The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-05-30
The ReU0H Of
 Susan Hyde
CHATTER 59 TTHE night of Ruth Markham's \
By Caroline Beecher

Drldge arrlVe0. Aunt mad Se-
 riously discussed the propriety of going becauseTof Commodore's de- mise but Manville impressed upon her that a bridge was different from an- other sort of party, and that it would be unfair to break a table at the last moment. Neither of them suggested that might go, although had been the one originally invited. I was sure Manville preferred aunt to go because of the way he felt toward Mrs. Mark ham. I had let him see I was jealous once or twice. and I might notice things which would escape his aunt.
 Aunt Cynthia ,.had bought a new gown. a wonderfully soft satin brocade 1 in pale gray. She had used some lovely old lace for trimming, and did not fail to compliment her heartily. She really looked charming.
 You are every bit the grand dame aunt" Manville said when she, came down dressed to go. "I am very proud of you" I didn't blame him. She was so stately, so dignified, and so handsomely gowned.
 q hope for his sake she wins. then she will be pleasant too," I said aloud as I watched them from the window. I wiped away few tears before I turned away. I found I cared more about going thans,I thought Ishould. It seemed rather hard to be left alone. They had looked so happy and had an- ticipated so nice a time that the con trast was painful.
 I made up my mind I shouldn't spoil my evening by crying. smiled grimly as I thought that had I known Commodore was to die I would not have given up my evening so willingly. But I never went out and left aunt alone in the house with her that l did not worry 'forEfear she would try another experimeHE in curing Anna of her timidity. We had not yet found out how the cat was poisoned.
 took up new book Manyille. had brought home. He had remarked at the time that his amt would enjoy it. I soon became deeply interested and did not hear the bell.
 "Mr. Lawson Mckee, ma'am," Mar tha said, reading from the card she brought into me.
 "Oh, let him come right in!' I ex. claimed, batting my hair, sorry I had not been upstairs when he came 2 so that might have fixed up little.
 "This is a surprise A very agree able one," I exclaimed as we shook hands, Y thought, you anticipated were going to be disappointed that I was not there" l. chaffed, arecalling what he had said the day l told him aunt was going in my place.
 "I told your aunt afterward that I had a previous engagement. You seem to have forgotten that. You see, when I found you had been so unselfish 1 made up my mind that if yop would allow me to keep you company you should not spend the evening alone. That is why I spoke of an engage ment."
 But you would have had /de lightful time at the party; it is very stupid here by comparison"
 T still prefer the stupidity as you name it." he replied, then began to talk of other things, He told me of his boyhood, of being turned loose upon the. world just as he finished college without a penny and loaded with debts. The pyramid of investment his father had builded had toppuel, crushing out the life of the builder at the same time
  now paid all those old debts and was doing we'll. 1 was so interested I asked many questions, all of which he an swered simply, as if it were the usual thing for him to talk quite candidly of himself. t
 Then we talked of me. my girlhood days. l gave confidence for confidence. I could laugh now as l told of my agony because I had to either go with out or wear made-over gowns, usually patched up from two or three of my sisters, there never being material enough in any one to make me a dress. I told him many tales of my Cinderella life which waiting for Elaine and Elsa to make a good match. 1 He laughed heartily when I described my dislike to Henry and my remarks because Elaine married so old man. He seemed interested in Elsa and what I told him of her happiness and was surprised that I never had visited her.
 Tt is too far to take Anna, Mir.