Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-28

SAu yOu Were CcLIlply nice 10 mel
That's good" she said inaudibly,
with fleeing, uneasy smile.
She turned TO pass him, and Stanley
put out his hand and detained her.
MY hairl" she said family. It had
looSened again, IL fell in q dusky cloud
about her face and on her shoulders.
IT'S beautiful" Stanley said.
They stood still, looking ct each other
In the enchanted hour Of sunset and
Summer. Suddenly brushes and book
fell as Stanley caught at her hands and
brought them to his lips.
Maybe, instead Of hating each other,
we've been liking each other, Mar
garrett" he said. 81
Fur . moment ahs regarded him.
speechless, her breath coming q little
unevenly. Then she said, also in .
whisper:
I'm sorry"
"Sorry?"
YES. You-yOu mustn't talk like
thatl" she murmured.
I'm not to like your" he demanded.
Her answer was . swift, troubled
smile.
But that's the whole thing" Ia
explained. i've been right In your
neighborhood for years without ever
seeing you. And now do see you, and
I think you're grand!'
This was not flirting. She had freed
her hands, but she was not going to
run away. She was looking at him
squarely, with o courage that he found
touching and gallant
why may not thank you for max
ing my house party such n success"
Stanley asked, and tell you that I have
with affection, ali day lonEp"
flicker of troubled laIIrftar hvf0kt
ened her anxious face.
said.
That was all I meant" he explained.
aggrieved.
'Then-that's all right, then" she
agreed, somewhat obviously.
I didn't mean to brighten you," he
assured her, houndertng deeper and
deeper into the intoxications of intimate
talk with her every second.
You didn't brighten me-" she re-
turned, almost with her usual com.
posture. Il think frightened myself"
They were walking now between the
blooming borders and under the great
oaks toward the house.
Nov, when you say a thing like
that, what am to Think" Stanlel de-
manded. Margaret laughed quite nat
urally.
AZ didn't mean that was frightened
Of myself" she explained. But that I
hadn't thought"
Thought what2" he said in a pause.
That any one-any one would-like
me again." she began, unguardedly.
Again. Stanley's senses were
swimming. "Dad you-did something
unhappy happen to you?" he asked.
lowering his voice.
Something very unhappy"
And you cant talk about it?"
Silence. Then he said:
Since you came to Aunt HAITI"
Long before that"
you must have been very young"
Eighteen"
But you haven't forgotten hima"
There was another pause while they
walked along through Q strange, new
world. Stanley broke it.
I'm afraid I'm falling in love = it'll
you"
ard much rather you didn't" she
said, quite simply.
But If 1t could happen to me this
fast: Margaret, mightn't 1t happen to
Her smile was exquisitely kind-too
kind. Her voice was maternal.
1T would ruin my only chance of
happiness in life II it did," she said
slowly.
"You mean you stin care for-soms
one else?"
More than myself" she said in a
low tone.
happy?"
70 this she made no answer. In the
silence Stanley suddenly laughed. Still
walking along, she looked sidewise at
him inquiringly.
"I was thinking-how little meant
all this" he said.
"You didn't mean it," she asked, In
such genuine pleasure and relief that he
laughed again, this time In some little
modification.
what I said to your oh, yes,
meant 1t all. In that sense Ne haStened
to say. what was trying to say was
that I hadn't planned it-hadn't the
faintest notion of saying more to you
than just thanks for being 20 fine about
everything this week end"
Stanley, unable to analyze his own
persistence, yet irresistibly held by some
perturbing charm, faced her about, at
the foot Of the porch steps, and took her
hands.
The touch weakened her suddenly and
unexpectedly, and he saw that it did.
She stood, breathing hard, her blue eyes
with excitement.
How sure you are of yourself, Mar
garet," he said, with his friendly smile.
"Or are your" he added, shrewdly, as
the color rushed to her face.
Margaret merely looked at him, and
he was shocked and ashamed to see that
her lips were trembling.
Instantly he released her hands. She
turned without word, and went, not
too quickly, up the. steps.
I'm sorry-I'm awfully sorry" Stan.
ley said, not moving until she had dis
appeared. He had never seen her break
before. The thought Of those smooth,
thin, vital hands, of that flushed, trou-
bled face in its frame of dark hair.
stirred in his veins like wine.
(Continlied in Tomorrows Starr