Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-23

bosom. She stopped on the bottom
stair. When she saw him there alone.
Then she came forward, her eyes sWirn-
ming with some sort OF emotlon,
faint blush upon her cheeks, her nands
outstretched. It was the most oeauu-
full living picture he had ever seen
In his life and he welcomed ner Win
a curious sense of confusion.
"You will forgive me that / nave
not been down before" she asked.
looking un &C him for a moment ana
then dropping iler eyes with oaep2r
blush. 1T was oil so strange. ! could
not understand. / stayed away 10 gam
courage"
She had come fiuttering almost into
his arms. From the bottom OK ms
heart Martin welcomed the arrival OF
Mallcwes with cocktails. Laurita. how
ever, made a little grimace:
I'VE will sit together in this corner,
she proposed. II started to dress an
hour ago. I prayed thst you: 700,
might be carly. Tell ne what you
have done all day" :.
MARLIN fortified himself with q cock
tail I,aurita leared ever and took
sip from his glass. =,
well" he recounted, ''first GU all l
went down to the village ana CAMEO
upon these two men who have come
to visit Lord Ardrington."
"I know" she rnurmurcd. "One Oh
them is my wicked father"
"He Is not very attractive, martin
ventured.
1T is enough for me-" Laurfta con-
fded, "that my mother found MIN
wicked. that he made her unhappy,
that she warned me against him on
her death bed For him ! have MOTH
ing but fear. I do not desire to hear
about him. And afterward?'
WE lunched--"
Missing me. hope?"
missing you very much" he as
sured her. "Afterward Lady Blanche
and I played five sets of tennis. Then
she came in and I went out to try
to shoot rabbits in the park"
did you kill any?" she asked anx-
iously.
mot one"
Il am glad" she declared content
edly. Il do not wish that ANYTHING
should be killed today. That Is be-
cause I think, after although am
tired with thinking about it--that this
for me is q day of happiness"
Her exquisite little hand stole into
his, soft and perfumed and white ex-
cept for her rosy fingernails. She held
1t no and showed him the ring which
he had placed there earlier in the Gay,
| a quaint and very beautiful one which
Lord Ardrington had unexpectedly pro-
duced
II shall keep this always" she said
| softly. "Afterward I should like a
little platinum one, but only as a
guard"
Martin felt suddenly stified. She
seemed quite happy. however. and
kaa hor q tfY0Aef
shoulder,
IT am very glad that this evening
| has come" she whispered. Il nope,
| Martin, that you. too. are pleased?"
"Of course, am. But, Laurita."
| She held up a warning finger, and
with a great relief he saw Blanche fol-
| loved by her uncle entering the hall
Martin rose to greet them. He felt
that blanche was regarding him
gravely
Amy luck with the rabbits?" Lord
Ardrington inquired.
| Martin shook his head.
| II am afraid ! haven't the knack OF
moving quietly enough" he replied
| "One would have needed rifle for
| those / saw"
| Lord Ardrington took q cocktail from
the table. He came over to the great
recess where they were grouped.
why, Laurita, my child! he ex-
claimed, looking at her with startled
admiration You look like"
| He stopped short. The significance
of what he had been about to say
seemed re-enforcsd by Martins dis
mayed expression.
please finish, father" she begged
What do l look lilSe?"
He passed his arm lightly around
her.
You look like the sweetest OF the
moderns who ever sat In this dingy
old hail." he said.
But that is not what you we're go"
ing to say" she demonstrated.
Indeed, no." he aSsented. There
Is no reason Why / should not say it
l was going to tell you that YOU looked
like the bride OF a fifteenth century
Spanish romance"
rs that not what I amp" she asked
laughing. "hfter all. what do time or
place matter?"
| Martin deliberately walked away to
| the table. picked up the shaker and
helped himself to another cocktail
Laurita'S eyes followed him enormously
Blanche. her empty glass in her hand
also approached the table.
What have you been saying to the
child2" she asked as he filled it.
Not one word" MARTINI answered
with smothered passion. What
want to know is, what you others have
|