Evening star., 1928-05-24

L crying: she and Dan and Patri-
cia and Sidney somehow man.
| aged to meet each others eyes. to dine
| and dance and ride as usual. The days
| wheeled by.
OF them all Patricia played tn,
| pretticst part. She was all dignity, al
| affecuonate concern, all superb self
| control, Dan was, as usual, clumsy
! eager. inarticulate. Beatrice was quite
viSibly restless and unhappy, Sidney
| was obviously wretched, ashamed. un-
certain, apologetic.
Mrs. Palmer Indignantly wondered
| how a man could keep girl IN such
a state of suspense. Money or nc
money. protested the mother. there
| should be at least an understanding be-
| tween them before he went away
So Christmas came. and from Sidney
each girl had flowers-roSes for Bea-
| trice. violets, as always. for Patricia
| Patricia's card held the words, God
| bless you always" and somehow they
! rang false to her. and she crushed the
! card and flung 1t away. On Beatrfce's
card was carelesSly penciled. With Sid's
! love" Patricia could imagine what the
! girl read into it.
| Sidney and his sister we're packing
| their possessions now; on the first OF
! the year the studio would be empty
| Helena was TO leave first, and to pro-
! ceed with her company 10 New York
by slow degrees.
Sidney would stay on. perhaps with
| Harry Page. perhaps at the club. he
| told Patricia. for few days.
Dan was planning year In the
Orient.
Patricia, who had kept her room all
this time at Mrs. Rogers. was to move
finally to the castle on the last day Of
the year.
Beatrice-but they all knew what
Beatrice hoped.
Meanwhile the social year rose toward
its height. New Years day was TO fall
on Sunday. and Mrs. Throckmorton
included the four young people in plans
for a small but select house party at
the Throckmortons tiny cabin up in
the great forest of Mountainhead.
Hilarious plans for woodflres. for a
turkey, for fancy dress, were included
in the main plan. .....
Sidney Immediately declined Beatrice.
who would have been mad with JOY at
the mere thought of such distinction
! a few months ago. was half-hearted,
and Dan and Patricia, accepting, told
each other that Ii was merely 10 be
polite. Nobody at the Palmer house
was in house party mood.
Early on Saturday morning. the last
day OF the old year, Patricia walked
downtown and stopped at the studio 70
say goodby to Helena. It was only 3
O'Clock, but she knew that Sidney was
riding with Beatrice and purposely
chose for her call d time when she
need not meet him. She climbed the
familiar stairs with q pang at her heart
for the old happy times that were
ended now. and came upon Helena just
as the girl was finishing the last pack
ing.
The studio looked bare and deserted
already. Cold morning light poured
through the north window. and the
fire was fed merely by the odds and
ends that Helena discarded in her reck-
less work She smiled as Patricia came
in.
This is the very fnish!" she an
nounced .-s..
IN be doing the same thing myself
In few minutes" Patricia said.
You're going TO the Falmers2",
Helena asked. That's been a great
thing for you. hasn't it?" she asked, As
Patricia nodded. Well. it's general
breakup, now. You 70 the Palmers,
Sid 70 New York, back TO the legiti-
| mate"
do you go to the Eyres' tonight,
Helena?"
on. no! leave with the ROSES for
| Chicago on the o'clock train" Helena
said. Sid goes to Mr.. Eyre, ] be-
| lieve"
You leave today7" Patricia said,
| astonished.
AT 2 O'Clock"
Patricia's face was thoughtful When
/ do you join Sidney In the New York
studio7"
Helena tackled card upon the closed
/ box. and then gave Patricia swift
glance. Probably never" she answered
dryly.
/ you mean"~-Patricias heart was
hammcring~-"y mean that they will
probably be married. at once?" she
/ asked.
Il mean that there is no New York
( studloi" Helena answered. In a half
| reckless, half amused voice
"But~but Sidney was going there,
stammered the other girl.
Opening small suitcase, Helena
estimated It's contents With narrowed
eyes and puckered hrow My suit
my hat~~and my ticket la therel" sh.
murmUred Sidney Is 10 send for al
tbese boKeG. He is 10 send taxi fOl
me At II. and meanwhile there's onk
my baLh--snd turning over tn
keys"
'Eut-but where IL he goingT' Patri
cia persisted, In puzzled. almost ap
pTehenaiYe tone
II really don't know" Helena an
swereo lightly Reno. perhaps"
Bx4 fgfa HfFfsE Oh L.
Why should he go thereF'
That" said Helena. snoring les
agitation than She felt Ia what thin
yea ought ~ know"
Ought 10 know vhat?" II wa
patgiciss \ voice, but she did not kn0'
she had spoken The big bare, dust
studio seemed ~ be cl0xing IN upon heI
Ought ~ know Mat he wants
oisorce," Helena said. with a nery0u
laugh
speechiess. the Aher woman stare
., her,
You know whfn / FIRST came here
IN September" NeiFna went on, IN
tod ne for the flfst time of his 0i
friendship with you IL was uoti1in
Ike like this new affair with Mis-
Palmer. of course. but IL Was enough I
] MAKE him unhappy, and ashamed
himself. just the same thought q
first that II gaE perhaps no more tba
: boy-and girl affair Anyway, thrr
Xas nothing ~ be done about il"
a 'Egl Do you mean 10 tell me" Patri
cia said Suddenly finding her voice, On
anger With IT, that Sidney Hutehns0
H. msFf.fd2"
- THAT'S what ! am telling yonl
> Heiena answered quickly
"EuI but whom tG7"
+ 'IfA his wite!'
''1D met" Helena answered "Hidnf
aud II we're married three yeaFE ego