Evening star., 1907-09-01

| Naturally, he admired her. because she's
| beautiful and a very great actress
| "Oh your Aunt Lillian would make little
| of the affair."" l laughed "She flirts with
him herself"
why, Lisa Aunt Lilian's over forty and
| he's twenty-nine.
Forty isn't the end of the world for q
woman nowadays. She's beauty and
great lady. Ivor always wants the best OF
| everything She fiirts with him and ne
| with her"
D laughed too. but only to make seem
| as If she didn't care. You'd better MOI
make such silly remarks to Uncle Erlc,
she said. staring at the pattern OF the
cornice. Aren't those. funny, gargoylI
things up there? I never noticed them be-
fore. But of-about Mr.. Dundas and Max
inc de Renze-I don't think, really, that
he troubles himself much about her any
| more, for the other day II happened to
] ask what she was playing in Paris now
| and he didn't know. He said he hadn't
| been over to see her act as 1t was too fa1
| away, and he was afraid when he wasn't
too busy ne was too lazy"
He said so to you Of course. But when
he spends Saturday to Monday at Folke-
stone with the aunt who's going to leave
him her money, how easy to slip over the
channel to the fair Maxine, without any
one being the wiser
why shouldn't he slip, or slide, or steam
| or sail in a balloon, if he likes?" laughed
Di but not happily. you're looking much
| better. Lisa. You've quite a color now
Do you feel strong enough to go upstairs!
Il would rather rest here for awhile
since you think Lord Mountstuart is sure
| not to come said l. These pillows are
SO comfortable. Then, perhaps. by and by
l shall feel able to go back to the den and
watch the dancing. l should like to keeI
up, if l can, for l know -shant sleep and
the night will seem so long
Very well,' said Di, speakink kindly
though l knew she would have liked tc
shake me. I'm afraid shall !, have ,,1, to run ,f
so rude. What about supper?"
"Oh. l don't want any. And I shall have
gone upstairs before that" l interrupted
Go now, l don't need you any more.
Ring and send for me If you feel badly
again"
''Yes-yes"
BY this time she was at the door, and
there she turned with a remorseful look
in her eyes, as If she had been unkind and
was sorry. Even If you don't send,
shall come back by and by, when can. to
see how you are" she said. Then she was
gone. and / nestled deeper into the sofa
cushions, with the feeling that my head
was SO heavy 1t must weigh down the pill
lows like stone.
"She was afraid Of missing No. 13 with
Ivor,'' said to myself "Well-she's well
it much-or let him. oh. I hope they'll
quarrel. don't think I'd mind anything,
if only 1 was sure they'd never be nearer
to each other. I wish Di would marry
LORD ROBERT. PernapS then IEor Woulo
turn to me- oh. my God, how I hate her
and all beautiful girls, who spoil the lives
of women like me-"
A shivering fit shook me from head to
feet as I guessed that the time must be
coming for No. 13. They were together.
perhaps. What If, in spite of all. 1vor
should tell Di that he loved her and they
should be engaged? At that thought / tried
to bring on a heart attack and die. for at
least 1t would chill their happiness if, when
Lady Mountstuarts ball was over, l should
be found lying white and dead, like Elaine
on her barge.
1 was holding my breath, with my hand
pressed over my heart, to feel how it was
beating, when the door opened suddenly
and l heard voice speaking.