The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1928-06-28

With great enthusiasm she told
her husband all about her new ac-
lquaintance.
! "She's charming, Alvin, simply
charming. l wish you could see how
she was dressed. Do you know Mr..
chandler? Isn't there some way you
can get to know him." she inquired
'anXiously.
Alvin shrugged his shoulders.
ooh, l know him nOw-in a way.
Run up against him two or three
times lately at the club. But let me
tell you one thing, Lu, we can't go
in for all the things the Chambers
do. We haven't the money. l sup
pose he gets twice the salary l do,
and then his father is pretty well
fixed hear"
Lucia's blue eyes sparkled
"All the more reason why they
should be nice to know. All our &C.
quaintances are in the bungalow
class except the Heaths, and the
iChandlers live over on Hope Hill
right next door to the Adelbert Bald
wins. I'm going to call on her with
Mrs. Hills"
"All right But as I say" the APP
lproach of his three-year-old son in
Iterrupted Alvin. He caught the child
up and began to play with him.
Lucia did go to call on Mrs. Chand-
Ter in company with Mrs. Hills,
lwho possessed small roadster-sec-
'ond hand, but who would have known
lit since Archie Hills gave it that
coat of varnish? Lucia wore the blue
linen that had been of her rousseau
land had so agreeably admitted of be-
ing made over. Altogether they made
ia very nice appearance, the two of
them, and Mrs. Chandler was delight
fully sociable.
Lucia, it was true, was little ap-
ipalled by the size and appearance of
the Chandler house. The toe of her
new black pump sank an inch into the
'pile of the lovely rug and the green
velvet chair nearly swallowed up her
small proportions Mrs. Chandler
served them with iced tea and cakes,
presented by a maid, and she had
her own son, four-year-old Gilbert,
brought in for the callers to see.
colbert did somehow fail to impress
Lucia favorably. He walked up close
to her and stared at her.
"Have you got boy?" he demand
ed. And when she assented, he add
ed: Bring him over, / want him to
play with me-"
Lucia told Alvin she thought Gill
bert was not as charming as his
mother. Still, there was nothing like
children to cement intimacy between
families. Suppose Norman and Gill
bert should become lasting chums
Go to college together! Enter bust
ness togetherl Chandler & Ives
What a delicious sounding combina-
ton.
Mrs. Chandler returned Lucia's call,
but to Lucia's disappointment she did
not bring Gilbert. She made an ex-
-cuse-he was taking his afternoon
map.
Lucia brought Norman in, just
awakened from his siesta, becoming
ly pink and dreamy-eyed. Mrs.
Chandler took him on her lap, quite
needless of wrinklng her marvellous
silk, and patted him and cooed to
him, while little Lucia preened with
.exultatiOn.
Then for two or three weeks Lucia
saw no more of her new acquaintance
There came Sunday afternoon,
beautifully still and warm, when Lu-
ella felt an intense longing for little
excitement. Lunch was over Nor
man had awakened beautifully re-
the paper through and she wanted a
place to show the new frock which
she, with the aid of Miss Gray, the
dressmaker, had fashioned from her
old gray crepe de chine.
'Let's go and see the Chambers,
ALVIN" she suggested. "She asked me
to come some Sunday afternoon and
bring Norman"
I'm willing" Alvin arose unexpect-
eddy.
AS they strolled toward Hope Hill
Lucia felt that they looked altogeth-
er too nice to be walking; they
should be in one of the cars that
passed so rapidly. Perhaps-her
pulses neutrality-suspicious. the Chand-
lers would take them for spin in
their wonderful new Swift
IT wonder If l were in their places
and had a Lucia, and Alvin and a
Norman come all the way to call"
she thought girlishly. "Pd take them
up the long lake road and bring
them back to supper, cool and choice,
served on the veranda."
1t was possible that Mrs. Chandler
might feel the same way.
The Chambers were at home and
looking little bored. but their well
come was not ELUSIVE.
$50 hot, isn't it?" murmured Mrs.
Chandler, dabbing at her nose with
her handkerchief. Now, Gilbert, take
the little boy and play with him nice
]y. Show him all your toys"
Lucia settled back in the deep
wicker chair luxuriousIy. Cigars had
already passed between Alvin and her
husband and they seemed to be find
ing something to say to each other.
she likewise tried to be entertaining.
Half an hour passed when 1t be-