The Washington times., 1924-04-19

~-~~~~ ~~eS @S@S ~NSSAS~
sorry.
Hello Anne, hello Mr.. Peter
Stanley" said Irma with her old
fashioned precision.
Hello, DEAR" ]. cried, with
pretence Of ease I was far from
feeling. and Peters quick greeting
didn't stabilize my own reactions
one bit.
by jove! Irna, this is great"
he exclaimed. It'd have missed
you if I'd cleared out one second
sooner. I've a 6 o'clock confer
ence, but I'm facing large lone
ly evening from l on. Who has
the honor of seeing that you two
girls dine properly-do I get it?"
why! Hasn't Anne told you
that I'm staying a few weeks with
her while uncle is off on a trip"
asked Irma by way Of answer.
That's great! Got the com.
pany dated UP for tonight?" in
quired Peter. doing a little .vad.
ing in his turn and not acknowl.
edging that I'd made no mention
of Irma's visit.
/ shook my head.
Just quiet evening at home.
But 1t would be fine if you'd
come and have dinner with us.
IN be there!' cried Peter so
boyishly that it was hard to real
ize he'd seemed like a harassed
and driven man only a few mo-
ments before. $50 long. Count
on me, at seven sharp. Shall I
have tickets for show, or do we
stay at home?"
"Oh, let's go to the theaterm
begged Irma so earnestly that
Peter flushed with annoyance at
the thought that he had done
himself out Of a honey visit with
Irma.
How would you like to give us
little theater party Saturday
evening, instead" I suggested.
I've an idea that Park and his
father will be in for dinner. then,
and Mabel Buchanan is going to
be my house guest this weekend.
So it would be very festive"
With heightened color, Irma
broke in:
I've arranged an engagement
for us Saturday evening, Anne"
Recognizing that Irma hadn't
the social training or experience
to tell her that she should have
consulted her hostess first, and
wishing to cover Peters discom-
future, I cried at once:
Come to dinner tonight, Peter,
and We'll plan something jolly for
next week. With a little more
notice we might manage a bit of
dance in my apartment. We
could get few more friends and
make things gay for my little
guest. Are you with me on this?"
II should say sou Peter agreed.
1rna stood looking after him
with strange, unfathomable ex-
preston in her eyes.
isn't he a darling?" cried
spontaneously. .t.,
lrma turned and looked at me
with frank steadiness. Then she
came and put her two hands on
my shoulders.
don't know why uncle ran
away from the responsibility of
me-" she said. But I'm a woman
grown. No one ought to try to
make my decisions for me-"
mo, I said, regretfully. 1.-THE
one time 1 did decide for YOU. I
made a sad botch Of things"
A twinkle came into Irma's
eye. The fact that she could
smile like this told me that she
had Travelled a vast distance along
the path Of independent thinking
since the day when she had come
to me with desperate INDIGESTION
about sending a letter abroad to
Tom Mason to tell him that she
was waiting for him.
Again felt bitter sense of
regret for my advice. As I
thought Of my old friend Carl
Booth and his foolish little: wife.
Daisy, felt that for them had
sacrificed Peter Stanley and
lrma, too. / realized that when
told Irma Warren to write to
Tom, my mind was divided be.
tween her desperation at the
thought of losing him to Daisy
and my fear Of the suffering Tom
might cause Daisy and Carl, un-
less Irma's call came to bring
him back to his senses and home
across the seas.
Don't you think we all need
a bit of perspective on things?"
asked. TITS so hard to see
around the house when You're
sitting in the front parlor. But
the chap out on the street gets
more comprehensive view."
Maybe" answered Irma, brush.
ing my philosophising aside.
What did uncle ask Of you, any.
way? Or is it a secret?"
MEIa ia.nA n.l..a