An Interrupted Night by Pansy

WHEN Mrs. Sheldon had turned from speaking with Mrs. Oliver and her two charming daughters, she looked around the office in dismay.

"Why, where is Marguerite? " she asked with instant worry in her eyes. "She hasn't gone away? " and there was in her voice that quality of desperation which had made Mrs. Dunlap fear for her health more than once in the hours they had spent together.

She hastened to assure her.

"It's all right, Mrs. Sheldon. She's with Nelson Whitney. They've gone off together to do some sight seeing I think."

"But they don't know where we are that is they won't know how to find us. Nelson didn't-that is Marguerite won't-" She stopped in confusion, realizing that this would seem very strange talk to the onlooking Olivers about people who were supposed to be of the same party.

But Mrs. Dunlap was equal to the occasion.

"It's all right, my dear. I told them where we were going, wrote it down for them so they wouldn't make a mistake."

With relief, the weary mother relaxed the drawn look of her face and turned to the Olivers graciously.

"I'm so glad to have met you," she said, and smiled sincerely.

When they were gone Gloria turned to her mother.

"I didn't like the way she spoke to you, Mums dear! " she said. "It was almost as if she felt sorry for you somehow."

"What a queer idea! " laughed her mother. "I think she is a very charming woman. In fact anybody Mrs. Dunlap sponsors usually is."

"Yourself included, Mums! " laughed Gloria. "Come on Muth, lets rout out Dad and get started. We're two hours behind schedule now. Kath, you ought to have run things better than this! " And laughing they went off to find the beloved husband and father.

They found him standing by the window with the sash thrown up, wiping beads of perspiration from his forehead, though the day was keen and clear.

"What's the matter, dear? Is there any trouble about your business? " asked Mrs. Oliver solicitously.

"I wasn't feeling very well there for a minute! " said the valiant husband, mopping his cold brow once more. "I felt a little dizzy! I guess I've been going it a little too hard lately. I suppose I'm getting old."

He paused for his loving family to refute this statement, but they only laughed as if it were a good joke.

"I think I'll have to cut out some of this traveling," he said slowly, taking deep breaths between his words. He still wore a sort of whipped look except to his family's eyes.

But at that they all shouted a joyous assent, "Yes, Dad, that would be great! Then you'd be all ours and not belong to the world at large any more," added Gloria as the hurrah subsided.

"Come on, let's go! " said Oliver turning away from them quickly to hide a look of something like shame that stole over his scared white face.