The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-09-13
A Delightful Narrative of Domestic
Life by a Popular Magazine
Writer.

d
mental creature, and Christmas
and other holidays meant a great
deal to her. He knew she would
be previously disappointed if he
deserted her on this night of
nights. She would not upbraid
him; she would utter no word of
protest; but she would cry-cry
half the night!
Already he had had one expe-
rience of this kind with her, and
he had sworn, then, he. would
never. again desert her on a holi.
day. The occasion, had BEEN
Thanksgiving Day. Lucy had in
vited a dozen people to dinner
and she had begged him so
hard to come, he had weakly
promised. When be broke the
news to Mrs. Grotenberg, the
stricken look on her face haunt
ed him during the intervening
days, during the party, and for
some time afterwards. She had
bought a live turkey and had
been fattening the bird. He had
seen the strutting creature pack
1, ing about the. yard. tied by the
leg with a long string. All her
plans had to be abandoned. Philip
knew that she ate no dinner
herself, but spent the holiday
in bed. Her face had been drawn
and white when he saw her, with
puffed swollen spots Of red
about her eyes; she had actually
lost weight. What made her
grief particularly distressing to
him was the earnest way she at
tempted to hide it. Her efforts
Were pathetic, hopelessly made
quate. He suspected she was
jealous, as well as disappointed.
There was no reason for her to
cherish resentment toward Lucy,
except that his sister represented
the only interest he had outside
of herself. When Philip described
to her the few dinners he had
had at Lucy's house, Mrs. Gro
tenberg displayed a sharp curl.
osity. She was interested in the
smallest details. particularly anx-
ious to hear about the women
who had been there. 1t did not
occur to him at the time that she
might be Jealous; he recognized
the fact too late. He had tried
to convince her. tried to assure
her that she had no occasion to
trouble herself about Lucy or any
of the stylish people he met
at her house. She would evade
the discussion, assuring him bright
ly that she was not in the least
jealous, that it was absurd for
him to think 80. It was quite
natural, she declared, that he
should want to go to see his sister.
The fact that both Wilbur and
Lucy supposed him to be living in
Piedmont with Constance, her
husband, and his own small son.
frequently led to embarrassing
situations. In talking with the
Lansings, he referred to Mrs. Gro
tenberg always as Constance"
and Lucy sometimes sent messages
to Constance" or suggested that
Constance" bring Paul over to the
city some day so that she might
have a party for him. Philip was
compelled to prevaricate, to in
vent excuses, to concoct the most
elaborate fictions. In the matter
of the Christmas dinner for which
Lucy wanted him, he was caught
in attributing to Constance Mrs.
Grotenbergs particular feelings.
and was startled to find himself
explaining to his sister how hurt
Constance would be If he did not
come home.
His Dilemma.
You see how it is, Lucy. I
can't desert her. She's planned
everything all eut-and-and she
will be awfully upset if I'm not
there"
But she's got her own hus-
band. Phil! She isn't in love with
you, is she?"
Good heavens, no. he said
hastily.
. II can't see why she wants YOU
Christmas Eve and Christmas
night both" Lucy persisted.
Why can't she let you off Christ.
as Eve for my party?"
ITO 70 (Nonk:,,,,aI T,.~o,