The evening world., 1920-11-19

fast and gone out,
She came in while Esther was dress
ing. She looked very pleased anu
alert.
Business, my child" she said en-
Enthusiastically. such a duck OF an
Americanl and Micky's introduction!
Mr. George Z. Rochester!-isnt It
lovely name? He's going to establish
me firmly in little old New York, as
ne calls II, and make my fortune. I'M
going out to lunch with him at ono
o'clock, and you're coming too!-oh'
yes you arew AS Esther shook her
head. 1--WE told him all about you
already" Esther laughed.
You must have got on very fast
she sad. And anyway I'm not going
70 play pdd-ma n-out.'
June made little grimace.
Il telephoncd Micky and asked him
to come and make a fourth" she ad-
, mltted.
Esther flushed. She looked up Gag
eriy:
"And-and Is he coming?"
June shook her head.
mo. he isn't" she said with over
done indifference. He said he'd got
an engagement already, but between
added darkly. Il don't believe II! l
/ think he just didn't want to come"
| ooh" said Esther family. II expect
he has a good many engagements,'
she added after a moment.
She was smarting with humiliatlons,
She had offered MiclIy her little olive
branch when they parted two days
, ago at Charing Cross, and this Is how
| he had accepted II! .
"If he's trying to pay me out,
suppose it's only what l deserve" she
thought miseraOly, and yet 1t did not
seem like MIcky to deliberately try or
wish to hurt or humlliate any one.
She did her bestto push the shadow
aside. She tried to laugh and talk
with June as they went off to meet
Mr.. George p. Rochester.
He was a big bluff man, with a.
hand clasp like the grip of bear. ana
+ a twang that could be cut with a
knife.
They lunched at a restaurant which
she had never even heard of. though
June seemed quite at home. There
we're several people at other tables,
. whom June knew, and Esther felt
| very out Of it all, and unhappy.
/ Rochester talked to june great
deal Once or twice he tried TO draw
Esther into the conversation, but. see-
ing that she wished to be let alone, he
soon gave up the attempt.
He was certainly a most friendly
| peraon-one would have thought that
he and June had known one another
for years: before lunch was ended he
.al invited himself to tea for the fol-
lowing afternoon,
THAT'S Yankee push II you like!S
Jun. ga d when he had gone. give
IN" a Yankee every time to make
t.ugs gO!" She looked at Esther ex-
c.tcliy. do you know" she said,
I'VE a great mind TO try and per-
suade that man TO come into partner
ship with me"
Esther laughed
81 should say he'd suggest It himself
II you give him another day or two,H
she said dryly as she wandered list
lessly round the room.
4 June's friendship with Mr.. George
p. Rochester grew apace.
"Micky's introductions are always a
succe S." she told Esther. And Mickv
likes him wfully! Mr.. Rochester
Is round at Micky's rooms nearly
every night. They're ever such pals!'
Are they?" said Esther. The men
tlon of Micky's name always seemed
? to make her heart culver. She won
dered If June knew why he never
came to the house now. and what she
thought about II all.
In her own mind she was sure that
Milky had cast her off. and the
knowledge left her with a sense of
: desolation.
She never spoke of him unless June
did 50 first, and she tried never to
I think of him. But Mlcky was a per
sonality not to be lightly dismissed
FROM memory, and he haunted her
thoughts waking and sleeping.
Has he suggested the partnership
/ YETI" Esther asked one night.
June flushed roslly.
| Don't be absurd" she answered,
! ana something in her voice woke n
little note of fear in Esthers heart.
Was she to lose June too? Was
, there to be nothing left to her in all
. the world? Her hands shook as she
went on mechanically filling the row
of little mauVe pots.
Esther, said June suddenly, ''how
r long Is it since you saw Micky7"
TAcre was a little pause, then
+ Esther said constrainedly, i've never
: seen him slnce-since we came back
from Paris"
: She waited a moment.
! WHY" she asked with an effort,
l June kept her eyes bent on her
work
Because I haven't seen him my
self for nearly a week., she said
? slowly And l hear-I hear that he's
= running round with that Deland girl
I aga.n."
She did not dare to look up as she
= spoke, and she went on quickly, "Of
, course 1t may only be gossip-but
2 George-Mr. Rochester" she hur-
! Tiedly corrected herself, tells me that
MiCky took him to their house q
a dinner last night"
l And it's all entirely due to me-"
> Micky said when June rang him uu
/ the following morning to tell him the
news.
81 introduced you! What do I GET
out of II all, l should like to known
] His voice was playful, but June TOOK
him seriously.
' 20 Micky! IL you could only be "a
a happy as / am" she said eagerly.
1 Micky laughed.
III wishes were horses, my DEAR
he said sententiously but DOME
e worry about me, I'm all right"
Then, will you come TO dinner 10
e night? No, not at the boarding house
Wen go to the Savoy-just to cels-
5 brate! We fourl",