Evening star., 1930-12-12

w YHEN Margaret met Stan be-
n fore breakfast the nsXt day,
wv it was strangely hard to
meet his eyes with all the
frank pleasure that such a
friendship should insure. Margaret
brushing masses of matted wet leaves
from the porch, her black gown hall
coversd by her heavy silk japanese
jacket, raised her blue eyes with con-
scious effort, tried to speak, tried to
smile, and failed in both
Stanley. wearing his becoming old
tweeds, bent over her brown hand They
were both little flushed anad incoller-
ent as they grseted each other.
The morning had broken gloriously
in a flood CT brilliant sunshine.
Margaret and Stanley ana Jim
walked about the place, and to all three
of them there was heaven in the Win
ter morning that bore so sweet a re =
semblance to the Spring. Margaret
picked great double white violets and
pale blue violets On their frail, long,
jointed stems, and ever afterward the
scent of them carried her back to this
delicious hour, when al the world
seemed made for herself and Stanley.
Presently they went back TO a hearty
breakfast. and then Margaret disap-
peared to Superintend household affairs
and Stanley went down to the farroW-
ing sheds with BatterSby.
That was the end of the happy time
For just before luncheon Shirley and
the Willis Hydc-BrOWnS arrived
Instantly pandemoniUm awakened.
Shirley looked stunning in the big
brown furs she wore upon her arrival,
and almost more attractive in the white
woolly sweater, white skirt, thick
white stockings and white boots she
Immediately put on. She was in glori-
Gus spirits witty, vivaciOus, uncritical
and enthusiastic.
Everything was satisfactory to Shir-
ley today. She displayed the ranch to
young Mrs. Hyd-- Brown, a bride end a
stranger, with all the pleasure Of the
chatelaine.
Stan and I viii be here a good deal
OF the time-at least, I believe those are
my orders!" Shirley said, with a humor-
out look. He's mad about the place,
and I must say think I'm going to be
as cracked as he is! Isn't it a nice old
dive?"
She introduced Margaret prettily
This is Miss Yorke Constance You
know Miss Yorke. Billy" she said.
Did Mr.. Crittenden get drowned,
coming down?" she asked.
No, he got down in the clear
weather" Margaret answered, feeling
her manner wooden. and her heart
lead But the storm came back,
around the mountain, at about and
kept him"
Fancy Shirley said, unsuspiciously
and indiferently. This was before stan
ley had returned from the lower farm
and before he knew Of hsr arrival. The
women went indoors and Shirley, brisk
ly changing her clothing, chartered
away happily. holding Margaret by an
occasional question.
Mrs. Hyds-Brown was an English
woman, with an Englishwoman's de-
lightful surensss of herself and her
class. Margaret had not been in her
presence five minutes before she felt
herself pleasantly relegated to the rank
Of the nursery governeEs.
Il wonder if you'd be so very kind as
to- get me g,arce of water, Miss
Yorker Constance said.
Certainly" But Margaret's face
flushed, and when she had returned
with the water, Constance and Shirley
were talking Of the wedding Constance
begged that it might be before Christ
mas, when she and Billy were going
to New York. and Shirley assured her
that it would surely be long before
that
Margaret's heart turned to stone
From this moment everything went at
crcsS-purpcses.
0eAAa-J AOulAN oil cillI-uSIdS L4S dQ-
mirer cf his acres, his cattle, his es-
t2bhshment generally, in Constance
Hyde-Brown. She asked Stanley casual
impressive questions as 20 the English
oairy-farms be had sesn; had he ever
seen Lord EXnoor's herd? Tommy Ex-
moor was quite tco absurd about them
Shirley took her cue 1rcm her friend
She was interested and intelligent, too.
Oh, Stan had built the new pews. hadn't
he? She pouted when they all laughed
at the term; stanchicns, then, she
amended. prettily flushed.
Willis Hyde-Brown, with the age-old
pleasure Of the male in his young wife's
success, also absorbed Stan. with an
undertone conversation rczarding- some