Show q Garson THE WAY MADGE CONVEYED A HINT TO RITA BROWN DROWN The same sleepy toned pompous servitor servitor servi- servi tor or whose voice I had heard before answered answered answered an an- my telephone call at the old Paige mansion I asked for Edith Fairfax Instead instead In- In stead tead of ot summoning Rita lUta Brown directly to o the telephone for I knew that the devoted sister must be anxious concernIng concern- concern in Ing ng Leila Yet I hardly knew how to frame rame my news of Leilas Leila's being with me not knowing Just what th the hysterical little litle littIe lit- lit tIe tle le to bride-to-be had told her older sister I found myself unaccountably trembling as I waited for Edith's voice Ever since a day long distant when she lashed me with her scorn for scorn for my lack of trust in and Dicky-and Mcky and at the same moment betrayed betrayed be- be rayed her own deep though hopeless love ove for tor him him we we have tacitly avoided each other oU-Jer as much as possible without causing open comment And while when others are present we use the familiar Edith and Madge which the Intimacy Intimacy intimacy inti Inti- macy of our little group demands when we are alone a sort of mutual unspoken agreement always constrains our speech I Ito to o more stilted phraseology There are three women against whom in n my life with Dicky I have felt the pangs of Jealousy Lillian my Lillian my cheeks flame with hot humiliation when I re remember remember remember re- re member how ridiculous was my childish resentment of the friendship which had hadeen been een one of the best influences my husband husband hus- hus band and ever had and which has never failed ailed me Grace Draper whom I still fear ear and hate and th the girl for whose I voice rolco I waited whom I neither fear nor late hate hate but In whose presence I can never I feel eel at ease That she has the same feeing feeling feel feel- i in ing ng concerning me I can well guess I There Is a gulf between us the memory of a chasm cut by words which can I never be bridged I Her voice as it first came over the telephone was cool l unruffled and I fr guessed that others were In the room O I Iw w with th her EDITH IS QUICK I Mrs Graham is It not she asked lIo How lIow do you do I suppose you have had iad a ng busy day talking Leila I announced n ne rn t tl this his i morning that she gih thought It was her duty luty to cone come over and n s see that a you didn't t ff overexert e yourself r I tried to lo tell her that hat In all probability she would wear you out with her chatter but she I I I I I I i couldn't see it that way Aunt Dora would have accompanied her but her rheumatism is troubling her today but she bids me give you her love Is Leila Lella ready to come home Aunt Dora will send the coachman after her if it she Is It was perfectly done and I was sure that th the people In the room with her never suspected the strain underneath her words But I realized that she knew of Leilas Leila's suffering and was keenly anxious to know what her idolized little sister meant to do I resolved to go straight ht to the point Miss 1 Fairfax I said quickly Is there an extension telephone there No he answered laconically Then I can tell you what I am sure you know alrea already that already that that Leila Is much upset and that she has come to re ie with the determination to stay the r rB TIle ht at least Do you know know- the reason 01 or her despairing mood You see I am askIn asking asking ask ask- In ing you questions which can be answered by yes or no No she replied again and then added hurriedly Thank you so much for the Invitation but I could not possibly possibly possibly pos pos- sibly get away But there Is no reason why Leila cannot stay the night with you if you wish her to I know how fond you are of each other MADGE THROWS A BOMB You are very quick I said with a genuinely admiring note in my voice And I will toll you that the cause of ot Leilas Leila's mood Is Rita Brown I must speak to her and your quickness has given me rue an idea I shall invite her to take tea with me over here at Betty Kanes Kane's The invitation will be one that she will not refuse there refuse there was a grim note in my voice and voice and if you will say that the invitation I Just gave ave you you you- Unfortunately Aunt Dora cant can't stir out she said hut but I am sure Rita I would love to come I envy you Tea at atI I Betty Kanes Kane's used to be one of my dei dej de- de j i lI lights Please remember me to her and andt andi i t s say ly that I surely will be over to see her soon Rita dear Mrs Graham wishes t to speak to you There was an edge edgo In Rita Browns Brown's vOl voice as s she took f up the receiver J Hello e Madge I she said and rl I knew from her tone that she suspected mYel my er errand ci rand was not a peaceful one Hello Rita I returned casually I called up to see if you all wouldn't come over and take tea with me at Betty Kanes Kane's little shop In Cedar Crest But I Edith and her aunt cannot accept I do do hope you jou OU can run over to meet Leila and me I Awfully sorry she began but I dont don't see see see- I Oh but I must Insist I said silkily Indeed it is you I especially want to see ste Oh I guess you'll survive survive- U she ld la laughed d defiantly Im afraid YO you'll I have to toI to to- I 1 am afraid you dont don't quite understand understand understand under under- stand I retorted purposely stressing my first word I have a message to deliver to you OU which I believe you would I rather receive by yourself yourself-a a message concerning a person person person-a a certain man I I named 4 |