The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-10-12
By Ann Lisle.
Whose Serials Of Married Life
Have Won Big Popular
SUCCESS.
(Copyright, 1923, King Features
Syndicate, Incl

having eyes for any
one but Mrs. Thur
low, Lucy. Isn't she a stun
tner? Regular queen, Ill say.
None OF the flappers have half
her charm though everyone
knows she's all of forty. Say. old
boy, how did it feel to lead her
out for 'steen dances. the way
you did?'
!. 1T was very pleasant" said
Ralph, with the ease with which
I'd been seeing him display all
evening. Mrs. Thurlow and I
were renewing old acquaintance.
She was very charming to me
long ago when I was a young re-
porter, It's mighty fine to have
caught this glimpse Of all OF you"
Fortified by Ralph, managed
a! quick goodnight and followed
to where the rest Of our party
were waiting. I noticed a quick
interchange Of sentences between
Ralph and Betty. And suddenly
Ralph negatived Mrs. Thurlow's
suggestion that she would drive
us all home.
Betty and Mrs. Harrison and
are all in the same neighborhood
and precisely on the opposite side
of the town from you three. So
I'll taxi the girls home, Mrs.
Thurlow, and save you from TAX
ing half on hours extra drive"
Something Wrong.
We all laughed with pleasant
understanding exchanged friend
ly good-nights and then Ralph
put Betty and me into a taxi and
COVE Betty's address, and when
heard him tell the man to go
there first I got the idea that
there was something deliberate in
all his movements from the mo.
ment when he refused Mrs. Thur
lows invitation to drive us home
in her car. But Betty and Ralph
and I had a gay and chatty con-
versation devoted to reviving
pleasant episodes of the evening.
When Betty said good night.
however, she was very tender.
Again 1 felt her tacit offer to
stand by and her determination
not to fail me.
The moment we were alone I
asked:
Ralph what is troubling you?
I know there's something wrong
and / want you free to tell me
even if it's harsh criticism"
"I'm troubled, Anne" confessed
Ralph quickly. I'm wondering
if you aren't going to be swept
into a group where Jim won't or
can't follow you. I'm wondering
If you want to bring all these
new interests into your life. For
give me if / presume"
"You couldn't presume" said
hastily There's nothing you
can say that doesn't show the
depth and sincerity of your in
terest."
Ralph smiled.
II want you happy, Anne. You
won't be If you build up barrier
between you and Jim. If l didn
know that"
He left his sentence unfinished.
But when I answered him it was
gravely and with due regard for
the things he couldn't say. For 7
realized the quality of Ralph's
feeling and reverenced it the
more because he wanted to pre-
serve my love for Jim-not break
it down.
I'm going to be as honest as
you are" I managed at last.
"These people are delightful.
Peter Stanley's a business friend.
l feel sure that if my friendship
with him and his sister ever
amounts to anything it will be
very welcome to the Harrison
family"
l realized that I'd come very
near confession that Jim and
Jeanne are snobs. But Ralph
made no comment on this phase
of it. He merely said gently,
Don't go the in6ividualistic stuff
too strongly Anne. Your bust
ness isn't a thing you can have
in common with Jim. And these
people may swing you still futher
from his croft. I feel I've an
unfair
He stopped abruptly. Then we
chatted OF trif!es. But when
said goodnight to Ralph and went
up to my dark and quiet apart
ment felt as II a guiding spirit
We're coming in with me.
The clock chimed two. I tip
toed back to our room with my
heart warm and gentle and my