Evening star., 1924-10-26
sOldMan' 'sDarling
FANNY HEASLIP LEA.
Dan Cupid Mixes Up His Arrows Once More.

tion--experience. and what not. I
foresee complications"
You think--she does love me. Lin
metz"
Linnet regarded him coolly. shes
; only twenty your forty
eight. my dear boy. She hasn't even
i been to a co-educational school, She's
thoroughly enlightened to the
theories of life and hopelessly igno-
rant as to It's realities
"Tll stand between her and the
| ugliest OF them"
II am her mother" said Linnet.
and I have never been able to stand
| between her and anything at all. She
is the Elephants Child for insatia BILE
\ curiosity as to Facts"
Richard Welles said suddenly, lean
ing forward. You really don't ap-
prove. do you?"
| 81 shant lift finger" said Linnet.
"Oh. come now, Linnet. I needn't t
tell you I'd give everything I've got
| TO make her happy"
| ITS what you haven't got she'll
probably want said Linnet.
| Welles WINGED imperceptibly
Linnet's quick ear caught the click
Of door, steps in the hall. She
thrust one hand across the tea-table
with charmingly impulsive gesture.
| Welles accepted IT, a trifie surprised.
And so. my dear Richard" Linnet
continued as Lynn appeared in the
| doorway. Il give you my blessing.
| Take her-and be kind to her-my
white lily OF girlhood!"
oh, for the love of Mike!" cried
Lynn with an agonized groan. Drop
1t. mother! Don't let her kid you,
Richardi"
An unwilling recognition of Lin
nets adroit stage-setting twitched
the Augustan lips. Thank you,
Linnet. / will do my best to keep
your lily blooming" He stood up,
| exchanged the mothers hand for the
| daughters and added pleasantly:
The worst is over. Lynn. She ac-
cepts me as a son-inlaw."
Shed better" said Lynn return
ing to good-nature. welfare you
ready?"
Richard picked up his hat and made
| his hostess a bow.
Where are you going?" Linnet
inquired languidly.
Tennis at the club courts" Lynn
| enumerated instantly, dinner with
Polly Harrison and her brother-and
| stay for the dance. You don't mind,
mother?"
Linnet fixed a critical eye on
Welles' gray legs. Tennis in those
clothes?"
"oh, we change at the club"
And change again for dinner! You
never cared very much for dancing,
did you. Richard?"
"Oh. he'll pick 1t up in no time"
said Lynn casually.
She took him away, waving q hand
at her mother as she went: Don't
sit up. I've got my latch key"
Lynn came home from the club
about IL after Every good party"
Upon this night she exhibited the
ring, gorgeous, square diamond in
platinum. with no visible excitement
Linnet caught her breath and cooed
over it. Did he give it to you on
the way out?'
Yes" said Lynn briefly. Good
stone. isn't it?'
Yes" said Lynn briefly. Good
| "Lynn-you little wretch! You ought
to be wild over it."
Wish you could have seen the girls
when they saw It," said Lynn cheer
fully. 1T was knockout"
| Il believe you care more for what
the girls said when they saw it, than
for what Richard said when he gave
! it to you"
Don't even remember what he did
say. Something nice and mushy.
Wen, goodnight. old thing.'
"Good-night!" said Linnet signing.
y X X
7 INNET had never spent a wretch
- eder Summer-till Monty came
along. Richard hadn't asked Monty to
visit him at this special time. No.
Monty merely turned up. one evening
| in August, with a new moon over his
shoulder. battered suitcase in either
hand, and on his aristocratic upper
lip small dark mustache, Of which
he was sinfully proud.
Ricahrd and Linnet were sitting on
Richards veranda-he had been din
ing his fiancee-Lynn sat on the
steps In thin. white gown and
yawned at the moon. 1t was she
Monty saw first.
Pardon" he said, in a tone that
begged it for any and all past sins
Does Mr.. Richard Welles still live
here?-I mean to say
Mr.. Richard Welles got up and
came forward. Monty" he said with
real affection. where on earth did
you drop from? You young repro
down job somewhere in Mexico"
I was" admitted Monty. Got
tired Of it. Mexicos nothing like SO
black as it's painted. Thought I'd
run up home for bit" He en-
braced the shadowy fair ones on the
veranda in the most charming smile
imaginable. Had a fool notion,
when I first came up just now. you
might have got married while I was
gone. One on me, eh?''
His uncle stiffened slightly: Not
such a fool notion after all. Mrs.
Dandy. let me present my nephew.
Montgomery Welles. You never knew
my brother Carleton, Linnet; this is
his son. Lynn-this is Monty-home
In time for the wedding"
| Monty Strengthened out bow in
Linnets direction with almost q gasp.
"Wedding-whose wedding"
'Mine-and Lynn's." Richard said
calmly. Lynn, what sort Of nephew
| do you think he'll make?"
Monty recovered himself swiftly,
took Lynn's friendly hand in a close.
| audacious hold.
How do you do?" no said. my
uncle's question interests me strange
ly. What sort Of nephew do you
think I'll maker"
| Lynn had risen. Her fingers were
warm and strong in Monty's clasp.
Il never had q nephew" she said al
! most sshyly.
I'm glad to be the first" said
Monty.
'I don't really know--how to treat
| one"
| II can show you-in no time"
Richard intervened. "Come on in!
Had dinner. Monty"
| Thanks. yes. on the diner.
How did you come up from the sta
| tion?"
| walked"
with those two heavy suitcases?''
| cried Lynn Unexpectedly.
| Monty flung her q grateful glance:
| s"They're not 40 heavy as thAv look -
Are you-ah-reducing? inquired
Linnet.
| IT am-ah-reduced," returned the
prodiIal with 4 sham eleaA grin.