Evening star., 1922-12-10

George opened a bottle Of bass and
helped himself to an impressive slice
Of cake.
We'll" he said, II showed our
| names down for the double punting
all right. AS far as I can see. we've
got jolly good chance, II you'll only
take it seriously"
IT take it very seriously" I inter-
rupted.
Barton was there" went on George.
HE is entering with his brother. 1t
would be rather fun If we were to
| run up against them in the finals"
I'VE are certain to do that" I OBJ
served, eff we get so far"
II went back to Barton's place to
lunch" said George. And, oh, by the
way, found out all about the bronze
haired girl at Otter's Holt. Barton
knows her WELL"
struck a match to light my ciga-
rette.
Indeed" I remarked carelessly.
| "Yes; she's married.
/ suppose 1 must have opened my
mouth, for the cigarette dropped on
the table.
shes what?' 1 exclaimed, after a
moments pause.
Married" said George. with a
laugh. "Her husbands in the wool
market. His names Congreve. Bar
They've taken Otter's Holt for the sum-
mer.''
If you can imagine the end of the
world coming just as you had inher-
tied a large fortune you will get a
very fair idea of my emotions at that
moment. 1 stared at George in kind
Of CHASTITY amazement: then. with an
effort. moistened my lips.
II don't believe it." I said.
ITS true. though" said George
Barton is coming over to stay with
them next month. Just my atrociou.
luck! I always fall in love with
women who either hate me or have
already got husbands"
suppose something in my face
must have attracted his attention, for
he stopped and looked at me curl
ously.
What's the matter. old man." he
asked. Feeling bad%
With a big effort pulled myself
together. picked up the cigarette
which had dropped.
Nothing much, George" I said.
i've got a bit of a headache. Too
many sardines, expect"
You have been sitting about in the
sun without q hat again." said George
severely. II told you what would
happen. Now, II you had a little less
hair. like me. you might have a little
moro sense" He got up and put his
hand on my shoulder. you tumble
in and lie down." he added. 'Ill wash
up"
And George did.
spent what believe is generally
called "a wretched night" 1t mus,
have been about in the morning
when finally consigned Barton and
tho bronze-haired girl and my own
ridiculous emotions to the bottom OF
the Thames. and, turning savagely
over on my side, dropped into a trou-
bled. useless sort of sleep.
| was awake again at 6. reused by
the vigorous caroling Of q thrush
whose own love affairs were appar-
emily in excellent order. George was
still sleeping. I crawled out care
fully so as not to disturb him, and
taking q towel, made my way down
to the river.
| Il X X 4
THERE was the promise of another
i lovely day in the air, and the
warm early morning sunshine SEEM
cd to battle one in q kind Of comfort
ing caress. By the time I had had
my usual swim and dried myself on
the bank my turbulent feelings Of the
previous night had given place to
what I believed to be q moro or less
philosophio resignation.
After all. I said to myself. there
| was nothing to be gained by weeping
and gnashinE ones teeth. 1t was dis
ttnctiy distressing that my only at
tempt At falling in love should have
| met with 80 disastrous check. Still.
other people had had equally unpleas-
ant experiences and had managed to
survive them. Was It not brave old
fr.a,~A Ujthae vho had ann mad uy,