New Britain herald., 1927-06-07
asleep"

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Unconsc!ously Phil had raised hi
voice . little ~ there was moro OF
less noisy confusion over place cardi
and bouquets.
By strange trick Of fate. Mrs.
Tracy had ordered gardenias for the
flowers to be put at her plate. think
ing they would look we'll with her
black velvet. She now had them
placed ut Natlee's. This, Of course,
conveyed to the rest Of the guests
that Mrs. Tracy had asked Malice
what color she was going to wear
and provided her flowers to match
as she had done for all the other
girls.
Natlee picked up the bouquet be-
side her place in great surprise, and
was Just bending forward to catch
its fragrance when she heard Phil
lips last sentence to Mrs. Hilliard-
when We g. for that ride after
Mother is fast asleep"
Deliberately she turned to Phillip
and said: You have not introduced
me to your mothers friend. Mrs.
Hilliard, am Natlee Jones, who has
been Wynne's intimate chum ever
since before our kindergarten days"
"Yes. my dear Miss Jones. have
heard both his mother and Phillip
speak Of you"
Malice was sure that she knew
what Mrs. Tracy had said about her
but she would have given at that
moment long houfs Of her life to
have known what Wynne had said
about her. She could think of moth
ing to say, however. to Mrs. Hilliard
and was much relieved when Rod
spoke to her. giving her an excuse
to turn away from Phil and this
woman for whom she had conceived
the utmost dislike.
"She loves him." her intuition told
her. "And she has no right to do
So" her reason answered back.
wonder that Mrs. Tracy does
not see through her, she thought.
Then I'm sure she would not throw
her precious son into the arms Of a
wicked woman.
Wynne's mother thinks he is per-
fectly safe-Mrs. Hilliard is so much
older than he and married. II she
did but know 1t she is much more
dangerous than I.
'Natlee. do you like that Hilliard
woman" asked Rod in a low voice.
Il hate her." answered Nat,
viciously.
"Well-while ! would not go 80
far as to say that hate her, must
say that I don't like her. and ! Won
der that Mrs. Tracy doesn't see that
her friend Lyra, as she calls her. Is
vamping the daylights out Of her
son. She might be the model for the
vamp in "A Fool There Was and
Phirs the fool"
What do you know about It,
Rod?"
Il only know that he can talk of
nothing else but that woman. and
the other night he asked me If
thought there was any reason why
a man should not marry a woman
a little older than himself.
Good lord. Wynne is only little
over II and that dame Is IS, If she is
a day."
What did you tell him. Rod?"
Il told him, Nat, that had never
thought much about it. knew too
many lovely young girls to be look
Ing around for left-overs."
What did he say to that" asked
Malice. grinning.
HE said I was very coarse"
Il like you. Rod" remarked Nat
lee. irrelevantly, as he turned to an
swer a question from Luella Carr on
the other side OF him.
Malice Jones was a very human
young woman. and when she heard |
Phillip call Mrs. Hilliard darling |
Lyra," she rather pricked up her
ears to listen.
Il mean it, Phil" Mrs. Hilliard
was saying when he Interrupted
with the endearing words, II am
afraid am beginning to think about
you too much. dear boy. I ought to
know better but I find myself wish
ing I had some other name to call
you-everyone calls you Phillip.
DO you think your mother would
object II called you by your mid
die name? Wynne Is such a beau
tiful name''
Ito Be Continued)
Malice oyerhears Lyra ask Phil's
permission to use the name she has
her personal privilege
complications unfold In the
next installment.