Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-28

orientals by his munffcent gifts to Red
Cross work No, on second consideration,
think had better not wait until you SAIL
hate notoriety"
A mighty wave of color serged over Rob's
face, then, receding. left him very white
and stern.
Il have made mistake in approaching
you so abruptly, Margaret. Along with my
unfortunate Quixotic ideas. as you call
them, l possess also bluntness of speech
which has evidently prevented my making
you see Just what your answer has meant
to me. You are making it very hard for
me. Perhaps you would rather-rather con-
slider yourself free-when go?''
NO replied Margaret slowly, and look
ing over his head to the mountains. when
Van Orm gives her word she keeps it
and l think you worth waiting for.
AS you say, when you've had your fling
you will come back contented know that
you love me-that it is only this silly jap
anese man who has filled your head with
nonsense and made you forget that you
owe me-something. Yes. l can wait, even
IL / cannot understand
And she left him standing there. stung
to the quick. the soft California breeze
lifting the hair which curled boyishly above
his forehead, and kissing the lips that had
taken on new lines of care and responsible
ity.
1t was Mrs. Van Orm, however who in
sisted upon their remaining until Rob mad
sailed. While she shared, to large extent,
her daughters d1SapprOVal OF MS QuiXotiC
fight, she was a stickler for the prophecies,
and she did not propose to set Dame Rumor
tongue wagging over a quarrel between
her daughter and the very eligible ROBERT
Cressey They Travelled to San Francisco
with Rob, took at least an ostens1bie IN
terest in his preparations for departure,
and were coolly gracious to the perturpeu
To-Hari, who with true oriental lnstihel
scented that all was not well.
Rob seemed to have aged since the AFTER
noon at Santa Barbara, but he never re-
newed his pleading. He was graVeiy atten-
tive to Margaret's smallest need, and never
referred to the future but once, and then
to impart to his fiance certain wishes re-
garding his sisters future, should anything
happen to him. Margaret realized That OF
the two she was now suffering most keenly,
but pride and a sincere belief that she was
in the right prevented her admitting her
true feelings to Rob.
Dressed simply in a dark tailored suit,
her face heavily yelled in chiffon. she
watched the vessel slip out to the Golden
Gate. Then she clutched her mothers arm
and spoke in half smothered tones.
Let us leave tonight. hate San Fran
cisco l hate California! l shall go mad
if / stay here another day.
While crossing the monotonous prairies
Mrs. Van Orm suddenly decided to stop in
Council Bluffs, Iowa, and visit long-neg-
lected cousin. Margaret was supremely In
different, now that she had passed beyond
sight of the mountains that somehow re-
vived haunting memories.
In Council Bluffs they fingered for
week. Mrs. Van Orm reviving family ties,
Margaret indfferently permitting herself
to be teaed, lunched and dined by the some
what conscious hostesses of the pretty
midwest city.
One morning she came in to breakfast,
after a placid half hour on the porch,
which, vine-draped and flower-box laden,
overlooked Bayliss Park, a square greenery
in the heart of club houses, hotels and res
licences occupied by old, exclusive families.
What are all the flags for?" she asked
carelessly.
Carl. the youngest member of the group,
looked at her in panied surprise.
why, Cousin Margaret" he exclaimed,
don't you know this is Decoration day?
Gee l wish / was in the high school and
could march! Don't you have Decoration
day in New York;
Yes, 1 believe we do, Carl, only I've
never happened to be in town. We usually
run out to Lakewood Tuxedo for holi-
days of this sort. There is such a cheap
crowd in town.
But don't the G. A. RS and the high
school cadets and the Spanish War Vet
Grams parade and carry flowers to the
cemetery in New York;?
Il believe they do have parades and
speeches, Carl
And you never went? Say, don't you