Evening star., 1923-12-09
The Merry-Go-Round
By J. A. WaldrOn.

TvERYRODY that hunted-with-
* in certain social limitations
was at the meet of the
Meadowdale Club. 1t was an
occasion to delight fashionable tai
lors, modish couturieres and those who
dealt in rare furs- OF course, gall
liant men and flirtatious women
with other men and women-found
phases Of joy or elements Of envy or
chagrin in the event
Men still in love with their wives
and women still fond OF their hus-
bands paired after the hunt and be-
fore the luncheon that was to fol-
low; other men and women sought
out partners for one or another rea-
son: older men who had survived the
hazards of folly gathered in knots
and burned exclusive tobacco and
gossipped as fluently as older women
who represented a like survival, and
cocktails-under new names-and
teas we're absorbed without much
distinction as to sex. Quite a num-
Der did not come for the hunt at all.
It happened-no one seemed to
know just how. but the fact gave
a FLIP to whispering-thata at lunch
con Mrs. De Camp was seated next
to Mr.. De Camp, whereas Mrs. De
Camp. having just been divorced
from Mr.. De Camp. had arrived at
the scene resplendently attired with
Mr.. Jonesworthy. to whom rumor had
already attached her in q. new matri-
monial possibility. Mr.. Jonesworthy.
by another accident of placing. found
himself by the side of Mrs. Deems.
whose husband had long been abroad.
When it is said that Mr.. Jonesworthy
before her divorce had thrown Mrs.
De Camp on the market had enjoyed
what was called platonic friend
ship with Mrs, Deems, and that Mrs.
Deems had inveighed against pla-
tonism ever since it was rumored that
Mrs Jonesworthy and Mrs De Camp
were engaged, the seriousness of
these errors in assigning luncheon
places may be imagined Perhaps
the major-domo had difficulty in fol-
lowing quick legal and sentimental
changes.
, r 4 = 4
RCT If everybody should sit at din
ner or luncheon with the person
everybody desires to sit with, such
functions would produce greater hap
piness than they now do. and con-
tribute more notably to intelligence.
But well bred persons make the best
of every situation in which they find
themselves. Thus the photograph OF
those at the Meadowdale Club lunch
con, snapped to be placed in the
trophy room with other photographs
of like events-though by some
chance copies thereof were repro
! duced in no less than three Sunday
society pages-revealed a company
the faces Of most Of whom showed
perfect satisfaction with themselves
and the environment.
Mr.. Jonesworthy. it is interesting
to note, upon arrival with Mrs.
De Camp, had caught sight of Mr..
De Camp, whose presence he had not
expected. "Of course" said he to
Mrs De Camp. you cannot possibly
recognize him."
"CannotT she had responded, arch
| ing her brows.
II mean you should not, dearest!"
His tone was that of the lover.
why not? I should be civil. He
| is an engaging chap. although I have
divorced him. With all our differ
ences he never said to me OF course
you cannot" And how could such
! a reply end but in a pout?
VERY WE'LL" Mr.. Jonesworthy de-
sired to say something else, but re-
Trained.
When Mr.. Jonesworthy had been
placed beside Mrs. Deems the fact
that a stern decree of the law stood
between Mr.. and Mrs. De Camp gave
him no satisfaction, for they seemed
to be comrades as they sat together.
Mrs. Deems faced him with a smile
he had often seen before.
May I congratulate you?" she ask
ed.
IT can congratulate myself, for am
I not hero with you?" The smile with
which he emphasized the compliment
was also familiar to her.
But I mean on your engagement
to Mrs. De Camp"
/ "Does 1t look as though we were
engaged"
"Oh, but it is said-and she came
here with you"
But / am now here with YOU"
And the conversation proceeded
much as It might have proceeded had
Mr.. and Mrs. De Camp still been tied
lin the holy bonds Of matrimoay. sig