Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-24

been irving 1t myself. We must nave
broken the spring last night.
Lauritas face became the picture -
dismay. nm
But you mean that it viii not go.
that we have no music for danchs'
mot tonight, at any rate. we m ltnm
get man out from Norwicn '''''0--o
to see it." .. "a.
Laurita's distress vas almost pa,
thetic, She sank into chair ana neiu
out her hands to Martin. :, .,.a
But l want to dance" she crio"
Il want to dance with you, nlarIni.
Under these regrcttable condltlons:.
Lord Ardrington proposed, what aDo"'
a game of billiards, Martini?
II should like it immensely, ST. wa
the prompt assent. u-
L2urita sprang from her cnan. -,
lips were quiverins. There was q llooo
Of tears in her eyes.
"I3ut I want to- want to talk to
| Martin. / cannot walk with him Dc
| c2use Of the rain; I cannot dance VIII
| him because the gramophone Is DroKen.
| End now you take him away 10 pia5
| billierds!"
! Har stepfather was already on his
way scrcss the h2ll. Martin fingered
1 behind.
| I'm sorry" IL. began.
| YOU'RE not she interrupted. Il
don't think you want to stay with me.
| Say you do, rlaasc," see begged, In
| suddenly altered tcle.
! "Of course I'd like to-" Martin as
sured her, but. after all, Lord Ardring-
ton is my host. If he wants to play
| billiards, must"
"Of course he must" Blanche inter-
vened, turning away from the window.
Don't be baby, Laurita. Play an
other of those divine polonaises. They
can hear If they leave the billiard room
door open, and afterward well go IN
| and mark for them"
Martin mopped his forehead as he
| selected a cue.
"Temporizings a little hard, I am
afraid" Lord Ardrington remarked
| Sympathetically. "Laurita Is such
| child IN one way. such a woman in an
| other. You mustn't hurt her, Martin"
| God knows don't want to, but it's
difficult" Martin groaned.
| They played billiards for an hour
with scarcely the interchange of word
All the time through the open door
came the call of the music-sometimes
pasSionately loud, sometimes seductively
/
Martin broke down over an easy shot
and turned abruptly to his host.
What on earth is she doing 1t for,
sir?" he demanded.
Lord Ardrington chalked his cue: his
| expression was unmoved.
She wants you to go into the draw
ing room to her." he said.
ut sounds like it," Martin admitted,
''but you know can't"
You have my permission!"
But I can't" Martin repeated
| f1ercely.
In that case, let us continue our
game" Lord Ardrington suggested. -.
II can't do that, either. That music
is terrible. 1t sounds as though she
were suffering"
she probably is"
IT want TO 60 and say something to
her." Martin declared, but not"
Not what she wants to hear prob
ably" Lord Ardrington interrupted. II
| should stay where you are, Martin,
These things must run their course like
the storm outside. There! It's all over"
The music had stopped abruptly.
Presently they heard soft footsteps
| crossing the hall. The two girls en-
tered together.
Were going to bed" Blanche an
nounced, The storms upset us both"
1T has played the mischief also with
our billiards" Lord Ardrington OBJ
served. II think you are wise"
Goodnight, both of YOU" Blanche
yawned.
Goodnight" Laurita echoed
Martin held the door open. Blanche
went out first and her glance In pass
ing was kindly. Laurita fingered for
moment. She raised her eyes. Her
lips scarcely moved.
You heard the music made?"
1T was very wonderful" Martin an
SWered.
She looked at him for a second
longer and then moved away. He stood
motionless until she had disappeared
! Then he closed the door.
"Cne more fifty UP and a whisky
and soda" Lord Ardrington proposed.
Martin chalked his cue mechanically.
| His hands were trembling, his throat
was parched He was obsessed with the
/ sensation of having been driven forever
/ out of the routine of the life which he
had known into foreign ways.
t Continued in Tomorrow's starr