The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1907-03-06

most before he had had time to realize
every side that marked the rising
man. Truly the star of Jimmy Sulli-
van was in the ascendant.
1t was during the long gap that
! separated dinner from the arrival Of
the first guests that Colbridge expert
enced a wave OF something akin to
loneliness and self-pity. Independence
of action and absence of worries SEEM
ed an inadequate compensation for the
things he had missed. 1t dawned up
on him that the servant question,
smoky chimneys and sticky fingered
children were not the only and newt
able sequels to the honeymoon. His
thoughts wandered persistently to days
spent in Belgium when woman's COM
panionship had filled a gap in his life
so naturally and completely that she
had seemed but the embodiment of an
other side of his own nature. And, in
his ignorance, he had had visions of
vaguely beautiful possibility becom-
h-iS q NVl tulIly, "lliIh lIC tViOEi an
that had called her away had not de-
stroyed.
The prospect of remaining abroad
grew suddenly intolerable, and he had
left for England within fortnight of
her departure.
And now he knew the truth. Idly
and without compunction the woman
had played with his heart. So he it.
If 1t were broken she should never
know the result of the game.
Colbridge watched the dancers drift
into the brilliantly lighted room with
almost pitiful anxiety. His dread of an
encounter was blended with sharp,
reckless longing, In any case he would
be almost certain to see her, but I've
feared an actual meeting before his
nerves were steady enough to bear the
strain of light talk and laughter.
Fate ordained that he should be call
ed away when at last she arrived, and
it was nearly an hour later before
they came face to face in set of the
lancers.
Miss North was obviously astonish-
ed. Colbridge thanked Heaven for the
music and the quick movement that
had helped him to recover his shaken
self-control. Each revelation of her
delicate beauty seemed to smite him
like physical blow. Her bright little
nod of recognition carried him straight
hack IN thnca dave in Lori, xr.l,o
he had drifted so near to the rapids
of utter self-abandonment, to
ITO making a fool of himself for
her amusement" added Reason.
The dance ended in the usual laugh
ter and furry. He piloted his partner
"a voluble lady of forty-back to her
seat, and stood talking aimlessly until
Jimmy, who had been lurking In the
distance, swooped down as the music
struck up waltz and freed him.
Look here, old man, you said you
knew the Norths of Walsall Well, why
on earth don't you come and speak to
the girl over there-the one in the
white dress, mean, sitting in pensive
melancholy? Probably her partners
forgotten her! If-as | fancy-he is
young Dowson ploughing his way along
with that Freeman girl, she's had
lucky escape"
He caught Dick by the sleeve, and
the latter, raising his eyes, could see
the girl was watching them with
amusement. Since there was no es-
cape he crossed to where she was seat
ed alone among half a dozen empty
chairs
Behold a distressed damsel" she
said, sayly, as Dick dropped into the
seat beside her." deserted by both
chaperone and partner. Put not your
trust In gentlemen who won't write
plainly on their programs"
"A young man of the name of Dow
son is the criminal, isn't he?" said COL
bridge. I'm which case his present
partner is paying pretty heavily for an
honor unto which she was not born.
How long have you been staying in
London, Miss North?"
only week or so, with friends. II
is odd we should meet again so soon.
You have just arrived from the Con-
tinent, have you not?" b..
Crossed yesterday by the night boat,
Jimmy Sullivan is hospitality incar-
nate, or | should still be languishing
in hotel. And it's something to share
he'blessings of the table d'hote in its
literal sense again.
Miss North laughed.
That Is so. | remember nv first
English dinner after returning from
Ostend. My aunt, to honor the occa-
sion, made feature of veal. sup
pose she thought it appropriate. And
we had had it for three days running
at the hotel?"
You are exceedingly greedy people,"
said voice from behind them. You
think of nothing but eating and drink
ing"
Dick turned as Mrs. Sullivan, looking
very girlish In a wonderful yellow
gown, slipped into the seat beside his
companion.
AND talking of food" she contin-
ued, I'm going to treat you abomin-
Al 4