Evening star., 1927-05-30

will they do? And Holly's wedding
next MONTH"
Il thought you didn't want that
wedding"
"Well, they want it. At least"
"At least, the old lady does, eh ?
Well. that's neither here nor there.
! lust want to say this, Margaret: He's
not TO come here bothering you, or
me. either. I'm not trafficking with
! crooks"
She did not resent it. She knew
his frightful honesty and she liked
his masterfulness.
Il don't think he'll bother us,
James But what they're to live on
l don't know"
Let him get out and work. Dig
| bitches, or run a street car. That
may hurt his pride, but it's honest" !"
IF he's sick-'
"Oh. fddledeedee" he grunted.
"Sick, nothing. That's the old dodge
to get him out. Everything goes but
| fiat feet"
But later on he felt he had been
trifle violent, and, after they were
in bed, he put hand over and
| caught hers. He felt carefully for
her worn forefinger and stroked it
gently.
Maybe I said too much," he whis-
pered, but he left you to slave for
them there. l hate that"
He went to sleep soon after, but
Margaret lay awake, wide.eyed and
anxious. The satin had come for
Holly's wedding dress, and already
she had cut it out. 1t was very Won
derful satin. but she wondered now
if it would ever be used. If only
she hadn't cut it!
She was not the only one who lay
awake. Indeed, save Mrs. Bayne and
James, none of the characters in the
approaching drama got much sleep at
all.
Holly's world had suddenly crashed
beneath her feet, and the very figure
of stability, her mother, had de.
stroyed it. Holly might have been
whirling through space, with her
father and her mother and Furness
and the children at school, who used
to howl after her. all whirling about
her. When she dropped to sleep it
was to have the sensation of falling
and to waken damp with the sweat of
terror. Once she reused thus and
sat up in bed to see two shining
eyes fixed on her from across the
room.
1t was some time before she
realized that they were the paste
buckles on a pair of slippers on her
dressing table. a part of her mothers
purchases that day.
Through it all, however, there was
one figure that did not move, or
whirl. 1t was as steady as one of
the fixeA stars. When her tired brain
refused the hundred crowding. chaotic
thoughts, it seized on this for rest
and peace: Warrington, solid and
are everything in the world to me-"
Toward morning she fell into a
heavy sleep. from which she was
reused by the ringing Of the door
bell. Her mother was stirring, across
the hall, and Holly opened her door
and spoke to her.
"I'll go down." she said. go back
to bed, MOTHER
Don't let any one in until you
know who ii is," said Mrs. Bayne.
There was a curious catch in her
voice, and, even in the haste Of get
ting down and opening the front door.
Holly noticed it.
AS if it had been lying in the back
of her mind all the time, the thought
sprang out at her: Suppose there
was SOiAiCtlllIS IIlOi Al SCAllll6 tHoS
bond than just taking what didn't
belong to one? Suppose there was
risk?"
who's there?" she called, with her
hand on the knob. What do you
want?'
Telegram" was the laconic
answer.
She opened the door, and, after
signing the book, read the message.
She knew, as she stood there, that
her mother was in the hall above,
listening, perhaps trembling.
ITS just a telegram, mother" she
called up, reassuringly.
"a telegram? What about?"
"The pardon's been granted. He'll
be coming home, mother, as soon as
he can travel
Suddenly, and without warning,
Mrs. Bayne burst into tears.
Continued in Tomorrow's Star.)