Evening star., 1928-12-15

felt more wonder than ever that Rich
ard should have chosen to marry me-"
Mrs. Ogden considered. That she
cordially disliked Anne Lovelace added
zest to her experiment with Yvonne.
Weren't you jealous?" che asked with
little laugh.
yes" said Yvonne simply. For
Mile. Lovelace still admires my fus-
band. But he does not care for her, so
am content.
ssome day" said Mrs. Ogden slowly,
Richard Ross is going to give up this
kind of life Then when he re-enters
society he will want his wife at his side.
Yvonne, why don't you quietly, without
telling him educate yourself, be ready
to take that place when the time
comes?"
"I have promised him that I would
not change" Yvonne answered.
But that was wicked promise to
make. Think of it. Here you are, far
more beautiful. far more talented than
dozen Anne Lovelaces. You owe it
to your husband and yourself to become
lady, to learn to speak English, to
read and write and travel. Some day
Richard will need you as companion,
and unless you are ready, there will be
much unhappiness for you both.
Yvonne shook her head. her eyes
filed with tears. when Pichard tires
of me as I am, 1 shall return to my
own people," she said quietly.
Thus ended the first argument. Mrs.
Ogden did not press the matter then.
But she returned to the attack again
and again. Slowly she could see Yvonne
weakening. Then. being wise gen.
eral, she said nothing further, but be-
1fN,.f .f,fn
to matinees. Mrs. Ogden provided a
long cape for Yvonne to wear over her
quaint dress and persuaded her to lay
by her cap. Yvonne loved the music,
was puzzled by the plays, but enjoyed
all this new contact with a new world.
Several times she tried 20 tell Rich
ard what she was doing. wanting his
approval, but he was absorbed and busy
and paid little heed. The time came
when Mrs. Ogden played her trump
card. There was to be an amateur per-
formance of Junior League girls in the
ballroom of one of the hotels. Many
Of them would be in costume, so Yvonne
need not be too conspicuous and Anne
Lovelace was one of the performers.
Mrs. Ogden took the precaution Of
arriving late with her protege. A stage
had been raised at one end of the ball
AOOHl uIlA IitOSG Va OilC nuQtCkiOC Wdo do-
sembled when she and Yvonne slipped
into their seats. Shortly the curtains
parted and the program began. There
were the usual choruses and dancing
and then series of tableaux, Girls
of All Times"
Anne was in several of the scenes
and on her first appearance, stunning
in an old English riding habit, Mrs
Ogden heard Yvonne catch her breath
sharply. Later Anne sang in her lazy
soprano voice, and after the perform
ance, as Yvonne was leaving, she saw
Anne, the center of an admiring circle
of men and girls.
Yvonne was quite silent on the way
home. 1t was not until they neared
her house that she laid her hand on
the older woman's and said: II have
thought earnestly and prayed over what
you have been telling me. have de-
cided you are wiser even than Richard.
Let us begin our lessons at once"
Mrs. Ogden kissed her. You will
never be sorry, my dear" she said.
That night Yvonne added a petition
to her usual ones: Dear Lord, let me
learn fast, SO that Richard may love
me-"
(To be continued)