The Washington times., 1921-04-09


and she began to cry as she faced
them. You're all against Sidney!
You all hate him." she sputtered.
Dan is jealous of him-yes. you
are, Dan. And Patricia-do you
think ! don't know that you and
ne were engaged?" she demanded
tearfully, turning toward the other
girl. "Now now now you'll
blame him for this! And 1t was my
fault-it was my fault--it was be-
cause l couldn't bear-I couldn't
bear-to have him go away! l
uon't care about anything else-I
don't care, I tell you"
And evadink her brother. she
went into Sidney's arms and clung
there. and as he put his own about
her and faced the others over the
little buried head. Patricia. saw
tears in his eyes.
For space they were all silent,
except for the sobbing girl. About
them the snow futtered and fut-
tered; the watching woods were
without a sound. Mrs. Palmer
took out her handk erchlef and
wiped her eyes.
There lis nothing can say"
Sidney began after a while. "Tve
cared for her ever since l met her.
/ hoped that after a time I would
be free and might come back for
her. This morning. when we
started riding, we had no idea OF
this-it just flashed across us when
we were talking, and the rest fol-
lowed. Don't cry. dear" he said
tenderly. You'd better go back
with the others, and some day"
frin a
sob. DO you think am going
back to have Dan bully me and
and scold me?" she said, with one
angry glance over her shoulder. II
thought you were going to the
Throckmortons?" she finished re-
sentfully. I'VE saw some of them
at the station"
BEATRICE DEFIANT.
$50 we werew Patricia supplied.
"And / am afraid there will be talk
about this she added to Dan, in a
worried undertone. "You see, they
saw her. It's unfortunate.
81 don't care what they think"
Beatrice said scornfully.
But 1t is so unnecessary" Pa
tricia protested mildly. you and
Sidney could wait. You could have
announced your engagement some
time in the spring. 1t would have
meant that you saved your mother
a good deal-'
ITS easy enough to talk" Bea-
trice muttered .childishly. But she
spoke in a softened tone and gave
her mother a moIlifcd glance
You could have had lovely
wedding" Patricia pursued, seeing
that she was making an impress
sion. land you would have been
envied by all the girls in Deer
bridge"
Well. that's what we are going
to do"' Beatrice exclaimed.
You mean that you will go homo
Ike a sensible girl and talk 1t over
with mother" Patricia said, too
soon. Beatrice drew a long, sob
bling breath. gave her brother and
Patricia a scornful glance and. still
clinging to SidAey's arm. looked
sulkily down. Hatricia looked at
Sidney: she had never seen him at
a disadvantage before. He seemed
undecided between bravado and
apology.
Suddenly Beatrice flung herself
into her mothers arms and burst
out crying childishly. Mamma be-
''''S III h'O. mamma sorry IOf
me-"
sidney" Patricia said. in
quick undertone. "the train will
be here in few minutes why
don't you take Beatrice and her
mother home? You can have din
ner and talk things over. I'll go
home with Dan in the car--or
rather" she added. as even the sob
bling Beatrice showed signs Of in
terest, "or rather, Dan and / ought
to go to the Throckmorton party.
II none OF us comes, my aunt will
surely suspect something How far
Is Mountainhead, Dan? Isn't IL right
over this ridge? We could easily
make 1t in time for tear"
Tea" Beatrice echoed scorn-
fully.
"Ah, well. you had lunch!" Pa
tricia protested. And suddenly they
were all laughing.
Five minutes later three Of the
party climbed into the Deerbridge
train. Beatrice swept in without
a glance for her brother, but Mrs.
Palmer kissed Patricia good-by,
and the men touched hands. Pa
tricia was smiling as she went
back to the car. Her pulses were
thrilling from the recent excite
ment, from the glimpse of a great
passion.
To he Continued Monday.
(Copyright by International Magazine