Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1924-11-07

self was the leading woman. She bor-
| rowed a richly embroidered mandarin
coat which Pepper sometimes wore
about the house, and came downstairs
vision of marvellous beauty. 1t was
not only pleasantly exciting; it was the
easiest thing to do. And Lillian, above
all things, loved ease.
And then had come the early trip
into town, for Lindsay was leaving for
Montreal, to bring his mother home,
and Lillian had to keep her engage
ment with Gibbs. Lindsay was all de-
votion; this attitude. in fact, was the
one element in the matter of which
Lillian had taken no account He
alarmed her with the vehemenoe of
his affection, and made her nervous
and uncertain. She had supposed that
he would leave her at the art studio,
but instead he came upstairs, and the
two men talked together few
minutes.
During this time Lillian experienced
exquisite uneasiness. Gibbs showed
disconcerting familiarity with old Mrs
Peppers movements When had she
gotten back? How did she find Mon
treal?
II didn't know you knew old Mrs
Pepper so well? Lillian said. when
Lindsay was gone.
ooh, + see her sometimes, watching
the tennis, he answered carelessly.
Now take your wraps off, and I'll
have Marie bring you in some coffee !"
Her big fur coat in his arms, he caught
up her bare hand. mo ring?' he
smiled
For he was painting her in dull
green robe. and the big Jade ring she
frequently wore was an excellent bit
of color In the picture.
If she had had the quickness to say
that she had left 1t at homel But
Lillian was not quick at best, and just
now she was tired and confused. She
had left 1t on the washstand In the
bathroom next to Mrs. Peppers room !;
she remembered its exact position, and
she said that she would write Mrs.
Pepper at once, and ask her to return
1t.
well. run along. and get into your
rig!" Gibbs said unsuspiciously. But
when she had disappeared into the
little models room. and when Marie
had brought in the coffee, and when he
had loitered about waiting idly. and
still she did not come, he picked up
the telephone book. AS we'll to settle
the matter quickly: the delay Of a
few hours might mean that the ring
was swept carelessly away and lost.
And so 1t was Gibbs turn to have
his castle of dreams fall about him in
ashes. When Lillian came innocently
back from the model-room, eager for
the exquisite hour they had both been
anticipating for days, he saw for the
first time the woman she really was.
"Your rings all right" he said pres
emily. II telephoned. The Jap-said
he'd found it,"
Her eyes flew to his face. She saw
what he knew, and her color faded a
| little.
Gibbs" she said quickly and breath
lessly. ".You know how 1t happened
/ wanted to tell you all about it, any
way. But Lindsay asked me not to.
You see, It was storming horribly"
Beautiful, eager, in her green robe,
she poured out the story as she had
arranged and adapted It in the night
And slowly mixing the colors on his
palette, not meeting her eyes, Gibbs
listened. There was a certain shade
of yellow-brown that would always
speak to him of this hideous moment,
with Its blare of brassy truth, and its
| taste of ashes. When she ended, with
a wide-eyed, innocent appeal. he
smiled. and still with averted eyes, he
nodded. "Blame you? No-o-o, don't
blame you. Lillian" he said gently,
after silence.
"But smile at me. Gibbs" she said.
with an uneasy laugh and a rather
uncertain resumption Of her old con-
fident manner "Or TIL have to come
over there and make you smIlel''
Before he could speak again the
door was opened by her husband
She knew that In the. moment he
had realized her deception about
Lindsay Pepper she had come close to
losing Gibbs. She felt contempt for
the weakness in herself that had per-
mitted her to risk the love of. the
man she really desired for the old
admirer who had lost. by contrast
with the new. any power to stir her.
But Lillian could not think that Gibbs
would not return to her. He was hurt.
he was sore and angry now. but she
had still, as weapon. their danger
GUS propinquity and she had still the
disturbing and appealing beauty he
had found irresistible.
So Lillian played her game safely,
and bided her time. This storm would
blow over, as other storms had She
would need only a little patience, she