Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-06
Continued from page :


w nat on earth are you grumbl1ng at!
Jermyn replied, smiling: Its midnight,
and you've had four rubbers of bridge"
He had paused by her side. She moved
little nearer to him, as though by accident.
Her eyes and lips were close to his. In his
present state he was, of course, almost hope
less; but she was past mistress in the
small subtleties of her sex, and she had great
faith in propinquity. She knew also that
she was beautiful.
you dear, primitive person. she whis-
pered. 81 hate to go to bed before three or
four o'clock, and the bridge was too awful!
Your doctor was the only man who could
play card, and he didn't know auction.
Really, think | am the most self-denying
person in the world to do this for you-for
many reasons"
Jermyn was little uncomfortable with
out knowing why. at was very nice of you
to come, Lucille" he said. "Still, you pro-
posed it yourself, didn't you?-and some
how or other | always seem to rely upon you
if l want anyone to do me kindness"
She looked at him with little petulant
frown. "My dear boy" she exclaimed, "you
do ask such strange kindnesses. Now some
thing elderly, with cat and dead husband
and cameo ornaments, would have done just
as we'll as L.
"But don't know anything of that Sort"
he objected. Besides, you wanted to come
for a few days"
II wanted to come, it is true" she admit
ted, "but not exactly under these conditions.
Harrods or Whiteley's would have supplied
exactly what you wanted. Really, l feel
that l am wasted, besides being quite I'M
necessary, am sure. Your beautiful Miss
Cluley is the soul of propriety,-is she?-
and you always say that your life is directed
without any regard to other peoples opin-
IONS"
"There are certain conventions" he re-
to observe"
She yawned. Every now and then, Jer-
myn," she declared, "you make me wonder
why you are not worse prlg than you are.
In any case it's too late for discussion of
this sort. If you were really grateful, really
conscious of your responsibilities as my host,
you would do your best to entertain me for
an hour,-st with me in the garden, per-
haps, and tell me about your new play. No?
Well, then, l shall go in and make poor
Aynesworth entertain me for few minutes.
| can't think of a more satisfactory way of
getting sleepy than to listen to him talk"
you'll find him in the smoking room in
typical attitude Jermyn remarked, srnil-
ing. Goodnight, Lucille
He raised her hand to his lps,-their old
form of salute. The fingers were very cold,
and she leaned just a little toward him.
"There was a time" she whispered
He laughed. "Don't flirt with me, please,
Lucille he begged, moving up the stairs.
Il am in far too susceptible a frame of
mind"
She stood with one foot upon the bottom
stair, her hand upon the balusters, watching
him ascend. He passed out of sight without
turning his head. Then very slowly she
crossed the hall once more and entered the
smoking room.
CHAPTER VIII
T AKENJHAM had discovered copy of the
Sporting Times; which he threw down
at once, however, at Lucille's entrance.
Good girl!' he exclaimed. @Come and
restore my dropping spirits. I am feeling
like naughty boy left here all alone. Dear
Jermyn doesn't approve of me. He's given
me a little moral lecture and gone off to
bed"
Il met him on the stairs Lucille re-
marked. 4He treated me in very much the
same fashion"
Fellow won't listen to reason" Laken-
ham grumbled. Il did no more than re-
mind him that this fascinating little mortal
whom he's fallen in love with belongs to the
world of easier WAYS than his. He went and