Evening star., 1926-10-28
CHAPTER LII.
The Meeting.

Jimmy entered Bettys room that
night with his face radiant, and GER
tainly he had never been handsomer.
Not only that, but he had a certain
prosperous effulgence about him. He
was man eminently successful: he
had made good.
Miss Marshall had made Betty love-
ly in a fresh pink georgette night
gown and a robin's-egg- blue negligee.
Both of these things were part of the
trousseau she had accumulated. but
she submitted to being arrayed in
them without saying word.
Miss Marshall glowed with roman
tic thrill as Jimmy strobe over to the
bed and gathered Betty up in his
arms. Then, because there really
wasn't anything else to do, she left
them together.
Jimmy did not notice that Betty
made no response to his kisses. he
was too full of life, too sure of him
self TO notice, and besides she had
been very i'll. He was eager, too. to
tell her things, to talk about himself,
and she, very quiet, lay against her
pillows and listened.
Darling, I've succeeded beyond my
widest dreams. You shall have every
thing ] ever promised you. And wait
till you see the things I've bought
for you in Paris, just wait. Oh, Betty,
IL anything had happened to you.
'Dr. Craig let me peep In at you
that first night l was back, and
nearly lost my mind. You must hurry
and get we'll, darling, SO that we can
go apartment hunting. Park avenue,
IL you say the word. You're getting
a husband that is worth snpsotTilng,
let me tell you that. And didn't
always say so, didn't II"
Betty's eyes, very inscrutable, rest
ed on his face. Jimmy's face, darling
Jimmy, Strange that no accompany
ing thrill stirred her as in her own
mind she spoke the words. Darling
Jimmy, Why, there was time when
her pulses had leaped at the thought
OF him. His laughing brown eyes, his
ioyousness, his ability to enjoy life.
She had wanted to link her own life
with his forever. And now, and
now
Darling, you're so quiet! I've
never seen you this way before. But,
then, of course. you've been very Ill.
Brain fever, they told me. Fancy
that and 1 not here to take care of
YOU! l owed you that, didn't I? You
looked out for me when l was so ter.
ribly i'll. But eVerythings going to
be all right from now on. All you
have to do is hurry and get well.
We're going TO have some life you
and I. Why. there wasn't a girl I
met while I was away that could hold
a candle to you. You're the real
thing, and most of the women you
meet these days are as false as paste
Jewels
He lifted her slim little hand as he
spoke. 1t was her left hand and it
was ringless.
Where's your ring?" he asked
quickly. And your watch? 1 want
to see them where they belong"
Slowly Betty disengaged her fingers.
She was smiling family, a smile that
vaguely disturbed Jimmy.
"Theyre in that drawer in the
table"
A tritie impatient Jimmy opened
the drawer she had indicated. OF
course she had been i'll, but after all
IL was rather careless to leave val
liable things around in drawers. He
had paid So 900 for that ring. and the
watch, although the stones in it were
small, had cost $500.
Here they are" he said. lifting
out the small velvet boxes. Il ex-
pected to find yOu wearing them, dear
est. OF course while you were so i'll