Evening star., 1923-03-21
THE HOUSE OF MOHUN
BY GEORGE GIBBS
Author Of "Youth Triumphant" and Other Successes
cs,yzsa., 1879. D. Applstsa & O..

AlfaEERRREIa ESNieEEIaEaHENM,a
yet-he was SO virile . force to
reckon with!
AS to John Chichester. his roses
were very beautiful. but Cherry
couldn't resist the impression that
they partook Of the nature Of q NOR
tuary Offering brought from the great
tomb in which her mother proposed
that she should bury her hopes, He
wrote her some very pretty notes and.
tempted by curiosity to study him in
the light of her desperate Slterna~
tives. she went driving with him In
a closed car on visit which he
paid to Roslyn Towers. the hugs
country place up the river He was
scrupulously polite. egregieus enter
tanning, but not ardent He was, It
seemed. playing his game with CON
tact or consummate craft. She pre-
ferred to believe him merely
punctilious, delicately considerate OF
the position In which fortune had
to discover that her misfortune had
made no difference in the inclination
|of his fancy. which. more even than
before. seemed definitely to be set In
her direction. She had not disliksd
him as a dancing partner or a supper
companion. He had always been too
amtable to permit of that. But now.
In the mousine, his wisp OF a mus
tache had a defnitenass that was ap-
palling. And the garish light Of the
in presenting minute inperfections to
which the warm dull glow OF the
ballroom had been more kind.
When IN animation his face broke
UP into not unpleasant conformations.
but when in repose-as in the cases
Of most men who live by pleasure
alone-his look was one of weary In
quietude not far removed from pain.
Good grooming had done something
for the wrinkles at his eyes and his
couldn't resist the impression that he
was merely a. framework, conVen-
tionally covered with ntegument.
from which something substantial
been able to forget the stories that
she had heard about him or the pseu-
donym which had ciung to him from
birth. All of these considerations now
attained an added importance. ants' iits
she must reflect, was the person win
whom she was invited to spend tins
remainder of her life In the sump-
tuous mausoleum where even gay
football of the sound OF full- tnroateo
laughter would be a. sacrflege.
The visit to Roslyn Towers wnlle
made by Mr.. Chichester ostensibiy for
the purpose of attending to business
in connection with the estate. was. az
Cherry surmised. probably a device 10
impress her with the importance OF
the position in the world which ne
proposed to offer her. He did not
know that the more he offered the
more surely she realized the nature
of the sacrifice demanded OF her. the
price fattered her. but 1t renewed her
sense of the value Of her freedom.
Having no reservations of any Kind.
she meant that he should suffer from
no false notions as to her habits or
her character. And SO, though natu-
rally much sobered by the mlslor-
tunes which had overtaken her fam
fly. she spoke of many things with
frankness of which Mrs. Chichester
would have disapproyed. Even In her
extremity it would have amused
Cherry a great deal to bring about
But her modern views of life. instead
of deterring, seemed to add some thing
to his amusement and his garrulity.
Hang 1t all, He liked to hear a girl
say what she thought. 1t was bless
ing that the world had changed SO
that a woman was beginning to think
for herself Why shouldn't girl be
a good pal to a fellow instead or a
mere mincing doll as in the VICTORIAN
days? Companionship with a woman
was now beginning to be distinctly
worth while. Well. rather.
Cherry couldn't resist the tempta-
tion to banter, and she did IL In her
downright way.
Il thought you we're aiways s; on goo gooa
she said, significantly.
What. oh-er-well, upon my
word! Oh. ! say"
Cherry laughed.
"I suppose Miss Wanda Delaney
very tender age" she ventured,
calmly.
Wanda! What do you know about
Wanda?" he gasped.
Nothing, except what I've seen OF
her upon the stage. Perhaps I might
lovely back"
Wasn't 1t Wanda who invented the
neck harness. now SO frequently used
on the stage? You know 1t. 1t let's
woman seem to be naked to the
waist without being immodest!"
Upon my word! Really. Cherry
He was very much disturbed and
pluck ed jerkily at his rnustache for O.
moment. while Cherry rocked in
silent mirth, the first laugh she had
had in weeks.
"Oh, don't care in the least who
your friends are, Mr.. Chichester. T
only mention Wanda Delaney to make
you understand that girls thinking
for herself might be carried too far
or shall say too Iow?"
Chichester found himself laughing
at last-with her-at himself.
What a witch you are" he said.
delightedly.
But she couldn't disillusioalze him.
The very sallies meant to diminish
his friendliness served only to give
her attractions an added charm. And
Cherry returned home with q big fish
still hanging from her hook.
Cherry had avoided Burce Cowan.
He now seemed q part OF another life
which was very far away. In her
heart she knew that she would have
liked TO see him And this was one
Of the reasons why she did not per-
init herself that pleasure. "Deni
John" was a part of her Hiartyrdon1.
Bruce Cowan was the source OF dis
turbing exaltations His youth and
beauty called to her. Therefore she
denied him. He had written her notes
tried to get her on the telephone,
which Cherry had been very careful
not to answer except once when he
had caught her unawares. and she
had hung up Immediately. But she
knew that he could not be pat of
indefinitely. and one day they met.
1t was late one afternoon when she
was hurryiuE out for exercise. AS
she neared the corner Of the avenue
near the park she heard her name
tWhy. Bruce!" she gasped
And then, IS she was silent, he said,
1--WE been waiting for you. Don't you
want to see me?'
81 didn't want-I was Just hurryfnr
out for a little exercise"
But he matched his steps to lfars
ana they crossed the avenue into the
park.
ITO be continued tornorrow