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

Roddy had come back to her. She re
membered how. in that happy time on
Long Island. when they had talked
of the undersea palace and pearls, he
had mentioned jewel, not a pearl-a
single diamond that had belonged TO
his mother.
She slipped the ring into her bag
and ran down to dinner. The family
the more or less grown-up members
Of the family--were already at the
table.
When dinner was over she sprang
up, ready to be off, but q new delay
presented itself, Mr.. Gage did not feel
inclined to go himself. but could not
approve of his daughter going alone
these continued burslaries-there must
be criminal characters in the neighbor-
hood.
II wish you to drive Miss Gage to
the village, Chester" he said. Ches.
ter bowed, but Flora knew 1t dis
pleased him. He evidently had other
plans.
They set out at last Flora was too
much excited to talk, though Chester
was in an unusually chatty mood. He
told her all about his arrangements
for Christmas day. and how he had
grouped the presents.
you mustn't forget to give me
that one that came for you this aft
ernoon, miss" he said severely. She
felt guilty. knowing she had burnt
ring tightly inside her little bag al
that moment.
"Oh, yes, Chester" she said.
X
by the time they reached the town
- hall, much of the work had been
done. The tree. something like the
shape of a lady in a. crinoline, was
already looped with glittering fes
toons and paper roses, and tinkling
bells and lights. On a ladder, ar
ranging q star on the very tip-top
was figure in evening clothes. but
without q coat so that the black satin
backing of a well-ftting waistcoat
shone sleek and smooth in the cleo.
trio light. 1t was Roddy.
Flora could not have described what
she felt on seeing him again. In the
first place, her heart gave a spring
and then seemed TO enlarge and fill
her whole body, then her knees felt
prickly, "a If stuffed with chestnut
burrs. Most peculiar of all, her arms
seemed suddenly to melt and become
weak and homeless. But none Of these
symptoms was apparent.
Half an hour passed. Roddy was
still up the ladder Ann passing her
whispered: Cheer up. What goes
up must come down you know"
1t is possible, Victorian fiction to
the contrary Notwithstanding, to be
a good. modest girl, yet not a perfect
fool, Flora identified Roddys coat
hanging on a chair-she even looked
into the inside pocket and saw Roddy E
name and the tailor's address Then
she sat in that chair and waited
People came and talked to her--some
times she even heard what they said
AS time went on, the high tide OF
her bliss began to ebb. He had not
even looked down. 1t was late. Some
OF the workers were beginning to go
home. Yet there was the ring on her
finger No one else could have sent
II.
At last he came down the ladder and
approached her.
Good evening he said. I'm
afraid you're sitting on my coat" He
slipped IT on and was turning away
his face hard as steel
II must speak to you" she said.
"Oh, what's the use?" he answered
The thing is dead and buried. Don't
let us dig 1t up. 1t would hurt us
both"
Nothing could hurt me as I'm
being hurt now" she returned.
She saw one of the vestrymen OF
the church, also the local sheriff.
kind man, but long -winded, and care
full OF periods. He wanted she sup
posed, to thank Roddy for his work
They would never get rid of him. She