Evening star., 1925-12-01

mind, will you" she asked Pendle-
tons wife, "if l say that l want to
know you? You see she lied Il
have met Mr.. Pendleton. and he was
good enough to think YOU might like
me. | wish you would.
The older woman was plainly con
fused, but recovered instantly. She
took one of the girls hands between
bo,h her own.
why, that is sweet of YOU, my
dear" she exclaimed warmly. She
was openly delighted by the pretty en-
thusiasm of the young girl who was
the nights most frivolous butterfly.
She was afraid she would go down in
he torrent that seethed about her-a
torrent that glittered and swept UP
laughter. luxury and eXtr'ava sance.
and the stakes of many gambles in
love. This fear suddenly distressed
Mrs. Pendleton.
When kenilworth found opportun-
! ity TO claim her again he saw that the
first eXcitements Of Joanna s triumph
| in her success among these friends
Of Yvonne's had suhsided. and that
she was troubled. She denied it, when
he accused her. but almost immedi-
ately afterward admitted it. She
had missed John. Bra ndon had talked
with her but a few moments resign.
| ing her, gracefully, to others who
made insiStent by their third and
| fourth drinks. demand their dance
or tilt of wits with her He had not
mentioned that John had come, and
| had watched her entrance down the
| stairs and hilarious reception. Neither
| had kenilworth, and Yvonne seemed
| suddenly to have disappeared from
| among her guests. Joanna began tt
want to go up to her boudoir and con
| front the pain of her disappointment
She could not restrain a little cry
/ when Roddy told her:
But where is he2" she exclaimed
Please. won't YOU keep people away
| from me while We find him? He
| couldn't have gone"
They looked in the dim-li Winter
| garden. peopled with couples whose
! moods were for faint lights and in the
| other rooms which had been thrown
open. Bra ndon. too. had missed him
and so had Dorminster. Roddy. fail
/ ing To glimpse NNonue in any of the
rooms. decided To seek her ont in the
| morning room. off the reception hall
/ he little retreat Of which few of hci
/ guests knew and 10 which none haC
| admission but kenilworth and Rran
! don. Roddy was convinced Inhr
/ would not have gone, even if he avoid
| ed Joanna. without a word To his host
ess. When Joanna saw him sta ndinG
! ir the center of the room. she wa:
suddenly angry, despite her eaGerncss
She would not forgive him. readily
/ she decided, for ignoring her. Thel
| she realized that she could do nothine
| but forgive. Yvonne. who had sat di
rectly in front Of him.. curled in he
! great, soft chair. rose when she anf
| Roddy entered.
I've been enjoying this boy q
| yours treme endouslY." she said 20 10
| anna. Joanna went quietly ~,
John. She was biting her lips TO keel
them from trembling. lvodne. 49,
where Roddy awaited her, added: Ill
| wanted 10 run away. but I've ma n
AGED to keep him. We've had mos
! interesting conversation.
Joarna's lips quieted, a little grim
I IL Something of WEAKNESS came int
her eyes. fingered there q moment am
then vanished quickly. She tool
Johns hands. She had intended =
| kiss him, but led him 10 a couch. in
| stead. and put him down beside her
Now tell me-" she comma nded. "wlH,
have YOU stayed away from me
have been 50 happy expecting yo'
eNe"v minute
81 wanted 10, Jo," he said. simply
"paruculsrly because il has been hare
for me 10 put off telling you how scr
ry ! am for he things | thought Thel
| I heard of the wonderful things tha
| happened to you. ! should hav'
| known better. but I just couldn't he
| lieve. | would have come before to
| night. but YOU wouldn't let me. 70,
know. and now, of course, | know
! why. I thought. when ! saw YOU ant
the people around YOU. that ] woul,
just go along. There viii be no room
for me, any more"
You're going TO scold again" JC
anna complained. Won't YOU kis