Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-13
An Unobserving Woman.

M INCE when." asked Philip Lane
lightly-and If Barbara had
been an observing young wom-
~ ar she would have noticed
that he spoke almost too
lightly to be natural-"do you sport
jewelry at breakfast"
Good gracious!" in a burst OF ex-
ASPIRATION, must one have habits for
life? Have you any objection to my
wearing bracelet in the morning for
changer"
Her husband smiled tolerantly. Let
me see-iust a month ago you criti-
cized Mrs. Haversilk for wearing dia-
mond rings before noon In the garden"
Barbara flushed. The very mention
of her neighbor, a very pretty young
widow, annoyed her. That's dill
ferent," she said in a voice that refused
to do any further explaining. she
walked out of the dining room. ODD,
how everything Flip said lately got on
so long, Barby," Phillip brushed her
cheek with his lips, "enjoy your
She managed a "Good-by Flip" in
a softer voice, though indignation
dubbed in her throat. Bangle! The
very idea! This beautifully carved jade
bracelet! Her fingers touched 1t low
ingly, dreamily. A princess had worn
it many years ago, that was wnaC ne
had told her A Chinese princess WIN
creamy skin and velvet olacK eyes VINO
had loved the artist who had carved
II for her. And when her stern parents
had insisted she marry man Of royal
birth of their choosing she had run 10
the temple and given her precious
bracelet to the priests for sa1ekeepHg
and then flung herself in the hly-pool;
Barbara had been thrilled by the SAD
story or was it the deep, low voice OF
Capt. Jameson, with its plaintive quail
itv. that had aroused her woman's love
of romance? He had heard the story
from an old mandarin and Immediately
set out to search for the orace!et.
Tumbling back to Barbara came MS
words. The weeks Of hunting. the pic
turesnue 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-like stiffness of the temple;
the incense burning and finally the
bracelet in his hand.
One thing that bothered Barbara
little was that she had never known
that Can't. Jameson had loved her.
True. she remembered him in vague
way, remembered dancing with MN
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 cherished deep love
for her without hsr being aware OF IL
now irritated her; she felt that she had
missed something. Think OF the trou-
BILE he had gone to getting this mar
yelous bracelet for her!
The living room, with its sott-toned
draperies and deep-seated armchairs, a
few weeks ago the pride Of Barbaras
heart, was suddenly stuffy, common
place room, totally out of keeping with
her poetic thoughts Of old Chinese tenn
pies and lily-pools. Even the new VII
ton rug. Flip's birthday present Jared
her. She few to the garden, but even
here there must be something irritating,
for who stood at the hedge IN the gar
den gloves but her neighbor, Mrs.
Haversilk. Oddly enough, ever since
Capt. Jameson had arrived Barbara had
taken a dislike to the pretty widow.
For one thing, she had found out that
Mrs. Haversilk was flirt and that she
was quite brazen about vamp1ng jane