Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1929-10-04
AN
OBSERVING
WOMAN
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= NANNSA sASANN A@~@-k
Lane lightly-and II Barbara
~ had been an observing young
woman she would have no.
ticed that he spoke almost too lightly
to be natural-"do you sport jewelry
at breakfast"
Good graciousT in a burst of ex-
must one have habits for
life? Have you any objection to my
wearing a bracelet In the morning for
a changer"
Her husband smiled tolerantly. Let
me see-just a month ago you crlti-
cized Mrs. Haversilk for wearing dia.
mond rings before noon in the gar
den."
Barbara flushed. The very mention
of her nelghbor, very pretty young
widow, annoyed her. THAT'S differ.
ent." she said In a voice that refused
to do any further explaining. She
pushed her chair back impatlently and
walked out of the dining room. Odd,
how everything Flip said lately got on
her nerves.
$50 long, Barby," Philip brushed
her cheek with his lips, "enjoy your
banglep
She managed a "Good-by, Flip" I'm
a softer voice, though indignation
dubbed In her throat Banglel The
very ideal This beautifully carved
jade bracelet Her fingers touched 1t
lovingly, dreamily. A princess had
worn It many years ago, that was
what he had told her. A Chinese
princess with creamy skin and velvet
black eyes who had loved the artist
who had carved 1t for her. And when
her stern parents had insisted she
marry nan of royal birth Of their
choosing she had run to the temple
and given her precious bracelet to the
priests fol safekeeping and then flung
herself In the lily pool.
Barbara had been thrilled by the
sad story, or was 1t the deep, low voice
OF Captain jameson, with its plaintive
quality, that had aroused her wom'
ans love of romancef He had heard
the story from an old mandarin and
Immediately set out to search for the
bracelet Tumbllng back to Barbara
came his words. The weeks of hunt
ing, the picturesque old temple, hidden
from the world; the cold-eyed, silent
priests; the weeks Of winning their
confidence; the bargaining in the dead
of the night In the tomb-llke stiffness
Of the temple; the incense burning
and finally the bracelet in his hand.
One thing that bothered Barbara a
little was that she had never known
that Captain Jameson had loved her.
True, she remembered him in vague
way, remembered dancing with him;
that was before she had married Flip,
almost five years ago. She had not
even known that he had gone to
China The Idea that he had cher
ished a deep love for her without her
being aware Of II now irrltated some
thing. Think Of the trouble he had
gone to getting this marvellous brace
let for her
The living room, with its sOft-tOned
draperies and deep-seated armchairs.
a few weeks ago the pride Of Bar
bara's heart, was suddenly stuffy,
commonplace room, totally out OF
keeping with her poetic thoughts Of
old Chinese temples and lily pools.
Even the new wilton rug, Flip's birth
day present. Jared her She few TO
the garden. but even here there must
he something Irritating. for who stood
at the hedge In the garden but
her neighbOr Mrs Haversllk. Oddly
enough, ever since Captain Jameson
had arrived Barbara had taken a dis
like to the pretty widow. For one
thing, she had found out that Mrs.
Haversilk was flrt and that she was
quite braZen about vamping jameson
Barbara. however, had scored point
when she had shown Mrs. Haversilk
her bracelet. She would never forget
the expression of utter establishment
on the Widows face.
"Hellol" called her neighbOr genial
~. "COme over and see my peonies.
Aren't they loves? Oh, by the wny.
have you heard from Captain jameson
since he was called to Washington"
Barbara was forced to admit that
she had not.
REALLY notf Why, only this morn
ing had another postcard"
Barbara told herself that Mrs. Hav-
ersllk was Hbblng, but somehow as
she went back into the house she felt
very depressed and absent-mlnded
When Flip came home that evening
he found very excited, hot-cheeked
wife waiting for him. "Oh, Flip" she
was almost In tears, 1--WE lost my
jade bracelet Captain Jameson gave
mew
Flip did not really mea to smile
and when his swell, well!" sounded
a bit too much like congratulations
he hastily added, That's too bad. I'll
get you another"
Anotherl As II one could buy an.
other that Chinese princess had
worn centuries ago! Barbara decided
to ignore his stupid remark. u think
I lost II in the garden this morning,
I'm not sure. never missed 1t until
long after lunch and I've hunted and
hunted |" It was all she could do to
keep from wrlnging her hands, so
great was her misery. 81 was in the
garden this morning talking to that
horrld Mrs. Haversllk and ] might
have lost II then, I'm not sure. I
looked all over on both sides Of the
hedge and ! asked her, but she said
she had not seen II. She smiled sort
Of spItefully, think. And looked
everywhere IN the house. ! went
through all my bureau drawers and
cleaned out my closet. 7 shook out