Evening star., 1930-12-11
The Secret of
MARGARET YORKE
By Kathleen Norris

You don't think Shirley need lmOa
Shirley" Margaret said, rOusina
suddenly from dream. But why
should shea I-you-I-but what q
there to tell herP" she stammered. i
'Nothing" Stanley said, flushing.
II suppose life is fun of men and
women who meet each other too late,s
Margaret said, after a pause.
And Immediately and without warns
ing, she got TO her feet, and with every
intention Of merely passing him, she
laid her finger tips lightly upon his
shoulder and said Goodnight"
"Good-nightl" Stanley echoed. He
caught at her hand, and it was trenn+
bling; he saw that her face was pale
under its dusky pallor, and that there
was look Of entreaty in her eyes. In
stantly, without loosing her hand, he
got 10 his own feet and put his arm
about her.
Margaret did not speak: he knew
that she was trying to evade his kisses.
Both were suddenly trembling, and on
the instant 1t seemed impossible to
them both TO separate in this fashion.
A terrible and delicious weakness ran
through Margaret and made her breath
! quicken and her senses swim.
Margaret freed herself and went to
the door OF her room, and. opening It
without backward glance, went in and
shut the door,
Stanley remained standing looking
at the plain, old, white-painted panels
behind which she had disappeared. He
stood there for a long time.
| She was not 20 feet away and the
door was unlocked. And he had aroused
all the splepdor, all the passion Of that
gypsy heart at last.
But the moment went by; the fre
broke, the rain fell outside and the clock
ticked steadily in the warm, dim room.
Margaret did not return.
Stanley merely wanted another
I one more word. whatever its character.
He walked quickly and noiselessly TO
her door and laid his fingers upon the
! knob :.
! Had she heard him? It seemed TO
! him there was deathly stiffness within.
Was she standing just inside with her
frightened eyes upon that same door?
There was long silence.
Margaret" he said, tapping.
Silence. But he could hear her
moving.
Suddenly Stanley. frowning and with
his face scarlet, returned to the FIRE and
nung himself into his chair. He had
heard within her room the opening Of
| the inner door that connected with
Nora's room, and a sleepy conference
with the old nurse over the child.
!, He sat still until there was utter
silence again. Margaret and Nora had
exchanged several comments and he
nad heard the running and splashing of
water. That was all: she was probably
reading in bed or already asleep. At
every click or creak CT the old housa
Stanley looked hopefully at her door.
Perhaps she was going to put her dark
mead out OF the door and say goodnight
But she did not. And Stanley. after
another cigarette, put out the lights
quietly, and screened the fire and went
nolSeleSsly to his own room.
For long time he lay awake, think
ing, remembering her words and her ex-
presslons. And for a longer time, only q
Iew doors away, Margaret lay awake,
TOO. her dark head pillowed upon her
up-nung arm, her eyes staring into the
plackneSs above her. and her ears
soothed by the symphony of wind and
wafer tnat went on and on in the dark
ness Of the mountains outside,
can't see that this cheats Shirley"
was StanisyS decision. when the clocks
were, striking /. Wen never take
anything away that belongs to her;
this Is an entirely different world!"
And Margaret, wearisd by the long
day and by the unceasing march of her
thoughts, came, at about the same time.
to the same conclusion.
There's no reason why this should
hurt Shirley" she thought. I'VE can
make 1t something beautiful and helpful
10 us both, without encroaching upon
her rights! A man and a woman can
nave safe friendship, after all, I hopei
And 1t will be my business to see that
this friendship Is safe, that neither one
OF US ever has even word to regretl"
Continued in Tomorrow's Starr