Evening star., 1914-05-31
By MARY ALBERTSON

smiled ndulgenty; but her eyes swept his splendidly
proportioned figure she answered.
IN the dusk of evening Yarde, wandering restlessy
about, at last upon the object of his search.
Moodiy he paced, and waited till he Marans COM
panion disappear. She greeted him with tolerant
smile. Her mood of the twilight, softened, mel
lowed by its mystic influence.
"How many miles have you walked?" he asked.
@Have you lost Emily again." her laughing reply.
Il haven't seen her for ages
@Well, if see her, III tell her you lonesome.
have bridge game
"Must you go? Truly? Then won't you-cone out
here again after the game?" he begged "There
thing l want to say to you. Really, must see you
again tonight"
She frowned in the deepening dark. about Emiy?'
she questioned.
3Yes You will Gomez" His voice was eager
@Well, yes" with resigned sigh @But-I
you-I may not be sympathetic listener. may have
lost my game"
4I1 chance it, he rejoned heartily.
Yarde met her when she emerged later, and she put
her hand into his extended involuntanly, following
its guiding pressure to the carefully placed chairs, shell
tered in angle. Into the designated one she sank
and withdrew her fingers.
do you know" said the from the dark and he
bent closer for clearer of her face Il should
think you would hesitate to frt with boy like Ray
mond" Raymond her partner at bridge.
@I-firt? That is rdiculous!" she CALCULATED sharply
@The boy has become your shadow already The
PLAIN statement emphasized his question.
"You Think perhaps, that because Emily amuses her
self by flirting it may be family trat?"
emily does frt outrageously."
3You wanted to tell me-somethng- her.
think you said"
@Well, you see" he began uncertainty and stopped
With effort he f1oundered on. @She-will have
of me. l am discarded -stranded-thrown upon my
resources for entertainment throughout the trip
And-what shall do with MYSELF"
"Smoke; play cards. firt with another girl, if you
like"
4With-you?" He advanced this bold proposition
with imperturbable
WITH me?" Marian Warren laughed in undisguised
merriment "How absurd! With your aunt-in-
law?'
with my aunt" he said bewilderedly.
Certainly Have you overlooked the fact that am
Emiy's aunt?"
4Oh, to be sure! So had. Well, now, brightly
3that makes the quite simple You" beginning
to explain eaboratey, @as Emlys aunt would be quite
safe -oh-unobjection to her. No. wait!"
the Strengthened up at this startling suggestion
3Dont say anything yet. want you it from my
point of view. It's quite simple. saved the blue
devils-you go unscathed-and-I promise to give my
best efforts to your entertainment The words tun-
bled forth with earnest impetuosity.
@Well!" she exclaimed breathessly. @Of all the
audacious propositions"
"Not at all. Not have explained it, he assured
her confidently.
Her eyes still laughing into his. 3And suppose
l consent? Emily may
Il will explain to Emily. She will be delighted. 1t
will you see, be furnishing occupation.
His candid self-approval evoked another ouburst of
mirth from her. @You foolish boy!' she exclaimed.
Il am not boy-you do not think of me boy"
he calmly denied.
@Women of settled age look upon young men indis-
criminatey as boys" she announced cooly.
@Women of settled age" he answered 4And
your senior by several years. Come-s it bar