Evening star., 1923-04-21
TODAY'S INSTALLMENT.
VI-THE SECOND GLASS.

Clairena was not demonStra-
tive. He could not seem 10
get one moment alone with her. This
he ascribed to his sweethearts eX-
treme bashfulness. Marriage would
open out a new world of love and low
ing to her. He blessed the fate, des-
tiny, call il what one would, that had
brought them together to tread life's
primrose path to the end. At last he
was to know the real meaning of the
word home. A home of his own, and
the girl he loved in it. His reVerles
stretched further on, bringing glow
to his heart and a smile to his lips.
He felt rather sorry for Thorne.
He had seemingly gotten over ms
much more easily ana
quickly than he had supposed man
of Thornes disposition could. He had
certainly taken "a sensible view OF the
matter, forgetting a girl had come
between him and his old chum. Smith
was sure of this when Thorne had
consented to be best man al the we'd
ding.
AS the taxi rolled onward earnest
were the resolutions Jay Smith made
to make Clairena one of the happiest
women the world held. He would
cause her to be glad she had intrust-
ed her happiness to him. He believed
marriage would melt the coldneSs
that was always about her as man
tie. The stopping of the taxi at his
destination brought his reverieS 10 a
sudden ending.
He was well pleased with the eX-
cellent arrangements which had been
made for the bachelor dinner. The
Prince of Wales could hardly have
given a more elaborate spread. Look
ing at his watch, he saw that ii was
but few minutes to S. His guests
would soon be arriving. At that in
stant he made the discovery that COW
ers had been laid for thirteen.
He was by no means superstitious.
but what about the guests Would
any of them notice and worry over
il? Ere he had time to think over
what was best to be done the room
ings which followed the incident
slipped his mind.
1t was in no enviable mood Ed
ward Thorne entered the banquet hall,
where the guests had already assem-
bled to do honor 70 the bachelor din
ner. a group Of his college class
mates rallied at him good -humoredly
for keeping the affair waiting. One
of them whispered in his ear:
There were secret wagers laid,
Ed. that you would not conie.'
why not?" Thorne turned upon
him with such an ugly glare his
friend drew hack. much embarrassed
and perturbed. answering:
oh, an old sweetheart, We under
stood. One doesn't enjoy drinking
toasts to anothers-'
That will do, Ralph" cut in
Thorne savagely; some men l know
Of will get themselves into difficulty
If they attempt to meddle with my
affairs" This did not add to COM
fort. To know the friends of both
u ~ 4 ,,l,
situation immensely.
He took his seat at the table, at
Smiths right, with a nonchalant air.
During the merry hours that fol-
lowed. he appeared TO be the gayest
of the gay. His laugh was the
however. that he did not drink TO
the happiness of the prospective
bride and groom. He put down his
wine untasted. the hand that held it
shaking slightly. despite his valiant
effort at self-control.
Thorne's keen glance detected that
during the entire evening Jay Smith
did not indulge in even one glass of
champagne on this momentouS oc-
casion. on his way to this affair he
had given himself up to broodinG
deeply over his i'll luck in being in
terrupted in his interview with
Clairena by her father. He fingered
in the grounds as long as he dared.
hoping against hope that she might
invent some excuse to return to him.
When he heard the harp music and
her splendid voice in song. h. realized
her father had her occupied for the
entire evening. that it was fruitleSS
to linger longer. il was with i'll grace
he turned his car in the direction of
the place at which the dinner was to
be held
During the drive he was busy
Notwithstanding. He felt that 1t
would be an ordeal. this dinner at
which his friends would toast to the
it would take all his fort:tude 10
smile and make merry while his
heartfelt pangs We're more bitter than
death. He would be called upon To
wish the prospective bride and groom
all the joys that so with welded
bliss.
He never fully realized until that
hour how dear Clairena Vail was To
him. and how bleak the world would
be 10 him without her. How was ne
the thought. There was only one
family cleaning thought in all the
wreckaSe of hope. and that Wa.
after all. this was not Clairena's s
two weeks off.
What might not happen in two
weeks? In less time whole cIt1cS mao
been wiped from the face OF the
wars had encircled the Globe-beg gin
ming with the firing of one shot
staunch ships had met with disaster
and gone down on "a peaGeiuI SCI
over night Two weeks! Whae mlsht
not happen in that short length OF
The knew the old colonel had fears
regarding leaving him alone win ms
daughter-lest he attempt 70 urse ne =
love upon her. He knew well. even II
he did go to the house 70 recount lhe
happy events that hal TAX en- place al
the bachelor dinner, the colonel
would see to it that he did not lneet
Clairena: so why go? Why be so
near her and yet so far?
. He knew he was late for the analr
hut he did not care. He felt IKE
tossing up a coin-head 10 CO. tail u
switch his car around and go nome
He realized, however, tnat ina af suGm COM i"
course would cause no END OF com
ment, especially as every one WnG
would be there was acquainted win
the fact that he was deeply III love
with fair Clairena Vail.
He steeled himself to go through
the ordeal, cost him what it might
he felt like an unwilling soldier
nushed into the thick of a battle. He
was warmly welcomed. After that
first attempt of his friends to have a
little sport with him as he entered
and the rebuke they met with from
him they were too diplomatic TO pur-
sue the subject further.
The gayety of the evening went
on, as though the rejoicing was gen
uine in every heart, without single
exception. Thorne appeared to be
the merriest one present. He and
Smith had one weakness in common
the second glass.
The affair broke up at midnight
Thorne being among the first to de-
part Smith was about to leave the
banquet hall, where he had been
standing alone in contemplative
mood Ge was thankful that no one
had noted the number of those pres
ent who sat around the festive board
He tried to forget it. And yet, he
wondered IL II We're true that com