Show vox Margaret Garret s c Husband j By JANE PHELPS I II I CHAPTER 21 I An Evening of Disappointment I I was to meet Bob at the restaurant where we were to take dinner In spite of ot my resentment and my plans anent his going away the coming Sunday I was quite excited at the thought of ot dining out with him As Ashe Ashe Ashe he wouldn't come home to dress I wore a simple afternoon gown I was nearly half halt an hour too early But that did not disturb me I 1 seated myself In fn the waiting room and amused myself by watching the people come In None of ot the men could comp compare re with Bob I thought either In looks or manner He lie came about ten minutes after the time he had set and not alone My lly heart sank as I noticed that John Kendall accompanied him a bulky package under his arm Was Vas It possible possible possible pos pos- sible that Bob had asked him to dine with us It would spoil my evening It if he had They would be sure to talk of ot things of ot which I either knew or cared nothing Have I kept you waiting Margaret Margaret Mar Mar- garet Bob greeted Then before I could reply John has consented to dine with us How do you do Mrs Garrett John Kendall held out his hand Bob Insisted that I 1 trail along with him Ive I've a book here he tapped the package with his long slim finger which he Is anxious to see and as ashe ashe he had made this appointment with you I 1 couldn't Induce him to dine with me me All AU the time John l Kendall endall was was' making makinA this explanation I was trying to compose myself to appear natural I I. I could not pretend to be pleased i But I was vas saved the necessity of or I l replying bj tu Bobs Bob's telling us to come 1 along atom or we wouldn't be able to get geta a table I The moment we were seated Bob Boband Boband Boband and John commenced to speak of or the i book When the waiter walter appeared they I stopped long enough to give the or order order or- or der Bob as usual consulting me as asto asto asto to what I r would like We Ve dined out I Iso so seldom that when we did I usually I III ordered something we did not have st stI at J home Either something difficult to t I cook or a n. delicacy we could not get lot of our tradesmen There that's over over Bob declared I with a a 30 sigh of or relief as soon as the waiter walter hurried away with the order I row now we WI can talk In peace ace until he brings the dinner and they immediately immediately imme Imme- I launched Into a discussion anent tho the merits of ot the mss in which I they were both so interested that the they seemingly had forgotten that I was with them They will stop top when the dinner comes I thought and tried to amuse myself by bO looking around the room but I was so annoyed that Bob had asked John and still further put out because of or their conversation that I I could feel no interest in anything I Usually Bob and I discussed this one i or the other and had a real gossipy j time when w we were out together I If It only he had called up and asked t I Ime me If It I r wanted John Kendall before he invited In him Well It wouldn't happen again Id I'd tell him he must find out ut if It I wished guests when we went out to dinner I was 8 Immensely relieved relle when I 1 I saw aw the waiter coming The manuscript manu manu- script which script wall wad spread on the table had had now to be put on a chair and the dinner eaten Surely Purel now they would pay some attention to meAre meAre meAre me I Are you as 85 interested in literary things as Bob Is Is' Is John asked turnIng turn- turn I Ing to me i T Oh I 1 enjoy a t good book or mazarine maza maza- zinc rine hut but I h do not allow m myself sef set to be I carried ti away WI V by b- such thin things 8 1 r answered an- an j an-j d coldly One bookworm in tie the family Is u IsI 1 t I enough Bob answered with a little laugh which someway didn't sound quite natural L I L expect Margaret Js ts often otten bored because of or my bookish proclivities Xo Ao not when you read at home I broke In really not Intending to be rude I I see that I am In wrong John JohnI remarked you must spare me Bob jonce I once In a while or I shall lose my best critic Before his mother died he was of ot great help to me me I Bob helped us to our dinner which was delicious But It was entirely spoiled for me by what had gone before be beI before be- be I fore tore fore and the constant recurrence in hi hiI their talk to the mss which if it I had I done as I felt like doing I would have torn In bits Do forget torget that manuscript for tor a little and talk to me I finally burst out Who Vho is that woman over there the one In violet She has been I looking at us ever since we sat down Why that's Maud Warren I did not know she was back from Europe I and excusing himself John Kendall I 1 went over oer to where she was sitting and commenced an animated conversation conversation conversation con con- I with herI her there I Isaid Isaid t J I 1 wish hed he'd stay over oer said crossly I Why I thou thought ht you liked John Well Veil I dont don't Not when he spoils I my evening for tor me I thought I was going to have such a a. nice time to toI tonight tonight to- to night and you had to bring him along I I I winked hard hardI i and spoil it all and Ito to keep back the tears I Why