Evening star., 1928-10-21
DEVOTED MEN
By Alice Duer Miller


"Oh, come, come" said Ball, with
some embarrassment under a genial
manner. I'VE need not go quite so far
as the Sifford robbery to explain that
| bracelet. can explain it." There was
pause, and -Connors gave a short
| laugh. not at all endearing. "One dav
last Summer" Ball went on. 81 met
Mrs. Effingham on the train to New
| York. We got talking about the plays.
| and I asked her to stay in town and
! dine with me, and go to the theater.
! She refused. 1t was her birthday. she
said, and her eldest son was giving her
supper, with sake and candles and
presents. That reminded me that the
following day was my own birthday.
she could hardly do less than invite me
to share hers, to come to her party. and
l accepted. In the afternoon I was
Obliged to drop in at an auction sale of
Jewelry in which the bank had an in
terest, and there saw this bracelet
going at an absurdly low price. It
seems TO me it was quite natural for me
to buy it and present it to Mrs. Effino-
nam, which did that evening, in the
presence of her children. She ACCENTED
~ at tne tlme, but later, when we were
oh" said Connors. you were alone
at this childs party?"
Il stayed a few minutes after tho
children had gone to bed" returned
Bali, giving his friend a hostile stare
When we were alone, she told me. very
nicely, that she did not feel she could
accept anything so valuable, and got
me to agree to take it back-she did
1t all most eweetly and without hurting
my feelings at all-only, when actual
ly went, I forgot to take it. A few
Gays later she sent it to me bv mail
The fact that she was feminine enough
TO wear it once or twice, meantime.
seems to me rather touching. if yoli
understand what mean"
X X X
RELINDA smiled at him, and Connors
exclaimed: II must say. Belinda,
YOU are model wife-to accept that
story without comment"
Don't you accept it, Junius?" she
inquired.
Maria would not, can tell you"
Maria and I, as you observed, have
olHerent temperaments," said Belinda.
This discussion of Maria reminds
me OF something" said Ball, although
l should be violating confidence in
repeating it. :"
said the doctor, this lady NAV have
been murdered-we must be frank"
Well" Ball resumed. IT know there
was some man in the neighborhood
whose attentions to her were so violent
that she was actually afraid. -
"Timidity in females is so delightful"
said Belinda.
Afraid. and with reason" said Ball
sternly. "He used to prowl about her
house after dark, and one evening in
the Summer he actually came in un-
announced and grabbed her in his
arms and kissed her before she could
stop him. . and the children's nurse
saw and gave notice. 1t was very hard
on her. I may say I hesitated to
mention this, though it has been in
mind ever since she disappeared, be-
cause, am ashamed to say, thought
the man might be Junius, but since
he assures us that. :"
Il hope" said Connors contempt
uously, that you do not suppose I
would do such thing" But his face
looked rather dark above his white
collar.
What dreadful experience" OBJ
served Belir la.
Wasn't it?" answered Ball, not
noticing certain edge in his wife's
tone. "She said he was man she
had liked and respected, but who :"
Who" said Belinda, was so un-
attractive to her that she had never
given him the least encouragement"
Ball looked at her in surprise. Why"
he said, Ibid she tell you about it,
too?"
mot syllable, but others of my
friends have conf1ded in me, from time
to time" answered Belinda. land, when
these things happen to woman, it is
always a man she likes and respects
as friend, but who is so unattractive
that she has given him no encourage