Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-03

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him. We're both getting serious,
Miss PEEL"
He laughed, but she saw that he
meant 1t. and she was far from sure
that she wanted either Holly or
Thompson Rennert to mean anything
of the kind So she ran to the door
that led into the clubhouse. Come
on" she cried. Come and sing for
the lady while it's still summer"
Then. abruptly, she turned back to
him. blushing a little. Goodness"
she said. Here's Theodore Lohrman"
Who"
II mean Mr.. Rennert," she ex-
planned. hurriedly. He's coming
through the clubhouse. He didn't
see me: but--but he has an express
sion that makes me think he's look
ing for me-"
THAT settles IT," Holly said rue
fully. You already know his look
ing-for-you expression and he's actu-
ally left his old factory to run itself
In the middle OF the afternoon be-
cause you're out here, He's never
done such a thing before. l told you
II was serious"
"Oh, he may be-" she admitted.
''But that's only half Of" At this
point she checked herself abruptly.
for the small and neat figure OF Mr..
Rennert appeared in the doorway. He
was more than small and neat. how
ever: nor was the jaw she had men,
toned unpleasantly obtrusive. This
young man had blue eye that was
warm enough now. at sight of Miss
Virginia Peel, and. although there
was O dryness about him, he had the
fortune TO be strikingly cookbook
ing.
"Ah-I thought perhaps you'd come
for a drive with me-" he said. It
understood you to say, yesterday
evening"
'Of course" she responded. giving
him her hand with what seemed to
the other person present a little too
much heartiness; but she at once
made up for it. MIR. Reyes is going
to play and sing for US a while, and
then we can all three go out for a
run in your car, Mr.. Rennert. I'm
SO glad 1t isn't a runabout"
Rennert accepted this somewhat
dampening disposal OF the situation.
and accepted it with q stiff sort OF
grace. as well. THAT will be very
pleasant he said. Especially II
Holly's going to be kind enough to
entertain US before we 60"
Nevertheless as the two young men
followed the graceful figure of Miss
Peel indoors, they exchanged a quick
little estimating glance in which
they both recognized the beginning
Of a rivalry.
TT was one OF those country club
summer rivalries that are like
dramas composed of dozens of little
scenes. The settings shift continu-
ally. The three roles are played with
fervor, and though the heroine may
laugh sometimes, the laughter of the
two others is infrequent and never
genuine.
Certain of the scenes, however. were
enacted at the house of the heroine's
aunt, Mrs. George Peel, where Vir-
ginia was staying. and 1t was Mrs.
Peers opinion that Holly Reyes had
a chance" True, Virginia usually
arrived at the Country Club with
Rennert in his car, while Holly went
out there by trolley. but Mrs. Peel
was naturally aware that when Mr..
Rennert came to her house for her
niece he seldom failed to find Holly
taking q most temporary leave Of her
upon the veranda steps. Moreover,
Virginia had said she liked" Holly.
For that matter, she liked Rennert,
too. She had the pleasant inflrmity
of being unable to be cold to any one
who was warm to her. When any one
showed that he liked her she was in
evitably pleased with him; when
any ono showed that he loved her, she
was more than pleased, she was pro-
foundry touched.
II she had not known the Harry
Lloyd at home, who was SO like this
Holly Reyes, and IL she had not so
often seen Mrs. Lloyd patching the
clothes and turning" skirts
for another years wear, Virginia
might have let herself be more inn
impulsive with Holly; for, OF course.
as he became moro and moro serious
in his feeling for her, she could not
prevent herself from being moved
by it. Indeed. she finally became dis
tressed by It. and told him SO. That
was tho evening before she went
away.
They had been dancing indoors at
the Country Club and for a little
HhilA hA had narsi1a ded hae to walk