Margaret Ia Im I'm sorry dear I I wouldn't have dreamed of as asI asking i him had I thought you ou would object I Imagined it would be more Interesting interesting interesting interest- interest ing if It we had a guest John is a a. very clever clever man you ou know he finished as our guest returned and took his I seat CHAPTER I Bob Makes a Promise After Atter John returned he spoke of or Miss Warren said he would like me meito meto I ito to meet her I ungraciously replied I Sometime I J shall be glad slad to do so 80 but now I have so 80 many friends whom I 1 have no time for tor that I do not care caro caroto to add to the list Bob looked anno annoyed ed but he immediately Immediately Imme Imme- I began talking of ot things In which he knew I was Interested ted John Kendall followed his lead and until I of ot them the coffee was brought on both loth exerted themselves to entertain me meI My ly good nature was nearly If not quite restored when Bob leaned over and took the manuscript from the chair and began turning the leaves until heto he to found nd the place at which he had laid It down Youre not going to begin at that again I queried Margaret If It If you ou ou dont don't mind there's theres a paragraph here which I should like to go over again Johnwill John Jonn will talk to you ou John did as he was told but r I I. I de determined determined determined de- de not to be put off oft In that w way y and gradually grad md- gradually grad grad- did not second his efforts we fell tell silent as we sipped our coffee Bob absorbed In the manuscript manuscript manu manu- script was as oblivious I remarked I have hae finished Bob H le Ie paid no no attention had not heard me Bob I said that I was ready reedY to go I repeated severely In lu 10 Just a a. minute Margaret I J motioned the waiter walter said The bill please I When he brought It I motioned m toward Bob and he laid It In front of him All right Margaret Bob had paid the bill and we started out If It you'll excuse me Ill I'll not go 0 Just yet I told Maud aud about th the manuscript manuscript manu manu- look at It script and she hI he is anxious to would likE h her r She is so clever er I really I Kendal Rendal shook opinion and John I I I hands in an minded absent-minded way with Bob Dob and me I I I was so quiet going home that Bob rallied me about it ft One would think you had been to toa toa a funeral instead of ot to dinner Margaret Margaret Margaret Mar Mar- I garet You look as solemn as an I owl It It would have been quite as Inter Inter- I eating I im imagine Why dear didn't you have a a. good i time lime No I didn't Bob Anything but that I had been so pleased all day at atthe atthe atthe the Idea of ot dining alone with you then you go and bring John Kendall with his everlasting manuscripts along and without even asking me If it I approved Im sorry Margaret he answered soberly as as' as he unlocked the door I hoped to give you a pleasant eve eve- ning I And so you would had we been by ourselves I want you to make I me a promise Bob that whenever you OU feel teel like asking anyone to Join us you I will consult me first John Kendall I and his dry old manuscripts would spoil anything You have no thought Ifor I for tor me when he is around Why Vh Margaret I am surprised but very very well Ill I'll promise I like John enjoy his society and eo so perhaps took too much for tor granted It wont won't happen again right We e can have a b better better bet bet- t- t ter time by ourselves I returned at atI once n placated by Bobs Bob's promise Had HadI catt r I known the mental e reservation n he made which I knew nothing of ot until years ears afterward I should not have been so pleased He lIe made no reply and we spent the rest of ot the evening e playing chess That is I was as learning to play Bob was an expert so was father and dad had said to me one day when I 1 was with them In the country I You should learn to play chess I daughter Bob Is a crackerjack at it It I and he would be glad to have someone always alway at hand for tor a game I am sure j i iY Y Yes Margaret mother had added you hate to be left letl alone so you ou must do all you ou can to entertain your our husband husband hus hus- I band Following their advice I was making mak mak- makI I ing a desperate effort to master Intricacies of ot the game came But I was not quick at any game and I soon tired I though Bob Bobas was as v very y patient with me mel I Youve You had enough enogh for tor tonight I t Iguess guess he remarked as I r stifled a I I yawn jawn awn You did very well I Do you really think so so Yes and If It you play frequently I enough you ou will soon lIOon pia play a fair game h he h. nattered flattered When hen you OU go home play with your father tather Hes He's a wizard at al eh chess e. e lie He said you were a crackerjack I laughed It seems to be a mutual admiration society as far tar as I can Judge i Get him to play with you OU when I Igo II I go 10 away the last of the week wed h he continued continued con con- as I gathered up the men and put the board away I made no audible reply but to myself myself my my- I self I said I You are not going away away the last of or orthe of I the week eek young man may I t Tomorrow Tomorrow The The Best Laid Plans Oft on Gang Cang Aglee |