Evening star., 1927-06-01

ouueicHEu. ana Tor tnO HrSt time
in his life.
Aunt Ann blushed furiously. It was
not at all what she had intended to
say.
Goodnight" gravely. od-night,
Ruth"
How handsome he was. She sighed
A tear fell. Was she to be forever
made miserable by her unconquerable
shyness?
George was indignant. The little
prude. Afraid to have him call be.
cause they hadn't been properly intro
duceH. She certainly was pretty. and
she blushed like sweet I6. lie wouldn't
ask again to call. that was sure. He
continued his friendship with Ruth,
always hoping for glimp-r OF Ann.
III he had but known that, hidden be
bind curtain, she devoured his every
word.
George was deep in his latest novel.
1t was almost finished. In the first
part he had given his heroine black
hair, and was therefore surprised TO
find himself writing Her red hair
seemed 10 Yibrate in the sunlight" An
Aunt Ann complex. I'm afraid. he
thought as he struck out the Offering
line. He was so tired that he deter
mined to lay off work for the day.
Perhaps good dinner would rest him.
George
"Jimn
Jim brought his machine to a sud.
den stop. Jump in."
The old friends laughed and chatted.
"Where were you going. George"
"TO IA restaurant for dinner"
Not much. You're coming wiUk
me, Grace will be delighted. There
was a time when l was afraid you'd
cut me out" He laughed heartily.
Wait till you see the cutest little
youngster I'm the world"
II m happier to come than you are
to have me. I'm lonesome. / ran
down here for q few months to get
some local color for my new novel"
50 pleased TO see you that / almost
thor"
Here we are" Presently George
found himself in familiar hallway.
AS the key turned in the lock Jim
called:
Look who's here Grace"
George Carter. Welcome. It's so
nice to get home to the old friends
once again" She turned to the girl
In the shadow of the door. Ann.
here's one Of my old sweethearts"
Before she could acknowledge the
introduction Ruth ran TO him.
Hello, GeOrge!"
Why, what" in tones of sur
prise.
Ruth and are old friends. I have
room next door, and our windows
adjoin and we have a regular nightly
confab. Your sister was afraid that 7
was a gentleman burglar or some.
thing worse. SO she refused me per-
mission to call until you returned" :"
lie smiled maliciOusly at Ann. whose
only answer was her usual blush.
Why. Ann, George is the author Of
Witches Wings"
Witches Wings" she repeated.
breathlessly. for it was the most
taiked-of book of the season. I'm
sorry, I'm sorry, / didn't know"
The evening passed delightfully."- for
all save Ann. Her ordinary shyness
was accentuated by the situation in
which she found herself.
Grace insisted that George come
over often. She thought IL would be
good for Ann to have company, but
Ann seldom thawed or showed the
interesting side of herself as she did
when they We're alone. One afternoon
Grace took her to task. They had no
idea that their voices carried across
the court, and still less idea that
George was resting after q strenuous
~-At-AAS SAAA NOAAd 4lOL lGlp nearing.
What in the world is the matter
with you, Ann? Yon don't make a
single effort to be entertaining. II
you don't like George. we won't have
him come any MORE
Don't like him. She was close to
tears.
ANN. Ann. dear, you don't mean
=" She put her arms about Ann.
The tears came freely now.
You poor child. / never dreamed
of such a tn ng, and yet he's the
finest man know outside of Jim"
II just get tongue-tied when he's
around and any one can see that he
doesn't care for me-"
mo. 1 don't believe he cares for
while.'
mo. no! don't want to go away.
Grace understood too well. She
knew that when love came to her sis.
ter it would be overwhelming. Her
heart was filled with pity.
George listened with mingled feel
1ngS. That accounted for the frequent
bushes. He sat in deep and not un.
pleasant thought until twilight came.
Jim, totally ignorant of AIMS feel.
lngs, was in the best of spirits when
he reached home the next evening.
Guess what? I met George down.
town, Grace, and he wants YOU and
me to meet him at the Palace to see
The Follies.' He gave me the tickets
in case he should be detained"
Didn't ask Ann?"
mo. of course not. It's hardly a
suitable place to take a young girl"
You must CO." said Ann, knowing
Grace wanted to refuse for her sake.
"Of course she'll go. A box the first
night of The Follies' with a cele-
brated author! l rather guss she'll
go. George for tomorrow afternoon"
George and Ruth had a wonderful
afternoon together; far nicer even
than the ice cream and cake and
candy was their little secret.
You won't forget. RUTH"
"Of course not. I'll say Ii for you
again.
That's perfect" And seeing Grace
at the window, he left Ruth to run
home alone. :.
Grace made several resolutions as
she dressed for the evening. This was
the last of George. They must man.
age without offending him to keep
him away from the house. Ann was
growing more listless each day. There
was no denying Georges fascination.
II 1t hadn't been for Jim, she knew
that she herself
At o'clock, as Ann was trying to
lose herself in a book, the bell rang.
She opened the door herself
Il beg your pardon for disturbing
you, but / forgot something. and
Grace asked me to bring her fan as
long as l was coming home. and she
said | might stop to hear Ruth say
her night prayer. May u"
"Of course. You're just about in
time
Ruth was already in bed. She
wanted to jump out at sight of George
Its too late, dear. Just say your
prayer and go TO sleep"