Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-14
continued from Yesterdays Starr
CHAPTER xxx.
JOanna's Decision.

mango IN the stable dressing room
ne man gaZed obviously down the
LAP Martin slope and estimated the
thlckening blanket Of violet haze
!tll be coming up fast, mademoiselle,
alter a WHILE he said. It's trouble
some to ride through when 1t gets too
AeaVy. L shouldn't advise mademoi-
selle to go too far"
Just along the sea road to Mr..
.,,sl S. she informed him.
The lights there are never lost"
The groom would have liked to have
voiced more insistent caution. but his
mistress was abrupt with him. There
We're times when the servants at Villa
Annette We're afraid of their Made
moiselle Joanna. The groom shook
MS head. but decided not TO venture
a further protest. He reflected that
after all, she was good horsewoman
and that a horse usually is depend
able.
kenilworth, whose villa nestled at
the base Of the hill, shut off from the
majestic boulevard which skirts the
shore by dense hedge Of semi
tropical bush. met her. with her own
groom. at his gate. She stepped lightly
from his hand to the ground and
tossed her bride to the man. Just
an hour please" she commanded.
kenilworth Immediately expressed
diSmay. You haven't braved the
mist to give me but an hour, 1t viii
take me quite that long to get accus
toned to the vision Of you among my
things
Just an hour, Roddy," she insisted.
T.odding to the groom, who accepted
her order as final and led the horse
away. You see. I've made plans for
this evening and l mustn't interfere
with them. l shall have to get back to
Annette and change
= A.. Il
granted kenilWorth a tete-a-tete hour
in the midst of his things" as he ex-
pressed it. She had always made a
pretense of being afraid of him,
which, he customarily retorted, was
f1attering but untrue. He assured her
at such times that she was one who
wouldn't be afraid Of anybody. He
had desperately proposed Lady Wey-
mouth as a chaperon, but with no
success. Joanna asserted that she'd
never resort to a Chaperon-"in these
days" He was, then. puzzled by the
sudden whim which brought her. I'M
invited. and strangely vibrant He
knew her we'll enough to sense pur-
pose. Joanna, he had discovered long
ago, usually concealed a purpose be-
hind whatever was unexpected of her.
He had made a profession. almost, OF
discovering those hidden purposes and
fathoming them.
Confess to me- she challenged
him, when she had settled in great
chair before the log fire, which
baff1ed the cool dampness of the in
creasing mist outside, you are won
dering why 1 came SO unexpectedly
That l wouldn't do" he declared
promptly. "If you have any other
reason than a sudden desire to en-
JOY my admirations without inter-
ruptions, l don't want to know it.
am jealous of my vanity.
Then you shall be flattered," she |
returned gayly. II am in the mood
for you. Some day there's got to be |
a battle between us, between you and |
me. Roddy. Let's have 1t now.
He was on his feet in an instant
and standing over her. She stopped
with her eyes, and he'd him half bent
down 10 her. She did not stir. nor
put up hand; 1t was just the indie
scribable something in her eyes.
NO. not just now, she said. her
lips shaping into the utmost of their
provocativeness. You mustn't be
too literal. But tonight, perhaps, or
tomorrow night-or when the moment
arrives. But as soon as we can. II
want TO know how I'm coming off"
Damn you! Are you playing with
me-"
NO. Roddy. I've never played. Not
SINCE my money came. some Qdy i
want to play. After We've had our
battle. perhaps. What shall we do
first? Let's go through the mfst-to
some place. Why not up La Turbie2"
Tonight"
Tonight That's what must hurry
home to change for. l shall want to
look very alluring."
He Strengthened and looked down at
her coolly for a moment. She did not
1Nh y 10 i
uncurve. He turned away and looked
out window. 1t was already darken-
ing outside, and the lights of Monte
Carlo were vague pin points.
IF we drive carefully we can make
It," he concluded. "I'll take the wheel
myself. You won't be afraid to trust
yourself with me. shall you?"
That's what l want to find out.
Roddy. So many people are skeptical
Of me, want to know If they're right |
or wrong"
He laughed. Il sha'nt ask You to
stay beyond the hour" he declared. |
III need some time alone TO try and
figure you out. What's happened?
Something has, l am certain"
Nothing" she assured him. Moth d,
Ing, that Is, that wasn't expected"
\ servant notified them that made. |
moiselles mount had been brought to
the door before either of them realized
that the hour had flown. She had in |
duced kenilworth to tell her some Of
the histories of the souvenirs which
were strewn about the room in which
their tea had been served. and she
was enthusiastic about them.
When she went out to her horse she
found that the groom also had brought
q mount. kenilworth nodded his ap-
proval. Joanna begged to be allowed
10 ride back to Annette alone, declar.
ing her faith in the lights along the
sea boulevard and her horses instinct,
but kenilworth was Arm.
Il should take you along myself"
he explained, but I shall want to
look at the car. It's a stiff climb to
La Turbie. l always want to be sat
isfied about my brakes
At Villa Annette Joanna found Bran
don awaiting her. Il have invited my
self to dine" he explained, land no
one seems to object. Perhaps you will
go along for an hour or two at the
Casino, afterward. There won't be
crowd and we can drop in for an act
at the theater. Yvonne seems to have
other plans for the evening"
And so have l." she told him. I'm
going up La Turbie with Roddy. He's
often wanted me to go up with him,
and now I've promised.
Sorry" She did not wait for the
Inevitable protest against climbing the
narrow, winding road that ventured
up the steep La Turbie Mountain to
the isolated resort above La Turbie
village, but tripped on up the stairs.
Brandon looked after her. Even won-
en- who were careless seldom went
up La Turbie to dine or dance at the
famous roadhouse atop the hill. I'M
less in croupS The gayest of the hid