Evening star., 1928-05-04
Continued from Yesterdays starN
INSTAI.LMENr XXxu.

is sick, or has been hurt.
Will return, Wait for
me here"
You are fool, Peter" said Joseph.
his brother. There is nothing wrong,
tell YOU"
I did not ask you to come" growled
Peter. II want TO find Gerane."
she was waiting for Starcourt to
come" argued Matthew. Il saw her
look down the road a hundred times
before he came in sight She was
watching for him, tell you
Shut up!" snapped Peter, I've
heard enough of that, I am going to
find out If they were lying when they
said she was wanted at home. If She
is there-that'S one thing. If she
iSnt-wen that's another"
II see some one with a lantern COM
ing out of uncle'S house" said Joseph,
Joseph laughed, Probably Uncle
Jonifer starting out to look fer Gerane,
who. by this time, is very pleasantly
lost. / suppose. I'd like to be IN star
courts place and lost in the dark with
her"
Matthew added a Sneering comment
Gerane's convulsive grip on her COM
panion'S arm was all that kept him
from hurting himself upon the speaker
Il ought TO break your head for
that" said Peter trreateningly.
They moved of. The crunch OF their
feet grew faint. Starcourt ventured
into the road.
claimed. trying TO jerk himself free.
"Stay back here and keep out OF IL.
I couldn't do anything while you were
with"
Don't be a fool" she cried IN a
low. intense voice. We will stay right
where we are and wait for them. And
you are not to fight-do you hear me?
what have we done to be ashamed OF?
Keep out of this If you please. ms
is my affair"
The three brothers met the man
with the lantern. Some minutes pass
ed. and then the four Of them STROBE
rapidly in the direction of Gerane ano
Starcourt.
Jonifer's pace slackened when the
lantern revealed the figures IN the
road; he stopped on recognizing them
Gerane spoke.
IF YOU are looking for me, father
here / am. Col Starcourt has some
thing to say to- you, father, but not
in the presence of my cousins. l have
something, however, TO say IN tnen
presence. We heard everything that
Joseph and Matthew said. They were
not very complimentary 10 me. pre-
vented Col. Starcourt from-Trom max
ing them eat their words. VIII say
for Peter that he was man enough 70
tell Matthew that he ought TO break
his head for what he said.
"One moment" broke IN JonlIef'
blocking the way as the brothers start
ed To side of. What was it that
Joseph and Matthew said about you,
rza~a7aa9 7 want IN know
Starcourt stepped into the breeeh-
81 VIII answer that later, Jonifer, ne
said "As for these blackguards-I
mean Joseph and Matthew, for / have
no quarrel with Peter
Gerane silenced him. "GRvanl The
matter is closed. Now. go, Peter-ano
take them with you. I promise that
neither my father nor Col. Starcourt
win call them 70 account.
we viii see about 1t. said JoniIer
surlily. And now you VIII CONE nome
with me"
peter and his brothers walked of.
while Jonifer and his daughter turned
soutf. His arm was about her shoul-
ders: the lantern. carried In MS iree
hand. dangled between him and Gayan
Starcourt.
eco to your room" were his first
words when they were inside his house.
She obeyed him without word, but
favored Starcourt with a smile that
dazzled him.
Nov. Col. Starcourt.' spoke Jonifer
1eveIly. His dark eyes were fixed upon
the young mans face. They were IN
THE long table in the center Of the
room vas set for q dozen guests. Star
court smiled family as he took In the
faa1nrsss1 array zf glance.
III could have nv way, Joniier
Dayos. this feast tonight would cele-
brate not only Christmas, but also the
betrothal of your daughter and one
who now asks you for her hand IN mar
Rage" he said. Il have the honor, sir.
&c inform you that / love Gerane and
would devote my whole life TO her. Need
I say more, Jonifer?"
Has she told you that she loves
your"
Yes"
Jonifer paused. Then, you may be
sure she does. Has she told you she
began to love you the day she first
saw you on the highway"
NO, Jonifer. Nor have / told her
that, without knowing il, began TO
love her az the same time. 1t began
then, Jonifer. / did not know 1t. ]
came here as captive-aye, as birth
day gift TO her. ! ought 10 have de-
spised her. could not. Love was my
csptor. I could not despise love, JON
1ter"
He paused Jonifer's face was stili
hard. but q softer light had come into
his eyes.
1T would be lie If I were TO say
that / have not had this IN mind.
Starcourt." ne confessed. What is
more, IL Cerane had told me that she
loved you and wanted you for hus-