Evening star., 1921-09-18

Phillis leaned back, and the car
glided away.
"And whom have you danced with
all the evening" Lady Mary asked,
as they sped homeward.
Phillis drew her white cloak little
more closely round her slim figure:
Il danced several with Mr.. Ravena-
worth" she said. And then Billy In
troduced Lord Seldom"
my dear!-and Billy disapproves 30
Of Lord Seldon!"
II know; he objected at first: But
simply insisted: and. after all. he's
very charming man." Her voice
''He is a very charming old msn. /"
said Lady Mary. She leaned back and
closed her eyes.
tered Lady Mary's drawing room.
there was q huge fire roaring up the
| wide chimney, and the Hon. Billy
| stood before it on the hearth-rug.
gloom on his usually good-natured
face.
A maid took the cloaks and wraps;
a footman served coffee and retired;
Lady Mary yawnsd.
| II don't know when I was SO tired.
Phil, dear. you really must excuse me.
Don't sit up long. it's o'clock now"
She gave Phil peck of kiss. and
waved her hand to Billy.
| Phillis stood by the fire. the too or
her dainty slipper resting on the
| fender.
why did you leave without us'to-
because I object to seeing You on
friendly terms with Lord Seldom, ne
haps / should say that / object to my
| hancee making herself conspicuous
| with man of his age"
That is a pity. seeing that am
going to Princes with him tomorr1W
al,a
know, he. is one of the finest skaters
in London"
Billy was white with anger. >,
Il absolutely forbid you to 60, co.,
he said furiously: "As long 1e,, as t.,yra you
wife. 1 forbid you to have anything
to do with Seldom"
She swung round. raising her gray
eyes to his angry face.
"Why?" she asked directly. Are
are you only jealous Of your name?
Billy turned scarlet: the sudden
ness of the attack disarmed him.
Because the man is cad" ne
said violently. Il could tell you
enough about him to prove
do not already know.
The Hon. Billy caught his breath
hard.
| fore?"
Il y 4 4
in\vO: have never spoken to him in
! A> all my life until this evening"
She laughed contemptuously. Per
| haps you think--oh. how absurd it all
! is" she broke off. "Ours is purely
business relation. What is it to do
with you how l spend my time? In
two months you will be free Of me-"
She spoke defiantly.
| Il will be free Of you now. ] will
publish it in the papers tomorrow
! that our engagement is at an end.
! She was deathly white now.
| You can be as insulting as you
| choose. but ] am not afraid OF you!
! Do as you threaten, and 1 will pub
ment-the sum ! have paid you: the
| sum 1 have paid to Lady Mary: 1t
will make interesting reading Tor
your friends. will 1t not?'
You're jealous" she said. sudden
daring filled her animated face
Jealous because you're in love with
me. and think 1t beneath you to ad,
nit it. You're an honorable and and
led gosev sesn II yGS Xna frs m 5us,
nobody-jumped up from nothing
holding my position because Of your
help she broke of. frightened
at the expression of the Hon. Billy's
face.
jealous, In love with YOU" He
laughed discordantly. "I am afraid
you are making a mistake" he said.
She shrank back from him as il he
had struck her.
The Hon. Billy turned on his heel
and walked out of the room without
another word.
| LADY Mary, returning cautiously I
moment later. found Phillis staring
into the dying fire with brooding
Heavens" she calculated. in a
lstaee whisper. what has happened
Did you hear Billy slam the door?
| Phillis laughed rather tremulausly
| "Billy's jealous-of Lord Seldom!
she said
| with morning Billy awoke from a
short. troubled sleep with every other
emotian save remorse washed out Of
his heart and mind.
When he had breakfasted he rang
Lady Mary up on the pnohe ana asheo
if he could come round.
"Eilly, of course you can! But phi
isn't in! She went out quite early
lthis morning. ! don't expect her back
,till lunch time:
He made his toilet with extra care;
Pierce heaved a sigh of relief when
at last the door closed behind his i'm
maculate back.
Lady Mary looked a tribe anxious
as she greeted him.
"Phil isn't home: she phoned up to
| say she was lunching out. No. she
didn't say with whom"
| "She's with Seldom, of course" he
said.
MY dear boy. how should know!
| She went out alone. I never ask ques-
lions. and. after all, Phil tells me that
| it was you who introduced Lord Sell
| DON"
"she told you them
"She said you were Jealous of Lord
| Seldom! So absurd! He is middle
| aged man."
| title. But it's absurd to say I was
! jealous-angry. if YOU like
| Lady Mary raised her brows.
| "I entirely sympathize with Phillis.'
she said. eff YOU treat her like this
| now. what will you do when you are
ma rried?''
The Hon. Billy started up from his
! chair.
! "Hang it all! You know Jolly well
| we never shall be married" he said
| stormily. There was a slight smile
| on Ladv Marv's thin face.
| "Really. Billy" she said. aggriev-
| edly. you need not fly into such RACES
ing Jealous Of Lord Seldom
| "I tell Won I'm not jealous: it's
! only that it looks so laundering bad
for her to go about with him when
she is supposed to be engaged to me.
II-there she is.''
A car had just driven up to the
curbstone. man got ont: turning to
The man. Lord Seldom. stood talk
| ing to her for moment while his