The Washington times., 1923-02-16

Whit MS evening sBpO1te0s ana y09kN
knew If 1T came tosa toss.up bes.s
tween your breaking an engage
ment and his doing so--he'd be
gallant. So you made the sacri-
flee: I hope 1t IL one. 2
Oh,. It isr' / cried, jumping up
and making q little curtsey IN r..
Spouse to what ] took for his ef-
fort to brighten matters up by
serio-comic tone. And I was sofs
'no-bul' that / wouldn't let Toni
and Carlotta suffer when could
bear their burden instead!' Isl
You've acted just-as I'd have
expected. You've thought Oer
everyone but yourself. WON'T
keep you from Mrs. winston an ].
other minute. And I'll make itbl
clear to the rest of our bunchss
that you couldn't possibly arrange
to be with us. That's all I'll need
to say. They're all regular PERI
sons and true friends. They'lls
understand and accept without!
question"
Realizing that there was mol
doubt of this, I babe Mr.. Lacy
goodnight and hurried up to Bet-fs
ty. / found her pacing up and
down my room with some OF the
vigor that had once been her ci1iefGv
characteristic. 81.
You've upset an evening'sf
plans for me- she stated rather
than questioned ''I understand
after You were gone that you
were stage managing the situation
I created-so you wouldn't hurt
my feelings. You're not denying
it-are your"
why should II" I laughed.
You seem to know. Now where
do we go from here2n s.
.'The plans haven't changed. B
have they?" asked Betty tirnidIy.
mot unless you've changed
them" said soothingly.
MOI want to eat my dinner
a. AtOIlOs N1oSA We 6CGIta 11SAAS.
away?'' &.
yes" I agreed. wen 90 out
to the corner, hail a taxi, stop It
in front of a bright and shining
Rotisserie and carry off fine
meal for two hungry girls. hope
you're as nearly famished as am,
Betty, I don't want to feel like q
piggie watching you nibble while
I gulp."
Betty smiled vaguely. Then
she turned and led the way toward
the stairs. announcing quietly:
IT don't think I've eaten for
days. I'm getting weak. think
I'll be able to manage when get
/, home"
There was peculiar emphasis
on the word But made no com
ment. and did my best to make !,
Betty feel that there was q high
adventure in walking to the cor.
ner, finding taxi and deciding on
our probable purchases at the
Rotisserie. We bought a chicken /
hot from the spit, French friends
potatoes, slaw, baked apples. q
loaf Of bread and a nut cake.it
Adding coffee, tea, sugar, butter
and cream from a little provision,
shop next door, we went back to
our taxi and drove to Betty's
apartment.
When we pulled up in front Of
the building out came the door
man and greeted Betty as If she
were long-lost friend. There was (
nothing of surprise in his manner.
put this down to the dignity and
self-control of a well-drilled SER 2
want. But when Betty opened the,
door of her apartment and the man,
staggered in with our burden Of
foods, discovered there was more
back Of his serene greeting than
mere training.
The man carried our provisions
into the kitchen and Betty went
around lighting the lamps. Her
movements had feverish rush.
I stood back and watched as the
amber and rose lights pricked out
in her great living room. IT had
no suggestion of mustiness. but in
stead carried the aroma of liveable-
ness-almost of having been lived
in recently. -
''I feel better now. I cap man.
age somehow, now that I'm home. ~ j
said Betty. nl
May 1 telephone Virginia?" I
ventured. f.e9..
You don't think let her worry! (
We had it out this morning. She
saw she couldn't stop me-so she !,
didn't try to fight me-" replied i.
Betty simply. I'D
But she didn't approve?" T.
gasped. "She wasn't ready to SUBJ, :,
scribe to your being here alone, +
even for one night?"
''She didn't have to worry" said .
Betty grimly. 1T told her
wouldn't be alone. I promised her
you'd come here and live with me. !" g
''I?" I repeated DULY. *'s,c
AS put the word, seemed to i
feel Carlotta's eyes on mine-de-.
manding, pleading, oisI
You want me to come here to-,
liver" I murmured. ~