New Britain herald., 1928-06-01
CHAPTER XXI


 place where Chiri was dining. and Virginia had seen her as soon as they entered the room. She was slt- ting at a corner table with a thln- faced. dlert-eyed young man who stared ooldlv at Nathaniel when he and Virginia took seats close by.
 Chris presence annoyed N1r- ginia, Couldn't she ever see Na- thanlel without having 70 come Tn contact with his tlamhoyant mod elo Instantly she felt lnlpa'lant with herself for the thought Chlr, ras part ot the world Mel helonsed to. Was she gong to start inter fArlng Nlth bis llts? She certain lv did not mean to. Still the thought that Chlrl represented somethlng she dld not hke persist ed n Nlrglnla's mlnd. But what had that TO do ulth the feeling she had when she saw ths girl lus' nov - the feeling Of gratlflcatlon oyer Nlels expression of hls belief n personal llterfv7
 Virginia rorr'@1 oyer Y un'l the waiter brought the clam 1u!ce cocktail Then sh= put II out Of her mind to devote herself 10 being agreeable.
 She wanted to knou about the charcoal draplnzs on rhs wall and Mel told har ot the arrlsrs "ho had freauen'ed the placo until fame had ron7= n them and they'd moved uptown
 Virginia slghed Why do artists have to he poor she asked.
 Because money makes SO many demands upon time and energy and creatlvA art requires all that's m person # lt Is to amount to anvthlnF. Harhaniel repliAs ear nestlv
 "Hut ., Ftrglnlas 5 remark ras interrupted by Chrls coming 10 the,r table Nathaniel started to rise but she pushed hlm back m h,: char and stood with an arm throrn carelesslv around hls neck while she asked him if he'd brought any of his Russian clgarets along
 -N N91h9 nlel llsI''l our lSl16 and handed lt 10 her She leaned down quickly and planted grate- tul kiss or hls forehead and then started hack to her own table, Her oomranion Elared at her
 Virginia was not any less d1s- pleased. for Chirl's conduct had served to answer her rerpleylng question She oas becoming 1eal ous of thls tempestuous creature. Afraid Of her Tn fact That nss why she vas glad ro have reason to give Mel for postponlns theH wedding - 3 reason that he had h.lped to build up He would have 10 agree now that everyone has a rleht to make ours of his own strength. 10 prove his ability to justify his existence before con- sentlns to accept protection from another individual
 Virginia knew that If she had no reason at all 10 give hln1 Na- thaniel would question her love and that would be another girls chance. If there was anyone 10 understand" and svmpafhlze with him phen he felt himself dlsl llluNoned She reallzed now that her unaeknovledge1 dread ot Chris influence had prompted her to seek this reason. to keep Na- thanlel from douh'ng her, But why Chiri? There must be other girls he could turn to
 Virginia glanced across the table where Chlri small face cupped in her hands. blew smoke into the air and smiled lndltfArently at the eager young man who vas talking to her in low. excited tones. appar- entity expostulating with her over some otfensA
 Who IS he" she asked. turning back 70 Nathaniel
 Hugo Nance Shes got him hlpped. Poor devil
 Why do you call him poor devl2"
 Not g chance With Chrl.'
 How do you know ."
 "Chiri changes her boy friends rith the seasons. If she's wearing black she gets blond 10 go with it, but if it's red vogue, he's got 10 be dark and she'd kill a red head who looked at her then"
 Virginia was silent for a mo- ment. T wonder If you aren't mis- taken about her, she said finally, T don't believe shes ae slallow. l. may amuse her to play With mems affections but l imagine when her orn are concerned she would be very intense"
 shed sizzle 3 teIloo all rlEht if she really loved hln. but luckilv for some chap sne isn't capable Of if
 Do VOL bnon- her so very well. Nielo"
 T know hsr w'll enough 'o understand that she trJed to make 2 fool of me along with others Nathaniel declared. and Fl say her methods 1reut tto-s of pro found nature ntther Put ot course she might fool He m .onre day ard .all 90 r4rd -hsU gr4rt rhs ye- reer Then wsvrs sea II trpd ou' what's tnede fD tst "r tet it'z