenty pounds since then.
ana he squeezed himself into his
formal evening clothes with diff.
Guilty. He had grown particu.
larly thick in the neck, and the
band Of his shirt checked him.
It interfered with the circulation
Of his juguIar areries, and an
hour after he had forced the
gold shirt button into place by
means Of a glove fastener Of his
wife's, the blood in his temples
commenced to throb and his head
TO ache. His broad shirt bosom
buIged from his vest, and the
perspiration from his hands black
ened his white gloves. He was
wretchedly uncomfortable, feeling
he looked ridiculous.
His guests surged up TO him az.
fably, shook his gloved fingers,
stiff in their tight kid, laughed
easily, gaily, said things his pre-
occupied mind neither heard nor
understood, and drifted away, to
give place to others who echoed
their laughter and meaningless
pleasantries.
Lovely party-it's a lovely
party-what a lovely party-it's
lovely house-fovely party