Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-14

of the seat, looked boldly up to her
| window and whistled.
IF there's one thing I despise more
than another. it's being whistled for!"
| Lucia said angrily, burning her finger
! with sealing wax. She leaned toward
the window. I'm busy today" she
/ called.
Som IT, Brent Brown responded
cheerfully. smiling UP at her. I'm
an hour late for the Appletons. -
They're going to have tea and horse
riding
"Well?"
We'll, I'm going to do the horse
Are you going to break that sorrel
colt?"
IF he doesn't break me. Hustle,
will your"
She told herself she wasn't going a
step, but she did. He wouldn't talk
about riding wild horses. He wanted
to talk about roses. He had discover.
ed a new variety. She grew impatient
with him.
Il wish you'd be Ineligible" she
exclaimed. You're as dull as a gar
dener."
Gardening isn't dull" he retorted.
1T requires imagination and helps me
write poetry"
! You she scoffed.
II brought some along. I'll read it
to you when we come back"
You'll do no such thing! Poetry!
Mr.. Appleton told me he considered
that sorrel dangerous"
! Did he? It's the dickens finding
anything 10 rhine with Lucia"
She half wished he would be thrown
at the Appletons'. But he wasn't. The
sorrel was rangv long barreled, with
rolling eyes and small ears. They had
difficulty In getting a saddle on him
Garth Appleton had the stable boy
bring out a very stiff bit, but Brent
Brown tossed the bride and all aside,
caught the halter-rope IN his hand and
was up.
The sorrel stood a moment, trem-
bling-tryinE to bite the riders legs.
1 Then suddenly he began to pitch VIC
lently-sidewise. straight up and com.
ing down with a twist that looked as
though it might well crack the horse
mans spine. He reared and threw
himself. Brown was in the saddle as
he scrambled up again. He ran He
ran--then stopped, with a grinding
wrenching half.turn, and began pitch
Ing again instantly. He bawled-
buCked-ran. He surrendered,
Brent Brown rode him back to
where the group sat, breathless on q
cabin porch.
He's almost lady's pet now" he
said.
Lucia Todd. quick and steady,
walked out.
I'm going to ride him now" she
said.
Brent Brown swung off hastily,
crowding the painting. sweating ami
nal aside with his shoulder as he
came down-holding him firmly.
Not for a million dollarsr he ex.
claimed.
Lucia eyed him.
I'm not used to being told what
can't do" she said in a dangerous
voice.
It's high time you were getting
used to it," he replied. Perhaps in a
month this fellow will be ready to ride.
but not now
If you think I'm afraid OF him.
Il don't, my dear" he interrupted.
That's just the trouble. How about
tea, Mrs. Appleton"
Going home she would not speak to
/ him. He did not seem to notice the
! fact.
THE first day I saw you" he said
IN an even tone, driving slowly, his
arms resting on the big wheel, II fell
In love with you. I thought then
that could never love you any more
than / did that first minute" He
laughed softly. I'VE tell ourselves
things Ike that We don't know.
How can we? I've loved you more
and more every minute since. Until
now"
He stopped the car abruptly. He
swung out to the roadside. leaped up,
catching the branch Of a tree that
Overhung the steep canyon side, pulled
y GOLF I'D -
wild roses that Lucia hadn't seen
before. He laid the fragrant, briar-
armed spray in her lap.
They're like YOU" he said, stand.
ing there a moment, devouring her
His hat was off and the breeze lifted
his brown hair. He looked like
great, earnest, eager boy. They're
like you-unbearably sweet, so sweet
your heart aches: protecting them
selves with little thorns that don't
nurt quite enough
She had impatient words for him
plenty of them. She could not find
! them.
Are you the same man who rode
the sorrel at Appleton's?" she asked
as light as she could.
Instantly he replied. In one way,
no. Because, riding, I had to give
part Of my mind to the horse"
She couldn't beat him with words.
But there were, she knew, other ways.
X ~
CHE tried the way of giving a party.
~ She had been in San Simeon six
| months, and you give parties there
at the end of six months, IL you want
TO. At the end of six days, when you
come to that. They were certainly
a homely people.
She gave the party ostensibly for
Charlie Kent, who was in San Fran
cisco on business, and who had wired
! her four times on the way West, and
had telephoned her twice from San
Francisco asking her to be ready to
marry him when he arrived. So she
gave him a party.
But, all the time. she realized that
the patty was to find out what Brent
Brown would do.
On the invitation-very exclusive
she had them engrave formal in
| distinct letters. Addressing Brent
Browns, she obeyed q vicious i'm
pulse. She underlined the formal"
There were 20 couples-all the pos
sible people about San Simeon whom
she had met. She had been surprised
| to find how many of them there We're
| Charlie Kent was, as usual, perfect.
| Too perfect, and far too stiff, set and
| nodded than she had remembered.
They were all there by or SO. All
but Brent Brown.
She missed him, and confessed 1t
| to hefse,f. But she did not let any
one guess it.
He came in about 10. Lucia Todd
! choked down a laugh-or was 1t
sob?
! He wore a dress suit Of ancient
| vintage; it had wide shoulders, rolled
| lapels, braid on the cuffs, the waist
| coat was of some sheeny material
I and the linen ever so family diseol.