Evening star., 1924-08-03

with what he had let slip. Where
we'd GO. What could he mean?
What had happened TO them? She
groped around for some of the old
formal conventions left behind in the
hotel bedroom with Tia and her
cough
My name she introduced herself.
in helatcd attempt to formalize the
situation. lis Maria AnnunZiata. And
| live with my Aunt Juana.
Dick said promptly. Maria Annun-
ziata doesn't suit you. Too naughty
and southern. Iii call YOU Nan-in
England was brought up by al
aunt. too. funnily enough. My blessed
Aunt MarSaret-sheI adore YOU Of
course,--has a cottage in Bucking-
hamshire. where the beech trees are
like dancing light green fame in
April, bride paths to ride along. on
last years leaves in dark purple
nush: and moss-oii. you won't talk
Of the Casino terrace then. The VIII
lace is Tudor, and not a bit spoilt-
simply, packed full OF stories-I cant
begin 10 tell you. oh. Nan-just the
feeling Of belonging to 1.-THE sky
| is not hard blue all over: il has fluffy
white bundles OF cloud. and the sun
Will shine as though it loved you
especially, and you'll wear an old
short, faded dress that you can spoil
| as much AS you please"
He stopped short in his iucoherent
raptures.
I'm gushing like a fool he fin
| ished abruptly. But you under
stand-don't you. Man,
! When Maria Annunziata at length
returned to her aunt at the hotel that
afternoon she still had not told Dick
about her engagement to Julius
Rehan.
The simple reason was that the
minute her fianCe returned to Monte
Carlo he would be her fianCe no
longer She would break it off.
Maria Annunziata might obedientiy
accept the dictate that a girl who is
chosen by millionaire must not say
no to him; but this new Nan,
daughter Of an English father,
realized now, in a tumult Of rebel
lion and joy and shame and flaming
| rose-hued wonder. that the only thing
| that mattered was youth to youth.
and love to love. She was one rage
Of impatience for her next meeting
with Julius. to break away from en-
circling gold. He was travelling
about, or she would have written.
wired, gone to him-anything to get
free quickly, and escape with Dick.
Oranges and lemons and mimosa,
even the blazing sunshine of the Cote
d'Azur, all reminded her of gold She
was sick of the color.
< = y
MEANWH1LE. Aunt Juana con-
AA tinucd to lie in bed and wheeze,
and cough and eNult in the splendors
OF Maria Annunziata's future, all un-
aware of rechristenings. And Nan
| continued adventurously to meet
Dick at Miss Robinsons among the
; aspidistras. where nobody was likely
! to disturb their daily enchantment
| 1t was ridiculous spot for fairy
| of growing up anywhere. quick as
| mushrooms, stronger than oak trees.
! Aunt Juana thought Maria An
nunziata was being chaperoned by
! her friend. Nine. de Torrez, who was
| staying in the same hotel with her
| two excessively plain daughters But
madame was just then very busy lur-
| ing a hapless young man into a pro-
posal for the hand Of the younger
and perhaps less plain--daughter
| And Maria Annunziata offered a dis
| turbing contrast in looks, which
| might well prove fatal at q critical
, moment. So that she was too glad
= Of the girls sudden disappearance
| every afternoon to mention them to
Aunt Juana.
| Then came julius telegram: AR
! irving o'clock this evening" And
/ on the same day, Dick begged Maria
| Annunziata to run away with him.
| "I don't know what we're waiting
for" he urged. eff l knew DOW one
| got married in this barbarian
| hole
"oh, Dick" laughed the girl. you
are so funny about every place that
is not England"
| well, one would have to go in
! front Of mayors and things-foreign
mayors. And I believe every mar
riage has to be done twice over, or
| 1t doesn't count. But IL you don't
mind being poor with me, darling.
| and if you'll trust me. I'd go to
your aunt like a shot, only you say
! it's no earthly! But IL you'll trust
me. well give everybody the slip! 1
was fed up with old Henry Dale any
| ways, and I'll take you straight and
safe to Aunt Margaret, and get a
special license, and-Nan, come to-
| morrow"
BE at the lower end OF the hotel
terrace at half-p tonfght-near the
steps and the second clump of orange