The Washington times., 1923-02-24

thinking Of myself and my trOu
bles-real or imaginary"
felt my way carefully be-
cause / didn't quite know what
Betty expected OF me. nor yet to
what extent she'd force herself
to meet me half way in the situa-
tons where she ought to be con
sidered rather than +. With
sudden right about face. Betty
said:
Miss Mays a dear, isn't she?
feel SO attached to her already
AS IL I'd always known her.
I've never had such a queer feel
ing Of belonging. Really I'll have
to call her Aunt May even II it
sounds silly. seem to be related
to her.
That's splendid said. And
in becoming her niece you acquire
two fine young cousins"
One Of them Is very much In.
terested' began Betty in
tone. which startled me because it
was 50 full Of downright strength
I'd fancied. had been pretty thor
oughly drained from Betty's life.
Being startled that any. ons
should see what I only suspected,
I jumped both literally and figura-
lively.
Whereupon Betty pulled herself
up and looked at me question.
ingly.
'I-didn't know you'd take my
remark 50 seriously" she com
mented with something almost
. Apologize in her tone.
3. II didn't know it was SO OBJ
vious," gave back. wondering if
Mabel herself had any idea of
Parks attitude, and if even he
was fully aware Of It.
You thought I wouldn't partic-
ularly notice" said Betty re-
proachfuIly. "You thought was
so self-centered wouldn't get it"
4 Surely it wouldn't be to your
.discredit If you didn't get it, I
-acountered. II don't think your
Aunt May sees's
~ 'ssfie hasn't the background Of
/ knowledge. she doesn't know
the caiiber OF the people in
volved," said Betty quietly.
why you funny dearr' I cried.
''She knows Park mighty we'll.
and as for Mabel. you've just met
her.
''MabelT' cried Betty. her face
study in changing expressions.
What are your mean what are
we-talking about, Amer"
Wayne Parlxinson's attitude
towards my blessed old man
hater. Mabel Storrs, seems to be
the subject that has the attention
of the assembled multitude" L
replied drily. -
Lilac Princess!' she said, low
and half to herself. ''You don't
know. there's another man in the
world but Jim Harrison, do your"
'Of course I do!' I replied,
sensing that we were on ground
likely to prove dangerous to
Betty and treacherous to the
healthy brightness she'd been
showing all evening. ''I know
Tony's the best of pals, and
Parks a darling big, overgrowS
kid with mans heart and Ralph
Lacy is the salt of the EARTH" ~
r., II didn't mean to pry," she said
quietly. Good night, Anne. and
thank you for-being yourself
and for taking me out Of myself. ;,
Don't run off like that" pro-
tested. ''You seem to think
you've rushed in where angels
fear to tread. I like, having you
understand: It's all. so new. I'd
scarcely formulated it in my own
mind. But it would be wonderful.
and if both of us are hoping for
it and helping it along a bit, it's
twice as likely to happen. You
see, Mabers very bitter against
men. And to her Parks only a
nice kid. So if he should care
he'd not have such a very easy
row to hoe"
Il see," said Betty dryly
Wayne Parkinson, Third, would
not seem a desirable party to the
young woman who is, as you tell
me, Jim's manager pro tenn. It's
a funny old world, isn't it, Amer"
''The wrong people are always
falling in love, aren't they?" re-
piled. Here's Mabel-remem-
bering the wrong man. and not
seeing Park. 1 wonder how
woman can be like that?"
ct wonder" laughed Betty,
then a note OF terrible bitterness
crept into her voice as she said
slowly, Think about 1t, Anne,
And remember the years I wasted
on Atherton Bryce"
The door closed gently. I felt
that Betty had left me with a
message, but 1 didn't know what
it. was she'd meant to convey.
To be continued Monday.