Evening star., 1928-10-21


heat that Midsummer never SurpaSSeS
A little after 5 o'clock Constantine
Ball approached his wife and said thai
ne could not stand it another moment
and was going home to have swim
on his own beach His wife, who fol
20 years had been indorsing his ideas
agreed Then he said: And we might
take little Mrs. Efingham with US"
A very slight change came over Be-
linda Balls face she doesn't swim
lou know" she answered. And if we
take her we shall have to send he1
',ome-just at the hour when Luigi is
having his supper
"Oh, Lugi's supper" exclaimed Ball
- turned to his father-in-law, DR.
.exton, who was standing beside him
''1elinda's comings and goings are en-
tirely regulated by the servants meals. y
He spoke in that tone of irritable jocu-
iarity that is the refuge of the short
tempered and long married.
THE human machine is dependent
en- being punctually refueled," observed
ne doctor Sententiously.
Constantine Ball, rich son of an even
richer father, was the president of a
-reat trust company that his father had
!ounded He was a good-looking blond
man. growing bald on the curves of his
'amples. keeping down his tendency to
eight by swimming and golf in Sum-
ner and by racquetS in Midwinter.
Belinda his wife, had been beauty
when he married her, and was not a
l>eauty any more. But she had not lost
hat gracious manner that belongs to
members of the great ariStocracy of
beauty. She still had slim figure,
pretty ankles, a long throat, but her
s'lin had lost its freshness, and her
dark hair was threaded with gray.
AS soon as her husband had finished
speaking, or rather, as soon as she
caught the note of irritation in his
''oice. she moved forward to a pretty
blonde girl who was talking to that
eminent lawyer, Junius Connors. Or
rather, she was not talking-he was
talking, and she was holding up the
thirsty cup of her mind to be filled
with his wisdom, fixing her great violet
eyes on his face, moving her head to
cne side or the other with every move
ment of his, as if she could not bear
10 lose a syllable of his speech
motion OF mis- lips. 1t was her man
ner in listening to all members of the
opposite sex.
On seeing Mrs. Ball approaching.
2onnorS interrupted himself reluctantly.
Don't tell me- you're leaving this scene
t revelry," he said. He was a tall
nan, dark. rugged and thin, his gray
lair a trif1e unbrushed, as if it was
3lwayS ready to be shaken in court.
lis coat little too much cut in at
ne waist-in general. he had a little
30 much the manner of a man used
having his way with two of the most
logical groups in the world. as he him
elf would have said-women and iuries.
Yes, we are going home to SWIM"
1ld Belinda. "Wot t you come with
5, Mrs. Efing1am-we'll have tea aft
rward-and you too, Junius?"
1T sounds too wonderful" said Mrs.
bingham.
ITS nice of you to think so. consid-
ring you don't swim" answered Be
:, nda.
But I can watch all of you," said
lrs. Ef1ngham, and her eyes strayed
way and rested on Constantine Ball
| can see Mr.. Ball do that wonderful
i've OF his. And you. Dr. Wrexton," !"
ne added to the old man. do you
vim as beautifully as your daughter?"
Ever 81 muo-l better answered the
octor. "E9cc-:,.,' hing she knows taught
i,er."
That's marvclous." replied Mrs. Eff
ngham. 4 only wish I could teach
'1y little boys"
Judging from superficial appear
HnceS," said the doctor, II should i'm
7gine they were too young as vet to
,carn to swim"
Mrs. Efngham wagged her golden
lead.
They're gettin' to be big boys" she
'7swered. The eldest is II. but i
asl't very old when I married"
About IA, I should guess" the doctor
suggested.
)RESE,TTLY all five of them got into
the E3lls' car and were swept away.
on the Balls own private beach therc
ere bathing houses, always suppliod
tn bathing clothes and towels.
The three men hurried awcy to get
ady, but Belinda delayed a :7>oment
side Mrs. Efnngham, Who had sunk
'wn under the chadow OF the trees.
Would you mind keeping these for
We" said BelinG7.
She was We 2"irg the pearls her hus-
nd had in. ! frCn his mother.
en- he. for 81! rs W" n, could not
J We given his Y e sun a string now
avs. Fifty VS. qgo, w,len these had
IN bought, til we're crasidered eX-
avagant-the 'c~g.st as t.g as a small
! arble and az r0rfect IN skin and
or. Belinda Id then ont to Mrs.
lnghSm, who save a - c..
I never saw any him 20 marvellous
all my life" she crieo. Nay I put
an on?"
That is what ] want you to do"
7swered Belinda They get so
ratched, knocking about the bath
,use, and once I dropped them down
tween the boards of the floors, and
had a dreadful time finding them.
usually stop at the house and leave
lem IN the safe, but I forgot this
ternoon." She turned away and came
ok. Perhaps you wouldn't mind
king these, too," she said, and took
a bracelet made Of solitaire dia-
onds, and the great Catherine of
lssia brooch-a diamond bowknot
Tn Two rUb-eS dangling +.oTl e. us.
fngham fastened it in the front Of
2r pale gray dress and slipped the
'acelct over her hand.
When Belinda came bac; in her
'thlng dress, she " s not surprised to
I'd that the three raon were standing
cut Mrs Eflnch n. nor t.ct ne sub
ct of conversation vas lie io"'cls and
lad"-jley were t-.ia.g her in t41ir
dercnt ways thct priceless Jewels
re her nHtive U@9r.
Ana 20 I don't own a single one,
e observed
That IS your own fault-Tm sure,
lid Ball
'Or my own virtue" s',e answered.
Ball turned to Conno-s.
We have only a few minutes before
ark, he said. Lets get our swim"
A raft w?s enchored a little way out
he four Of them made for this-they
vam. tlc~ G:Vcd. 1t was a lovely
renirg. i9vcrs CT thick violet began tC
title rornG the ko-izcn. Ball had sale
2verGl mes t:1"t tEey ought to gc
THAT it w~sn'o reilly civil to keer
-leir Gi~~. waiting for her tea
They Csa2e c. os@thc water alr1os
nultanccuS'v, taking Of the refresh,
ent OF c2lt wGtcr c.l1 how in six week!
here night be frcSt-what a clinat,
WA whom Ell exclaimed tha