The Glenwood post., 1924-03-20

wouldn't have been time. r"Oh, well"
he concluded, II don't believe it's much
Of mystery. Some old friend, most
likely, that he told he was coming,
sent it along SO that you could sur
prise him. You'll read 'em tonight.
suppose"
She said she would, unless he want
ed to go out somewhere with her; but
he said he must 60 back to the Office
and work. I'm going to be pretty
busy between now and Monday" he
added.
She looked at him sharply. You're
going to be here tomorrow when he
comes, aren't you?"
"Oh, yes, I'll be here-you bet" 1t
was so evident, though. that the last
brace of words had escaped him in
voluntarily that she forbore to remon-
strate.
They kept rather carefully away
from Charles Hawthorn Hawkins as
conversational topic that night Next
morning, however, just before he left
for the Office, George uneasily broke
the Ice by saying, Don't count on
him too much. Emily. He may not
come, you know-send you telegram
this morning."
She asked hotly why he said that,
and added. as the suspicion struck her,
II believe you've been telegraphing
him. yourself. not to come" But this
Injurious Charge she at once retracted.
They're supposed to be sort of
telnporar1cntal and changeable, that's
all" he explained, land I thought he
might change his mind about this"
"You wish he would. suspect" she
observed.
"Yes." he answered. unhappily, 81
suppose do"
She razed at him moment in mute
evaporation. Then her expression
softened and she gave reluctant
laugh. II think you're the most ride
ulous person in the world" she said.
81 suppose you think he's coming out
here to break up our happy home and
get me to run away with him."
He looked so glum over this that she
gave him UP as hopeless "Oh, go
along" she cried. "But I'm going to
kiss you first. And you will be home
sharp at four. won't your
1t was an hour earlier than this
that she found him In the dining room
unwrapping a package containing two
bottles, one of gin and the other of
Scotch whisky.
SCOT 'em from Walter Hnrbury." he
explained sheepishly. "Walter has II
kzN
a month. Been meaning to lay In
something like this for quite while"
Her astonishment over this bit of
nnabashed mendacity made 1t possible
for him TO get on to something else.
lie put the bottles away in the side
hoard, turned his back upon 1t. and
eazed at her so intently that she
irowned inquiringly and presently
asked. "Well, what is it?"
Nothing" he said, "only think
you're looking great-just as you are"
| Now this was the unadulterated
truth. At forty, after two children
and nineteen years of marriage and
Avonla, she still looked Infinitely de-
sirable to George. and never more so
than In the sort of clothes she was
wearing now, small felt hat crammed
down upon her small round head
| (she'd been out doing some last-min-
ute marketing), sweater, a sport
skirt, low-heeled shoes; her face
MOSTLY flushed, innocent of powder.
1t was true and Emily knew It was
| true
@ oh ,-h
and smiled derisively. $50 you want
me to look lHe this when Mr.. Haw-
kins comesT she asked. swell, /
won't. I'm going up to dress this
minute"
IT wish you wouldn't, Emily" he
pleaded. II don't want You to dress
up for this chump. don't want you
to do anything-special for him. l
don't see why you should. You don't
care anything about him, do youi Nor
about what he thinksr'
Her flush deepened as she met his
look. She reached out suddenly and
took hold Of him by the ears. idiot p
she said. "Idioti" But in the Interval
between the two words she kissed him
and she did not dress up for Mr..
Charles Hawthorn Hawkins.
Perhaps because her husbands per-
| Torrance occupied the first place in
!, her attention, she found thard to re-
member what celebrity Charley
Hawkins had become.
He was curiously unchanged, through
all his changes. The twenty pounds
or 20 he had put on hadn't made him
look older; had served only 10 accen-
tuate the plump, cherubic look Of boy
ish innocence there'd always been
about him. He talked about himself a
lot, Just as he'd always done.
Emily shot an uneasy glance at
George now and then; for instance,
when Charley spoke offhand Of the
foremost American actress az Ethel.
She wondered whether George was
saying to himself, ASST" But ap-
| ~ =