New Britain herald., 1927-06-07

thing you could not help had keI
you away and that ] would hes
from you in the morning. Then 20
would tell me where to meet you.
Il stayed by the telephone all da!
Then when you did not come Q
send any word. I knew that "a
some reason you had changed you
mind-that you hoped I would b
too proud to go to your mother
home unlimited by her-that what
ever had been your wish when 20
sent the message to me. now you
only wish was that I would sta,
away"
Natlee Jones stopped speaking a
though the tale were ended.
Phil, however. was determined t
know why she had changed he
mind.
He put the question 70 her out
right and was answered.
Il decided to come to this party
Wynne. because I wanted to know
the real reason why you wanted me
to come in the first place and VIII,
you didn't want me to come after.
ware
THE last time I had seen you. 20,
were anxious to marry me. You left
me to tell your mother that you had
proposed to me and had been &C.
copied. At the present moment ]
do not know whether ! am engaged
to you or not.
Surely the fact that my father
had displayed his narrow mind to
your mother ought not to have
made any difference in your feel
ings.
II determined to find out what II
was that has made that difference
and that is why I am here driving
to the Plaza with you tonight"
what have you found out so far,
Natlee?"
"First-that your mother objects
to me coming into the Tracy family
quite as much as my father objects
to you coming into the Jones clan.
Second-that she didn't invite me
to this party because she determined
to trot out all the girls in town in
their prettiest clothes that you might
look them over and see If you would
fall in love with one OF them and
give me the go-by."
And that Is what you think ] am
going to do?" asked Phil, hoping
that Nat had not had the uncanny
luck to have found out that he had
been struck in heap by Lyra.
mo" she answered. little un-
certainly. knowing what I do
about them and what you have al
ways thought Of them, and looking
them over again tonight. I know.
Wynne. that you would not sudden
ly fall in love with any OF these
feminine numskulls. / don't know
yet Just what has made you change
your mind in regard to me-"
II have not changed my mind.
Natlee-I think you are the sweet
est. cleverest young girl ] know"
As soon as he had said this he
knew that he had made mistake
by ringing in those words, young
girl"
Natlee turned abruptly and said:
II didn't meet your mothers friend.
Was she that striking looking
woman near you while ! was talking
to Mrs. Tracy"
"Yes-what did you think Of
herr"
1.-The one thing about her no.
ticed. except her grace. was that
she seemed dressed a bit too girlish
for one Of her age"
THAT sounds like Luella Carr.
Nat" retorted Phil warmly.
II do not mean to be like her-1
am just trying to be honest. Wynne.
I am always a little sorry when
see a woman who so plainly regrets
her lost youth. 1t always makes me
feel that none of us is getting the
most out of this thrilling time"
That's what Lyra says" inter-
rupted Phil so eagerly that he did
not realize what he had called Mrs.
billiard until Natlee asked slyly. us
that your mothers friends first
name?'
: YES" He wanted to enter into a
long explanation Of why he had
called her Lyra, but he restrained
himself. for he was afraid he would
give himself further away.
He did not know that he had al
ready said enough to make Natlee
Jones understand that he had fallen
in love with a woman much older
than himself.
The others had gone to the dress
ing rooms that Mrs. Tracy had
ordered prepared outside her private
dining room.
Natlee Jones had never seen such
a beautiful dinner table. There were
great shower bouquets for the girls
and boutonnieres for the men at
each plate.
AS she entered the room Phillip
had another attack OF panic. He
had forgotten to tell them to set an
extra plate for Natlee.
He was so relieved that he almost
forgave his mother for sending him
with her in the roadster when he
found that a place had been laid
for her between Rodney and him.
self with Lyra on the other side Of
him.
Mother has been unconsciously
kind to me. dearest" said Phil to
Lyra. Although she made me bring
Natlee instead of you to the hotel
she has put you beside me-"
'Is Natlee Jones that beautiful
girl on the other side Of you? IN
less your mother Is anxious for her
to be her.daughter-in-lay she ought
to have kept her away from this
party"
That's what she tried to do, 1yra.
I'll tell you all about 1t when we go
for that ride after Mother is fast