Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-30


</Y re WAS very fine, Judy
said in a low voice 10
Jacks mother.
Il Il II always knew he was
fine. But there is some
thing else in this face than f1neness'
can't explain it to YOU mere Is d
soul here And there is gentleness L
never knew he was gentle. he al
WAYS seemed to me little nara. II
used to brighten me. But you knew
him better" She paused, went on
- musinelv. 'Of course, you would
know him better. He would open ms
heart to YOU. He couldn't to me.
There were too many wears between
us. II envy you, Judy.
You needn't envy me- Judy saia
miserably. "He never opened his
heart to me! 1t was just that felt
those things in him"
You brought them out. SAID ms
mother slowly.
Indy made a little wild gesture
"No, oh. no. she cried.
You bring them out in us all,
Mrs Darien went on. Il have been
known as hard woman. You IL near
that said of me. A hard and heart
less woman. But you bring out
tenderness | had almost forgotten
There is something very simple ana
unspoiled about you, Judy. 1t must
have been that In you that drew Jack
He had been spoiled by too much
money. I realize that now. But ne
did recognize true things. anyhow.
81 was afraid" Judy said, that
you would be disappointed in me.
"At first l was afraid | might be.
/ had great dreams for Jack
know now that they were false
dreams But from the moment ] saw
YOU was glad that Jack had loved
~ou.''
Judy WINGED from these words 1t
was Iinbearable, She was no better
than the lowest criminal. If Mrs:
Darien knew the truth. What would
she say. then?
One night Mr.. Darien said to her
across the shining candle-lit table.
Are you i'll. Judy? don't like those
shadows under your eyes,
Judy was startled. m never
ill.," she told him.
Then you're not sleeping well.
Those shadows aren't the signs OF
good health"
conscience Judy tried to speak
lightly, but her voice trembled. Tears
filled her. eyes so that the lovely table
was a mist of silver and roses and
Honey spoke up abruptly. She
isn't sleeping well. | can hear nef
tossing around at night.
You need a rest and change of
scene Mr.. Darien said sternly. He
turned to his wife. why not send
Judy and her mother down into the
country for a while? We could open
the house down there. Well be gong
down there later ourselves"
"Of course, we could do it, Mrs.
Darien welcomed the suggestion
warmly.
"Oh. / couldn't go! I simply
couldn't" Judy felt frantically that
she was like a very small mouse IN
very tight, hard trap. Day by day her
life was growing more formidaDie'
piedging her to still further obliga.
lions. She cast about in her mind
for a legitimate excuse for refusing
the offer.
"I couldn't leave my work, you
know she said - have to earn my
own living by making these toys and
I've any number of orders to fill
Mr.. Darien brushed her. words
aside. II saw that figure you made
OF Jack" he said. You're made for
something better than making toys.
Go down into the country for rest.
Use that time to try your hand at
more of those little figures. Make
one of me. What do you say,
And of me!' Mrs. Darien chimed
Judy forgot herself for moment,
clanned her hands. 'Oh, I'd love to
do them she cried.
ssThen it's all settled Mr.. Darien's
tone was satisfied. Suddenly he
looked straight at Judy. Why don't
you ever wear Jacks ring?" he asked
her.
had picked Mp. Her startled eyes
fastened themselves on Mr.. Darien.
I'll she stammered.
Mrs. Darien broke in. Don't
bother the child about that she said.
"I understand how she feels about it.
Every fash of it is reminder OF
Jack, and of the hopes that can't ever
come trzae now. / expect she hates
IT! Doh't you. judy"
Judy's head fell. She spoke very
softly II couldn't ever hate it. II
fust can't ever feel that the ring is
mine-any more! 1t is too lovely for
me. 1t always hAs been. I'm
afraid of gorgeous things.'
What a liar she was getting to be,
And nowadays the truth had become
40 mixed up with the lies that it
. was hard to tell where one ended
and the other began.
why had Mr.. Darien asked her
about the ring? Was he beginning TO
suspect something? Oh, If she only
dared blurt out the truth. But she
had lent herself to the deception for
SO long that to tell the truth now
would be to label herself as a crea
ture unspeakable. common cheat
and impostor. Their faces would
harden The love would go out OF
Mrs. Darien's eyes, And she could
Imagine how hard Mr.. Dariens face
would become. No! She had pledged
herself to this. There was nothing &c
do but 60 on. Let them suspect al
thew chose. Unless something outside
came I'D TO waken them to her awful
deed they would never know the truth
She admitted to herself that she
could not face a future in which they
had closed their hearts upon her
Thev were the finest people she had
n,,ay. known. She could not bear tc
lose their respect, Anything would
he better than that.
Mr.. Darien apparently accepted hel
axnla nation. How soon can you and
yoi,r mother be ready TO go down into
fhe country" he asked.
Honey spoke up promptly. Amy
time - Judy smiled to herself. These
Avs Honey was very practical Now
ss.st she no longer thought Of a career
sAha was developing into very gooC
and a very shrewd housekeeper. Bui
IIudy found 1t hard to reconcile hel
memories of Honey with this new
hrIsk person. She was as beautiful
ax ever, but her irresponsibility was
zone and with 1t, TO Judy, some OF
How about a week from today?'
..SpIendid.' said Honey. And Sc