Evening star., 1930-12-13

L N
4 i to view and the canons un.
| dulated with the milky folds oi
the soft and cloudy billows of the mist
Stanley, taking an early walk about
the farm after long and restless night
noted. as he had noted o thousand
times, that the comfortable domestic
| life of barns and sheds proceeded
placidIy, unchecked by the apparent
stoppage Of all Natures forces.
Healoved his home, the man thought
with O. pAng Of keen alfection. After
the feverish discomfort Of the night, the
waking and doing, always with sense
of impending misfortune upon him, he
had risen disconsolately. No use to Try
to sleep; there5was no more sleep In the
world.
| But now this early rising, and those
/ lost hours, seemed nothing. He was
here, well and strong, and even health
| lily hungry, and in this new day any,
thing might happen.
| Something did happen, almost i'm
mediately, for Margaret and Jim came
abruptly about the corner Of the BIG
| hay barn.
Margaret followed the child slowly
but without hesitation. The fog had
curled her rich, dark hair into cloud
about the softly olive forehead; her face
was pale and looked strained and weary;
there was a spiritualized quality about
her whole appearance that instantly
appealed TO Stan, and her dark blue
| eyes managed smile as they met hts.
swer to the concern In his eyes. "Ano
you did, tool" she added quickly.
Hardly at al" he answered, smiling
down at her. But always love ia
get up early" he continued philosoph-
ically, "aIRd ! feel fine. But how about
you? You tainted last night"
Eyes, know" she said, flushing
hotly, hNt meeting his eyes squarely,
II suppose I was more tired than ]
knew! It used to be q bad habit OF
mine, but I've not tainted for years" !"
| tainted" Stanley said, with sort OF
| timidity. Their relationship seemed to
him to have appreciably altered since
the arrival of Shirley's telegram. 'The-
| the look In your eyes" he said, "and
then that sudden collapsed It made me
realize just what you are to me-"
Stupid, stupid thing to dol" she said,
anxiously and hurriedly. ''It all came
over me, suddenly"
"It came over me, too, Margaret,
Stanley said, watching her closely. 81
felt for the first time that we love each
other, that you and I are to be man
and wifeI''
Margaret raised her eyes, brimmins
with slow tears, and smiled at him t1n-
certainly.
THAT was it, wasn't it, Margaret
he asked. You knew then that it was
love, between you and me, didn't you?'
"Yes," she said, in q low tone, d
knew then that It was-that."
And you knew there never could b
any one else In my life, dear" Stanley
said. 'I'I wait, and I'll give you al
the time you want But it's you and
me, now, Margaret, against all the
worldl"
"You and me-" she whispered, her lips
trembling. what about-her7" she
asked, with . glance IN the direction
Of Shiriey's room.
"I1l manage herp
You know. Of course, that am not
free, Stanl"
"You told me that" stanley smiled
at her encouragingly. "But you could
be free, Margaret"
"Only by breaking my oathl" she re-
minded him quickly.
A moment later, In silence, Stanley
followed her into the sunshiny dining
room.
"Just the same, can't help beine
happy, Margaret" Stan said. II cant
help feeling that everything 10 coins
/ 70 CO1ue O0B All ElIflbl
The main thing" she said. with an
adorable upward nash Of blue eyes
! 'the main thing 10 all right"
you mean our liking each other?'
He leaned close to her as he spoke, and
| the look In his bronzed, boyish face
made her heart fiutter suddenly.
ST thought that would never come
to me again" Margaret said.
And you are sure, now?" he asked
In the same tone.
"Sure?" she echoed, family interroga-
tory. And with her odd smile she added
I'VE win be happy here, Margaret
he pleaded. you and !, and our boy
and our farmI"
"If one dared to think Of It event.
the girl said. Shirley viii feei-may
feel all the more reason for hurryinl
the wedding, now," she added.
'I don't see why. 1t might work Just
the other way" Stan said. refiectively
But either way, It doesn't matter, foI
I shall have to tell her the truth"
You're going to do that?" MargareI
asked.
"I have to now"
Couldn't Shirley make It very hare
for you, STAMP"
"Oh, she Will" he said serenely.
"She might sue you, you know"
Not with Theobald dying. She talket
to me last night about securing he
share OF his money! She said, In q
many words, that she wouldn't be mar
F1ed until that was settled"
But . divorced woman isn't mani
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