Evening star., 1928-05-19

the smooth line of cheek under gypsy
hat, and his senses swan with a Joy a:
keen as pain.
Isn't this pleasant" she said happily
after a while as they ran through {
village full of small homes and waterec
gardens and reached the bridge.
you could always have one Of the
cars" Dan said gruffly
/ Aren't we going frightfully fastp'
asked the eternal feminine. making hi!
heart reel and Stagger with an upward
look.
we can 60 slower" Dan had never
talked so easily with her before.
IT hate to rush through all this
beauty" Patricia indicated the sluggish
river that was stained red. and the
| houses along its banks where little home
lights were beginning to prick through
| the twilight
Il thought you we're going to rest to-
| day?" Dan ventured presently.
II was. But Miss Hutchinson had an
engagement, and 1t seemed a good time
for the last picnic of the season." the
girl answered simply.
You know him pretty well-Hutchin-
SOM" Dan asked. suddenly trembling.
Ever since we were children He is
almost the oldest friend I have"
And then some" Dan said darkly.
She raised her eyebrows. but punished
him by giving him no answer.
III tell you one thing. Miss Cheese
brough," Dan added, after silent half
mile. His voice was half rough. half
contemptuous: he laughed. but there
was no mirth in the laugh. "If you
we're engaged to me. you wouldn't 60
of for day in the woods with me. like
a couple of nice, middle-aged school,
teachers with their knitting"
A little puzzled. she glanced at him
with her self-poSsesSed smile. Then her
eyes narrowed with a look of affront,
| and the splendid color crept from her
throat to the dark hair that framed her
forehead
A pulse iuttered In her throat. she
raised her chin proudly and fixed her
eyes upon the street ahead Of them.
Barbarian" she thought haughtily.
But she was routed. and fell silent
before the strange glimpse of the male.
That night she slept In the unbeliev-
able Injuries Of the castle. Sidney had
had an engagement. and left them when
they reached the city. and Patricia. who
was giving Beatrice luncheon at the
club the next day, was anxious to have
little talk with the girl before her first
real appearance.
There was q supper that was almost
indecent In its abundance. and after 1t
Patricia and the brother and sister
played bridge. The three young people
had spirited game Of dummy. while
q maid unobtruSively changed the disks
on the big phonograph and the mother
dreamed contentedly by the FIRE.
Later on Dan went into the adjoining
room and busted himself with his
player-piano, but Patricia would not en-
courage this obvious showing of" and
followed Beatrice upstairs.
Monday is the big day at the club.
you know" she reminded the girl and
youu wear your old school tailor-made.
won't you. and no jewels? Let them
talk. don't listen too attentiveiy We
don't take them seriously. you under
stand?"
Beatrice listened haughtily.
ITS very nice of you to take an in
terest in me. Miss Chesebrough," she
said. with resentful girlish coolness. 1T
seems TO make great differences 70
mamma and Dan, but ror my part
don't see that the Pomeroys and the
Throckmortons are one bit better than
ANYBODY else
Il don't know that I ever said they
were" Patricia answered coidiy
why. who are the Bruces?" Beatrice
went on angrily. Their grandfather
used TO have q department store.
Mamma remembers it very weil, over
on East Pearl street. And the Cheneys'
uncle ran saloon, and one of the reils
was mixed UP In that Terry scandal"
My dear girl, know all that" Pa
tricia said patiently, but the fact re-
mains that they are all rich and ex-
elusive and-well, and powerful now,
and they are society"
And those are the people ! am ex-
pected 70 kowtow TO-" Beatrice said
scornfuIly.
Those are the people You can take
them or leave them"
The two girls had stopped In the dim
soft light Of the big upper hall. and now
Patricia ended her ultimatum with a
little cynical shTug and smile.
They have emphasized the good
things In their various families" she
added, land ignored the bad. and their
money has helped them 10 put their best
foot forward. / don't suppose there's a
family In America that couldn't make a
pretty good showing in grandfathers and
uncleS IL 1t had the money.
Il do know that there are real Aneri-
can aristocrats In this town---for In
stance. there's q little Seamstress at my
boarding -house who Is direct descend
ant Of Lord Baltimore, and that con-
sumptiye actress who committed suicide
the other day was Fairfax Of Virginia
but these women are poor. and that's
enough TO shut all the doors"
We have money enough" Beatrice
nuttered.
Exactly. And at IS you can be a
social leader" Patricia assured her
STslaa v04staUGw oAri*e afaMakn Ats,asAtnA
She liked the thought.
But how are you going TO manage
TT" she asked doubtfuIIy.
"Ah, I'll manage H." There was GER
tainty In Patricia's infection. as she
nodded good night and opened her
own door.
Slowly, enjoying the unw0nted luxury.
she prepared for bed The bathroom
was larger than her room at Mrs Rod
gers. Gioriougly hot water plunged
against the white enamel The towels
were thick and white and snowy and
embroidered with coat Of arms. The
great bed was turned down invitingly.
shaded lamps were lighted and the
thousand tiles of the fireplace each re,
nected dancing wood IRE.
She presently touched the button that
darkened the room except for the bed
side light Then she went 70 the great
windows and opened one after another
70 the Autumn night.
There were stars above Lafayette ave-
nue., but no moon. Roofs and chimneys
showed here and there above the tops
| Of the thinning trees Under them the
street lamps made pools Of yellow bril-
| lance.
A firefiy IN October? Patricia looked
| keeniy at the dot Of fight that gioWed
| by the fence. II was the red tip Of a
| cigarette, and by It's tiny light she could
| distinguish the figure Of man standing
/ n10ti0nIess beside the hedge. Instantly
| she knew that II was Dan.
| II was Dan, watching her window
| Patricia felt her heart hammer for a
second of surprise. she turned back into
the room.
What AN absurd thing for him tn