Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-12-18
Bedtime Condolences

AAltAI NJ
Bedtime Condolences
TT was mucn later, nearly 1
o'clock in fact, and Lyra sat be-
fore her dressing table. Her sill
very hair stood out in a nimbus
around her head. She was wrapped
in negligee of pale pink satin bor-
dered with swansdown, and her slim
bare feet were thrust into pink satin
mules. Strange thoughts were crowd
ing up in her. Somehow she could
not regain her usual nonchalance.
That moment of seriousness in the
garden insisted upon intruding upon
her thoughts. She could not for
get that blank feeling of dismay
that had surged up in her when,
for the first time, she thought of
the aftermath of the wedding.
Strange" she murmured softly,
half aloud that until tonight I
didn't think beyond the buying of
the ring, and the rousseau, and
what people would think when
walked up the aisle in my wonder
full Lucette wedding dress. But, any
way, it's just as WE'LL she went on,
trying to reassure herself. and, of
course, everything is all right. Peter
and I will get on splendidly; we're
exactly suited to each other. 1 sup
pose every prospective bride goes
through time like this when she
wonders if everything will be all
right. 1 m just being foolish about
it,"
A knock sounded at the door, and
Lyra wheeled around in her chair.
Come in,' she called out clearly,
and the next moment the door open
ed and Cynthia entered.
Bedtime condolences" she said
with a laugh, curling up on the
couch drawn up between two large
French windows. You don't mind
if L smoke in here, do you, Lyra?"
She was fitting a cigarette into
her onyx holder as she spoke, and
Lyra, looking at her, thought, as she
had many times before, that all of
OGAllD1c movements were ululY
graceful like the movements of a cat.
Cynthia looked up suddenly and
the eyes of the two girls met. Gym
thia laughed that little throaty
laughs of hers. which always vague-
ly irritated Lyra 1t was so arti-
fetal, so plainly manufactured and
yet where men were concerned it
was one Of Cynthia's chief charms
Tonight there was a little note of
triumph in 1t, and her eyes were
more than ever wide and slumber-
Gus. 1t was obvious that Cynthia
had something to say, and Lyra Won
dered curiously what it was.
Cynthia was drawing deep breaths
of smoke into her lungs. For a mo-
ment or two she did not speak, and
then she said suddenly:
We'll, what you think of Tex
Hunter?''
Lyra shrugged her shoulders. II
don't think about him at all except
ing to wish that dad hadn't asked
him here just now
Il think he's quite fascinating"
Cynthia said suddenly. There's
something about him so different
from the men one meets in our
crowd. He's refreshing, and some
how, real"
Lyra reached for buffer and be-
gan to polish her already glistening
nails. She had never before actual.
~ dlsliked Cynthia, there had been
no reason why she should, not even
when Cynthia had pursued Peter,
Dut tonight Lyra wished vaguely
that she had asked some one else to
be her maid of honor.
at suppose that MEANS" she said
. after a Ions moment, that your
going to practice your wiles on a
new victim"
Cynthia opened her dark eyes
wide.
"Why, Lyra, what a catty re
mark. And anyway, why should II
make any difference to your
1T doesn't" Lyra returned quick
~, "only that Mr. Hunter is a great
simple creature who may think
you're in earnest"
: Cynthia shrugged. well, what of
It? He'll have to learn some day.
I'm for all the fun l can get out of
life, and from what l know about
men, they're all able to take care OF
themselves Besides, l may fall N
love with the man. 1t would be a
unique experience. Picture me, Ly'
ra, on ranch, but then think OF
the cowboys and what a lot of fun
you could have with them.
Lyta opened her mouth to speak
thought better of it, and was silent
After all, if Cynthia wanted to vamp
Tex Hunter, it was her own affair
Tex could could probably take care
of himself.
Lyra Graham is to be married
to Peter Griswold in three
weeks. Thomas Hunter, better
known as Tex, friend of Mr..
Grahams, is invited to come on
for the festivities preceding the
wedding. He feels out of place
and thinks Lyra and her friends
extremely artificial, but there is
something about Lyra that in
spite of himself stimulates his
magma ton. Cynthia Weston,
Lyras maid of honor, decides to
have a Irritation with Tex.
CHAPTER MI
I.yra Goes Too Far
7 YRA went into the city early
1.-The next morning. Strangely