The Washington herald., 1922-01-21
Continued from Yesterday.


Miss Dayton rang me up just
before you came" Jeanne told
Barstowe as his car bore them
across the bridge and into the ia
miliar landscape of Long Island.
She tells me that she Is dining
with your family tonight"
II she had expected surprise on
Barstowe's part she was disap-
pointed for he nodded.
Yes, 1 know. When / called
mother to tell her that l was bring
ing you out, she said II was very
fortunate as she was having some
young people in," he grinned.
Evidently mother and dad suspect
nothing in spite of the hints I've
dropped"
will they be likely to object to
your marriase?" inquired Jeanne.
In the warm darkness of the
car-he had one of the Barstowe
limousines-his arm went round
her and he drew her close to his
side.
No family on earth could do
anything but go down on its knees
at the prospect of having you in
it," he whispered against her ear.
Jeanne drew away a little.
But Vic, I want you to under
stand something. L shall never
marry You unless your family give
their consent heartily and fully"
He laughed and pressed her
Gloved fingers against his lips
NO need to worry. sweetheart!
There isn't a chance of any par
entail objection. OF course" he
added slowly. as though trying to
prepare against any contingency,
Mother may be a trifle-er-sur-
prised. She-well-she and dad
have always expected that I would
marry someone else - someone
they've known for a long time"
Vera Dayton" asked Jeanne
quietly.
He looked surprised.
How did you know"
Adele Parkinson told me first.
Just this afternoon. Miss Dayton
herself gave me to understand
that there was a tacit agreement
to that effect"
He frowned and released her
hand.
Lord. what gossips some women
arc, 49,. And Vera-it seems to
me it was in rather questionable
taste for her to insinuate such
thing"
Jeanne laid her hand on his arm.
Please" she said. Don't mis-
rake my attitude in :'e matter. I
haven't a flicker of jealousy. 1t
is an emotion I've never expe-
rienced. go. In this instance, ]
merely want to be sure of my
ground before / set foot on 1t.
am glad that 1 know how matters
stand between Miss Dayton, your
family. and yourself. Otherwise /
might have done or said something
very tactless."
He took her hand again and
squeezed her fingers gratefully.
Jeanne. you're a wonder! There
isn't many a chaps fiancee who
would look at things SO sensi-
bIyi''
Jeanne smiled into the warm
scented darkness.
The car turned in presently at
a massive gateway. A winding
drive, bordered with neatly clipped
shrubbery wound through a park,
lighted here and there by brilliant
clusters of electrics. Through the
thickly-placed trees, Jeanne caught
a glimpse of a foundation on which
colored lights were trained, and,
winter though il was, she could
hear its musical splash.
4 great house OF creamy white
marble, with graceful fianking YER
-andas .sioomed suddenly around a
curve in the drive. ConventiOnally
etched against the pale back ground
were tiny fur trees at windows,
doorways. and guarding the broad
marble stairway that approached
the stately entrance From win
dows, whose draperies were drawn
to give a glimpse Nof the YARN in
terror. lights the color of the pink
heart of a sea shell shone forth
into the night. 1t was as though
every light in the house gave out
that rose-fiush radiance. The ef-
feet against the creamy marble was
like the translucence of a fairy
palace. Jeanne thought.
4 servant in uniform ran down
the steps and opened the door of
the car. Barstowe assisted Jeanne
to alight and accompanied her into
the house. turning her over to a