New Britain herald., 1927-06-03
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TlDA McClONt GIBSON

found that the red brown eyes had pirated around the table to where he sat and picked up his eyes and in some way taken them back to herself. All the while she had or her mouth a rather amused, absent minded, smile.
 II never expected to have the Joy of lunching with four handsome young men," she exclaimed to Jack Kilgore after Jerome Kenyon had ordered the chicken a la king and salad. Already can See where every girl in the room Is hating me. I've never asked much in the way of a reputation, but from the looks of that young woman over there I know that little will be taken away from me in this town before l have hardly arrived
 All the others hastened to tell her that that could not possibly happen and assured her that her reputation was perfectly secure from any jeal- ous hurt, but Phillip kept silent, his eyes still on her face.
 Do you all dancer" she suddenly asked.
 They answered with enthusiasm and in unison, "Yes."
 Well, if that's the case I shall expect at least one of you to be at [ every party to which l am invited 1 and rescue me from the bridge tables. where most of my hostesses will probably think l belong.
 T will not play bridge. may be older than some of those who are younger (she said this with a sly smile,) but I shall insist that one and all of you will lie like gentle men and say both to yourselves and enough to settle down to cards"
 You can count on me-" said Bill l Husted. And me- And me- added Jerry Kenyon and Jack Kill gore.
 Mrs. Hilliard lifted her eyes to his face. He thought he detected look of disappointment and was glad.
 Speaking of dancing. Mrs Hil- Hard, Mother is not going to set you down to bridge. She is going to give you a dinner dance next week." All the others at the table groan- ed and Bill Husted said: "Of course. she will invite only her own friends to that, and you, Phil. will be lucky enough to dance with Mrs. Hilliard while we cool our heels outside look ing in.''
 "Oh. don't you worry-youll all be given chance-Mother and Mrs. Hilliard will be the only" he stop- ped and stammered. for he found he had been going to say middle aged women there."
 1 Lyra Hilliard looked quickly at Phillip and then at the others around the table. Her mouth droop- ed as she realized how young they were. Phil knew he was classed with the others, even when he told him. self tiercely that he was different He wondered what he could do to keep from being submerged by that CdIloW group.
 Who's your mother going to in- ,1te. Phil?" asked Jack Kilgore.
 All you fellows. of course, be- sides Rod Maxwell and Pierre Mar quart" he answered. hoping that ! they would not ask about the girls. He couldn't tell them that Natlee was coming-neither could he let them into his plan, for now he did not want Bod to bring her. He thought he would get away from the table as soon as possible and see Rod again. If he had not 1 already seen Natlee he would call the whole thing off. He would tell Rod that his mother had decided. after think over what MT. Jones had said. both to her and to her son. that she could not consistently have 1 anything to do with any of his fam i lily.
 i He looked across the table to Mrs. Hilliard.
 ! What an understanding woman she was!
 ] She arose and immediately they ! left, in spite of all the efforts of the others to detain them. AS it was the fellows all followed them out to the car. He was glad that not one Of them mentioned it---it showed that they envied him.
 And truly he was to be envied. for a moment later, az they drove away, Lyra Hilliard turned to him and said: 'They're nice boys, your friends, but some way they strike me as playing at being grown up. They do not have that man-of-the- world air which always fascinates me-"
 Phillip found his spirits Tagging ns they drove slowly home. for he knew that when they arrived he would have to share Lyra Hilliard with his mother
 ! He told himself that he had hard ly had her long enough yet to get used to that wild thing she had put in place in his heart.
 He was not any happier to see Rod and Natlee coming out of Mil lard's together, for he knew it was too late-Rod had already asked her to go to the party with him.
 He was doubly sure of this by the smiles and waving hands with which they both greeted him.
 Who was that beautiful girl 2" asked Mrs. Hilliard.
 That's Natlee Jones'" he an- swered. "She. Rodney Maxwell, who was with her. and myself have been playmates all our lives"