Evening star., 1923-03-14

luncheon had been perfectly under
stood. except perhaps by Cherry
herself, who had merely accepteu
the invitation because her mother
And there was not the slightest
doubt that Mrs Chichester had
given her approval fo Cherry. She had
SHOWN II in the delicate farewell pat
of her jcweled hand and the gracious
smile that she had bestowed upon
,n:lia-, as though to say, Cherry Is
lovely, ! am sure that she Will
grace my name. We understand
each other. Let US keep this secret"
Gone, the consequential air with
which she had greeted them Alicia
felt her fortunes under the majestic
shadow of the great lady's patronage
and protection. The match was al
ready r. thing accomplished. All
that remained was to bring Cherry
to the point Of agreeing with her.
The smile faded at Alicia Mohun's
her brows, fled before the recur-
rance Of the smile and then definitely
remained. Cherry would have TO
be reckoned with and at once. OF
course. she was almost too young to
understand what marriage with
Child Of nature, she gave thought
only TO the instincts OF youth for
Joy and pleasure. Mrs. Chichester
meant nothing OF this to her. It
was perhaps going to be more diff
flcult than her mother had supposed
preciating all the benefits that II
future such AS Alicia planned could
have in store. But the time had
come for a definite change in Cherry's
point Of view with regard to the
great issues OF life. She would have
o. - =
her obligations to her family.
The from on Alicia Mohun's
hrowg deepenod. though she rubbed 1t
away again and again, with her
fingers. She Didn't Ike Cherry's
Friendship with this Bruce Cowan.
who was. as far az she could learn.
person Of no Importance. But
Cherry could be obstinate when she
chose. How dull OF her. And at
such a time. 1t was IL part of the
democratizins influence of the war.
which had worked and was still
had even gotten Genie and some Of
the other girls to take Cowan up
Just because he had looked so we'll
in uniform" The friendship was
rather maddeniug in 4 way, es-
pecially as 1t could have no real
But now that Cherry's plans for
the afternoon were made, her mother
dared not bring the matter to an
issue. Another day would be better
FOR that--tomorrow perhaps And
so dtssembling her pretty voice called
softly to Cherry as She went down
the stairs for her drive:
Are you quite warm, darlingo
You know. there's the Caring
tons dinner dance tonight. The
dinners at eight. BE sure to be
home In time TO dresa'
All right, Muzzy-good-by." Cher
sayly. and out at the door
Dear child: No real harm in her,
of course-ncl in this curious friend
ship which had assumed an un-
pleasant If only nomentary signin-
canoe in the light of thu creator
glory Of her opportunities. Alicia
Mohun closed and locked the outer
doors Of her room and. slipping on a
rink silk petgnoir. sat before her
three-angle mirror and. taking sew
eral round boxes OF salve from a
drawer OF her dressing table. began
that intricate process of facial re-
generation to which she turned
whenever she had a doubt or q
difficulty.
But the tiny wrinkle which had
mace its appearance between her eye
smiled at 1t. pleaded with II. grimaced
gently, but all to no effect The
wrinkle remained. Its impervious-
ness 70 olandishment annoyed and then
startled her. She would have to stop
taking the little difficulties Of life az,
seriously. The Port Of Dreams was
not go far distant now. She would
succeed. She always had succ, eGied
IN every ambition, why not in this.
the greatest ambition Of them ali?
she was smiling again at her image
~hich was still. as she was forced to
admit even to herself. very lovely.
And the little democrat of a. wr,nkie
suddenly fiattered her by its absence.
The ritual before the mirror lasted
an hour and then she bathed and
slept N
II was dark when she awola
Through the partly open window she
was aware OF street sounds. the rattle
or a taxi. Its loose chains playing q
sort OF ragtme down the street: tho
roar or the distant L newsboys cali
what It was that they called, but the
gibberish was unintelligible and she
dropped off TO sleep again. to he
awakened by the knock Of her maid
on on the door. telling her that it was
entered, switching on the lights. anS
mrs; Mohun arose from her couch.
eled clock.
Has Miss Cherry rom. ;,y. ,
asked. '1'e
NO, madam"
It's getting late. There is hardly
Ilino TO dress even now"
Mrs. Mohun dressed slowly she
mad no engagement for the evening
with anxious glances at the clock. II
"as already nearly half-past SEVEN
anc the Carringtons dinner was M
e!ghC Cherry frequent came home
late and dressed in q rush, but had
never committed the unpardonabIa
SIN or cutting a dinner engagement
6ruce Cowan! Alicia, gazing in her
oheval glass, saw the tiny wrinkle a,
her oroWs suddenly appear, deeper.
more portentous, than ever. Cherry
was with Bruce Cowan and ouita Oh,
ttivIous or the passage Of time. Per
ono moment Lille" she said s,d-
oenly, to her maid: "I must phone"
IN succession she got the houses of
Sherfys intimates. the Macklins. Co
NE ArmitagS the Townes. but none
OF them had seen Cherry or heard
from her. vi iiea1o
slowly Mrs. Mohun turned awav. trv-
.hs 90 conceal her anxiety. which nc
,nH ,,a;,s nands OF the clock Indicated ten
1 1lutes 10 ., became very real. in
inm' La. Inerry' was thoughtless, friyo-
sense Of obligation In her sociaIa ~
easements. as O'Clock struck Mrs
ihohun began to fear that an acc;dant
.Su happened-always a possihiIitv
Wnen one considered the sneed 81
Mhlcn Cnerry drove. But surely sorne
one would have phoned
tTo be continued tomorrow1