Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-19

cornwall habits but Chester, who had
been with them the record length of
time-tWo years-appeared absolutely
perfect. He had been hanging wreaths
in the hall, and a great pile of them
was to be taken to the town hall that
evening. where, according to q custom
instituted by the Cages. the well-to-do
portion of the community dressed a
Christmas tree for the children of the
village
quite a load miss" said Chester.
peering into the back of the car. Il
began to be rather anxious about
YOU
1t was characteristic of the house
hold that only Chester should be
aware that the hour was late and the
roads dark and slippery. Flora was
touched
Worried, Chester" she said,
watching him as he took the packages
out. Don't you think I'm a good
driver?"
"Oh. it isn't the driving, miss" an
swered the butler sadly. It's the
times-these bandits and burglars. It
seems there was another robbery at
Mr.. Germans last night, across the
mountain"
Flora laughed. 81 think I'm safe
from jewel robberies," she said. In
Gage family in her time. Except for
a family portrait or two and a few odd
pieces of Lowestoft dinner set, all
signs of former greatness had van
ished.
Flora stepped out of the motor. The
chauffeur had left the week before.
but Chester would park the car some
where--he was a better driver than
the chauffeur. II hope the children
81 sat a
know in a minute what some of those
toys were" Christmas morning was
a rite in the family, The presents
were all stored in an unused drawing
room and on Christmas morning the
family opened them together. Any
one who opened a package before that
time was looked upon as an impious
traitor, and worse-an ilibred lout.
Chester. who, true to his nationality
fell in easily with traditions, assured
her that the little boys were at sup
per and the little girls--the young
ladies, as he rather f1atteringly called
them--were helping Mrs. Gage tie up
the last package. He had taken all
the parcels out of the back of the car,
and his eye fell on the small box in
F1ora's hands.
Hadn't I better take that, too,
We are, as George Meredith has so
truly observed, betrayed by what Is
false within. AS Flora met Chester's
eve she knew that she had contem-
plated breaking the great family rule.
Her hand shot out toward him, and
then shot back.
NO" she said def1antly. NO, I'll
take this up myself"
Very good miss" said Chester
coldly There was no question that
he did not approve of her action. She
did not approve of it herself.
She went TO her room. with her box
clasped in her hand. She had by no
means resolved to open it--or so she
imagined.
Dinner was to he earlier than usual
that evening, so that she could get off
by o'clock to the trimming of the
tree in the village.
While she was dressing she was
called to the telephone by Ann.
friend, whose family, lucky creatures.
had moved to New York in October,
but they always came back and
opened the country house for the holt
days.
Ann was a good friend. a. friend to
whom you could trust everything, and,
naturally. she knew all about Roddy
She called up now to say she heard
that he was spending Sunday with the
Emorys, and would, OF course. be at
the trimming of the village Christmas
tree. Flora's hand, holding the re-
ceiver, began to shake. She said: ooh.
will he, If he knows I'm going to be
there?' To which Ann replied: why