The Washington times., 1928-09-17

Onica at last; Veronica who had
stolen Babes beau, who had
broken her fathers heart and
disgraced them alI-been the
cause Of all the bad luck wished
Joan on them. :
She took another look at the
slender, painting girl in the shiny
old blue serge. Slender and round
as 4 willow branch. The same
creamy skin. The same sea-green
eyes.
Look out you don't end like
your mother she finished.
But how? You haven't told
me You've got to now
"All right Evvle spread her
broad palms. You asked. Your
mother was bad-that,s what. She
used to sneak out and meet
Peter ii the rose garden after
she was told to 90 to bed. She
was only sixteen. Papa found
them there one night-aeems
like yesterday Veronica with
Babes blue dressing gown with
the white sWansdoWn trimming
over her nightgown. crying In
the hall, and mama fainting-n
"But IL they loved each other
why didn't everybody let them
be engaged?"
She was too young!s Evvie
bang. Her thin nostriIs QIlivered.
Papa sent her away to school,
and made Peter ship on sail
ing boat-the Temperance. It
was burnt in the China Sea-"
But how
A faint, rafting sob from
Babe.
Evvie brushed an imaginary
cru.nb from her immaculate
white shirtwaist. Yes, that was
always hard for Us to explain.
she said dryly. Mama used
to say there had been a secret
marriage. It's probably as good
as anything. Anyway Peter
was at the bottom Of the China
Sea. he and his ship, burnt to
a crisp, and Veronica did just
what You might have expected
OF her. She sent you home
for us to take care OF, and
jumped off a ferryboat. coming
over from the city. Well, that
ought to hold you for a while.
Il guess I'll go to bed. You'd
better come, too, Babe"
And she strobe majestically
from the room, quite herself
again. leisurely impressive, all
her anger forgotten.
Bump. blump-her heavy foot.
steps going up the stairs.
Then Joan's. Slow, hearts
broken, her little world fallen
about her ears. Up tile stairs,
into her room. How queer She
looked in the mirror =.
her eyes looked 50 dark in her
pale face with her hair
all mussed Did tbad
girls" look that way?
She kelt by the bed and cooled
her hot face on the fresh white
counterpart. How she hated Aunt
EvVie, and how she hated herself
for believing Aunt Evvie.
The little porcelain miniature OF
Veronica-of Veronica ut 16-was
strained close to her heart. The
little mother she had never known.
Her pretty one. Her dear one.
Aunt Evvie Is liar, a double.
dyed. twenty-times, liar, I know
she isl she whispered to the little
miniature, so oddly like herself.
Il don't believe her-don't you
know don't-wherevsr you are?A
And she cried because it wasn't
any use. Something in EWES
cold dark eyes, something In
Babes pitiful clutching hands had
told her. It wasn't q lie. It was
the truth.
Joan sprang to her feet.
don't care IL 1t is true" she cried
Its real love story-I,m ps0u4 !
I'm Hastings! No wonder he
loved her--she was beautiful and
fine and wonderful! love her
too - nore-sthan ever ~ do II
do"
Joan reached out her arms. "I
am like your The old mirror over
the. dresser flung back her image
starfy.eyed, afIame with the first
consciousness of her own beauty.
"Why, we look exactly alike! And
l will be like you-they can't stop
me from 1t! T. will! I willf'
Continued Tomorrow
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