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Show -VV-rA MYHUSeAMI trsT N1 . i ffiM:tlinii1 from ywtri'lnv t 1 Gardner, I would find soms way lo pre- I vsnt It without making Clifford angry-Hut angry-Hut that very afternoon as I was busily making out nty 111 of guests for th 1 dinner, and also those whom I wanfxl to pmn in later, the h num. nnd Kate JnuRM m l,oU (larrlrier'a curd. At ftrnt I was tempted lo enn" wot that I "wnn tint at home." Then fear of whst Clifford would mhv If ho found out I had refuiied to so her. caused m to wav: j "1 111 P down dlrartly." I MRS. GARDNER SCORES. An I went slowtv down the stairs a thought cum i ma that nearly mads me ro hack again. Had Clifford, told Mrs. tiardnnr to call? II certainly was strange shs should mine to see m just at this tlms, but I would try to rfnicmbir what Clifford had ntd to me about poise, and not allow al-low her to know that I suspect a anything any-thing "This Is an good of you," she greeted ma. "Had you ent word you wars not at home I should not havs blamed you in hs least. I have been so long In coming. com-ing. It Is unpardonable. But you will forgivs me won't you?" Her mannsr was so sum vs. she looked so adorable, that In spits of myself I almost al-most forgot my suspicions, and chatted amiahly with her for nearly an hour. After she- left 1 felt provoked with myself for being so easily Influenced by, her charm and beauty. Tel when Clifford Clif-ford asked me fur ths list of guests I had Included her. "I thought you objected to asking Mrs, Gardner ?T "Hhe called this afternoon, and as you appeared to make a point of It, I added her name.' i Tomorrow Clifford Writes the Invlta tiona. CHAPTER XCII. I was always glad to speak of Mandy whon h had done something that pleased Clifford. His dlnilke for my old nurse was pu deeply rooted, his threats to snd her away so frequent, !t)iat I al- waa lid enpvtial stress upon anything she did well. Ko when Clifford suggested that we give a dinner for Burns May on, i Immediately Im-mediately spoke of how our home dinner had please! hint, and suggested that no una hut Mandy cook. "I'rohably Kale could do Just as well," he returned. "on, no, aha couldn't: Not nearly as welt! Why, there Ixn't a thing Mndy can't took, and cook It a little better than anyone else!" I Insisted. "Mrs. Kranklyn In wild ovsr her." "Well, May sum will be here soms time, so sh will hae many chances to show what she can do. Hut about ih: dlmicr; how would it ha to. give a small dinner then Inviit- others In lo dance afterward the Krnnklyns did t)h. can we reitllv give a rtlnnsr danc?" I asked, delighted at the Idea. "Call It that If you like, hut don t attempt at-tempt more than you can do properly." "Oh, who ahall we have?'' I Inter mpted. I really loved to entertain, and was terribly excited at the prospect of a large affair. "Well. I suppose we will want the franklyns, aa we went there, and the Nnrvilles, the Hiildwms suit yourself nbout the Cnltnns but you had better ask Mattel Tforton. and Mr Inrdner," he hesitated a minute, then added, "May-son "May-son will be sure to like her, and-" AN OBJECTION. "But, Clifford, I can t ask Mrs. Gardner. Gard-ner. Not only has she never asked me to her house with you. but she never has called upon me." "Well, let her rest; perhaps she will call before you send out the Invitations. (She said something shout It the other j night. I'm sure May son would like her." I 1 ws surprised that 1 should fsel a ! twinge of something very IIks Jealousy , at Clifford's words. Not of him, but of j Iturna May son. 1 knew efeat lola (lard-I (lard-I ner waa lovely, that she was fascinating; I but unconsciously 1 httd coin to look iiKn 'Mr. May son as my own particular property, and Just why 1 should Invite Mrs. Gardner to eclipse me 1 couldn't see. I decided, I would not Invite Lola CHAPTER XCI. A Dellghtsd Guest. from the bouillon to the coffee the dinner wns perfect. We had mushrooms and kidneys under glass, roast duck with ths most delicious dressing, candled sweet potatoes and other vegetables, all gator pear salad, and a wonderful des-I des-I sect; each dish cooked and served aa only Mandy knew how. Whsn we finished fin-ished Hums Mayson remarked : "That's the best dinner 1 have eaten In years. Hammond, I envy you!" I waa very proud, not because of what he said, so much aa that he had said it to Clifford. "Mrs. Hammond manages very well. Clifford nonchalantly replied; but I knew j by his e&prssslon that he was pleased, that our guest's expressed admiration had gratified hlrn. Aftr dinner Clifford proposed that I play and sing. 1 was very much surprised, sur-prised, as he seldom listened to me unices un-ices I requested him to. Hut 1 made no objection and played and sang for more than an hour. "You are a fortunate man, Hammond," Hums Mayson remarked mm he rose to go a little before mldnght. "It seems that Mrs. Hammond la ! to do many things, and do them all well." BURNS MAVSON IS DISCUSSED. "The dinner was very nice !" Clifford volunteered after our guest had left. "Wasn't It'" 1 replied. "Mandy surety is a wonderful cook." "Mavson ms very complimentary." he rejoined. "He was very kind and nice to say all thoje things about me," 1 laughed. "He did flutter you a bit! He will be here for some time, and we must have him often. He seemed to enjoy It." "That will be nice!" 1 replied. ''But. Ctlffrtrd, why dn you suppose he never has married ? He's very attractive, rich, and not old oh " l stammered, remembering remem-bering that he was younger than CHf-I CHf-I ford, and fearing 1 had ben unkind to mention his age. "I imagine he has too good a tfme to tie himself down." Clifford answered. then turned to his paper. He alwavs rend in hour before he went to bed. no mutter how late It was. I rouhtu t uoderstand, then, why no many people. Clifford amona them, nnoke of m. man "tying himself down" because hs married. And why they Inferre! that (he) could hnve no more ood tlmex. Hut at th4 time there was much 1 did not understand. A DIVISION Or TIME. Hums Mayson seemed to try to deviate de-viate means for dividing his time between be-tween in- h us b:ind anil me. Buslneea with Clifford, his amusement and en tertalnment with me. AlmoMt every dav some plan was mads by which I lunched with him, either with Clifford or alone. Then ha never had visited Olendale before, and instated upon exploring; the surrounding country will, me to jtulde him. He bad rented an automobile and often of s ft er noons he would call for me, and we would drive for an hour or two on the smooth (tuuntry roads around Olsndate. Several Mimes we had passed Ieonard ftrook e, who hs d ea lied but onoe si nee Mr. My son's arrival. Unfortunately I had then been out. He bowed so coldly on the occasions when we met htm that had a fueling that he wns dts plensed with me. although I could not Imagine any reason. I bad explained all about my pin and flowers, so It could not possibly be that. I determined to onll him up the first opportunity I had; but I was so busv. Mr. Mayson took so much of mr time, that I nut It off from day In day. I snoke of It to Clifford, but his reply was neither reanftiirtrig no comforting. "What difference doe it make ff that young cub Isn't friendly r he asked. ''He's probably Voneaunie for some pUce to spend his evenings. Let me see, he musical. You've been too good to him, playing and singing with Kim. Artists are unusually selfish!" |