Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-10

me half as much as I've missed you
i've missed you very much" said
. Celia
jenkins now entered with glass
of smoking Scotch.
That's all. thank YOU" said Hilary.
taking the glass of Scotch from the
tray. "No-wait moment" He
turned to Celia IF you'll put up with
me. | think III send word to Haslipp
10 lay out my smoking things and a
thick dressing gown for dinner. Pm
rpply with shivers as "a flag in the
breeze"
Celia smiled even more family than
usual. =.
Il never noticed what YOU have on"
she said.
Jenkins went off to take the order
and Hilary laughed, then sneeZed vio-
lently.
Damn" he exclaimed as the hot
drink splashed on his hand, but
laughed again while he sopped it up,
looking at her with quizzical affectiont
Tn laughing" he explained in
answer to her inquiring glance, De
cause | don't know whether to DE
mortified or Complimented by your
last remark. You see, notice SO par
1jrularly what you have on
That's because you have such
beautiful taste" replied she seriously,
and | haven't any"
She looked so apologize and regret
ful for this admitted lack that Hilary
said:
If IT weren't that I'm afraid of Civ
ing YOU this internal cold I'd like most
awfully to hug you for that"
I'm not afraid of catching it, SAID
Celia.
He shook his head.
II NAV be less civilized than the
classic Englishman who dresses cor
rectly for dinner even in the jungle,
but I'm civilized enough to want my
horrid cold all to myself. Brrr!
He shivered, wrapping his fur coat
closer and putting both feet on the
fender.
Hadn't you better go to bed at
once?" ased Celia, her heart man
aging to sink even a little lower. She
had thought it would be hard enough
10 tell him about her strange venture
and the facts precedent under orol-
nary circumstances, but to SIT at Il
distance and relate such things 10 IL
man already shuddering with pau
cold--her hcart, having sunk as low
as it could altogether failed her.
II he would only go to bed now, ne
might lie we'll by next day. 1t woulu
lie SO much easier to tell him when
lie was well. ~
But Hilary refused promptly. he
hated living abed for any reason, anu
WAS the worst patient Imaginable.
I'm he all right as soon as We
drunk this" he said. Go ON Whiie
finish it, noble imp. and tell me
what impishnesS. if amy, you've beeii
ND to in my absence. You know I've
told you | suspect you of having a
huge fund of hidden impishness.
Il know" murmured celia, flushing.
This was so rare a thing with hef'
that Hilary noticed it at once.
"Hul.lor' he exclaimed, teaSingly.
az seem to have hit on the truth. l
believe YOU have been up to some
Fantastic mischief. Have YOU?
Celia's heart began to beat with
those little rapid, pointed digs. Here
II was-the dreaded moment. she
must take her chance with the chance
he had so unexpectedly offered her.
Not exactly mischief" she muir
INJURED again.
"Vhat has happened, Cellar" he
said in quite another voice, serious
and warmly kind. We've agreed
that I'm your best friend. and friends
share and share alike, you know. Is
ii some trouble that | can help you
about?"
Not exactly trouble Again she
anurmured in so low a voice that his
ears, already ringing with an heroic
dose Of quinine, could hardly catch
The words.
viii you tell me about it. or do
YOU want me to ask questions?' said
Hilary, gently.
No; / will tell you
She had told him first. her hands
clasped hard together in her lap and
her look fixed on them. about the con-
yersation she had overheard. She
did not tell him all of it, only the
part abou. his having advanced her
the money che thought she inherited
and the fact that Hilary had educated
her 70 be a teacher. AS soon as she
oame to tho question of the money, he
interrupted her.
Il am dreadfully to blame there.
he said ] >ApUid have ia; il OF