Evening star., 1922-12-03

dies"
Johnny grinned amiably and drew
Andrew toward the clubhouse lie
knew perfectly we'll what would hap
pen. And 1t did. When the two men
hove in sight they were pounced on
by Caroline Manson. and. willy -nilly.
found themselves part of her group
Caroline. who was by way of being
the heiress and beauty of Greenfields.
beamed on him.
You don't deserve it," she said to
him archly. but I'm going to take
you round the links with me. 1t will
serve you just right for being such a
hermit"
Andrew smiled wearily. wondering
meanwhile why large brunette wom-
en- are possessed to be kittenisE.
'I'm so interested in your portrait
of Mrs. Lowell" gushed on Caroline
I'm simply wild to see it. What
style are you using-real or impress
sionistic?"
1--WE tried to strike a note some-
where between Botticelli and Pleas
So" replied Andrew, darkly.
"Oh. that must be wonderful" de-
claimed Caroline. II shall look for
ward SO much the more to seeing it,
I'd so love to have my portrait DONE"
Her tone invited compliment. but,
even with another commission in
view. Andrew remained silent. HIS
silence was not noticed. however. for
their group had halted on the very
edge, of the silver pool to watch the
players putt into the hole just be-
yond. Caroline ran playfully out onto
the boat landing to get a better view
and Andrew fell back little. Won
dering how he might get away 1t
was then he noticed a small, fair girl
in the group. She was standing very
near Caroline. and she was ostensi-
bly,. like the others, engaged in waten-
ing the players. Her left foot, how
ever, was busily pushing at a frag-
ment of stone which weighted down
one of the shaky planks of the land
ing.
CCDDESLY-zzzzzz The
stone tilted off the plank. the
plank tilted skyward. and Miss Caro-
line Manson, with a shrek of horror,
was dumped ungracefully into the
shallow depths of the pool.
She rose, spluttering and furious, to
her feet. and. assisted by many will
ing hands. reached shore. and stood
there, dripping and bedraggled. while
a chorus Of That rickety old land
ing" Did you hurt -yourself?" ITS
a disgrace to the club" Better hurry
into the clubhouse" rose about her
Several sympathetic friends volun-
teered to go with her. and Andrew.
seeing an eventual chance to flee.
tagged along.
AS they ascended the hill he pres
entity found himself walking almost
side by side with the girl who had
pushed the stone of the plank and
given Caroline her ducking. Andrew
looked at the culprit closely and OBJ
served. with inward mirth. that she
was wearing look of innocent con-
Germ. yet. in the depth of her blue
eyes he thought he detected some-
thing of passionate satisfaction. An
drew decided that she had good fea-
tures-but the vicious yellow of her
sweater was an inexcusable blot on
the landscape. He dropped back a
step and Joined her.
What did you do 1t forr' he whis-
pered.
Il didn't do It," replied the girl,
startled-and the rising color of her
cheeks belied her.
Naughty. naughty" admonished
Andrew. wagging his finger at her.
Where do little girls go when they
tell stories? I saw you push that
stone off the plank. And I should like
to know why you did it. Come. I'm
no telltale."
The girl looked at him earnestly.
They had now dropped so far behind
the water nymph and her escort as to
be quite isolated.
I did it." said the girl at last, "be-
cause I am so sick and tired Of being
a gooseberry."
"A gooseberry." said Andrew blank
ly. Il thought I spoke American, but
to me. I must confess. gooseberry
Is but a simple fruit, unpalable raw,
perhaps, but delicious when served in
tarts with whipped cream. Are you,
perhaps. contemplating an-er-culi-
nary demiseT
Don't be ridiculous" said the girl.
"A gooseberry is just-just the odd
PERSON in any party"
still, am mYstified." said Andrew.
you don't look the least like an odd
person to me, though I don't care for
the color OF that sweater thing you're
wearing. It doesn't suit you. You're
too blonde"
That's a part Of it." said the girl
"She helped me pick out
my clothes. How did I know? And
I thought would have such a good
time-and father thought so, too-and
ever since I've been here I've been
made to feel unwanted-and-"
Her voice began to quaver patheti-
cally.
NIX on the sob stuff" cried An
drew. Il heard q chap say that to
his best girl at the movies, but +
never thought I'd get the chance to
say it to a-to aVlittle gooseberry."
You're a perfectly hateful person." |
flashed the girl. Il dare say you'll
go and tell Caroline I pushed her in. !
Well, go ahead. I really shouldn't !
care"
tut" said Andrew. What a ram !
pant gooseberry you are! And, by the /
way. what's your name? I dare say |
I met YOU down there hut wa. II a |