Evening star., 1930-12-05

LOWLY, with certain delibera-
ton, Margaret went TO her room.
The agony Of jealousy that she
~ had held ct Q distance al. eve
ming came upon her In Q full
food. Margaret's breast rose quickly,
and she knotted her fingers, leaning
back and pressing them against the
"Oh, 1t isn't right-it isn't right"
she whispered.
To 60 downstairs tomorrow and smile
and listen to Shirley's plans, TO share
the exultation with which this radiant.
triumphant woman would arrange the
future, to hear about teas for Shirley,
luncheons for Shirley, dances for Shir-
ley-all the social machinery set In
motion TO approve and welcome Shir-
nairable q step at last-no, Margaret
could not bear 1t, she could not bear It'll
This was the reward Of decent
woman. she meditated bitterly. This
was what sslf-denial and dignity and
purity accomplished, as against every
thing that Shirley Thebald represented
In womanhood. Stanley knew what she
was, he had known the Duncans, years
ago, the quiet. pale, ifeless wife. and
home from which Shirley, at 10, had
taken the husband and father. And
Cuyler Thebald, sodden with drink,
his intellect that Of dull boy of IL,
without intelligence, without interests,
without God, had been her second
choice.
Now stanley. upright, keen, splendid
In soul and body, was defending her,
was telling people that she was just
like q little girl-an she had asked Of
life was kindness, and Fate had been
% signally unkind. Shirley, with those
conscious eyes, with those INSCRIPTIONS,
rouged lips, with that little lace-clad
body whose every charm she could eS-
innate so perfectly-Shirle a grieving
and innocent child
Margaret could have laughed at the
utter irony of 1t ALL, If she had not
been too genuinely bevildered by the
pain that twisted and turned In her
own heart. Helpless and bound as she
was. she would not admit that she had
been weak enough to think Of stan her.
self, and yet the events Of this after
noon had seemed to tear from her the
first real peace and security she had
known in the long years since her
mothers death.
Suddenly heartbreakmg sobs shook
her from head to foot. Margaret did
not try to stem the tidel she yielded
Imply and completely. Now and then
the fury leSsened for q few seconds,
and she would pant, snih childlishly,
mop her eyes with her tightly rolled
handkerchief, sigh deeply, and then
tremble into bitter crying again.
She was exhausted, her breast rising
weary brain idle, too. drifting incon-
sequentially from one unimportant
thought TO another, when o knocking
at her door made her heart suddenly
begin to beat hard with fright.
Stanley was out, Mrs. Cutting was
out. 1t must be Carrie, about breakfast,
Or perhaps II was FOote TO say that
there was a telephone call.
Margaret got 10 her feet, fastened
the Chinese coat she was wearing over
her paiamaS, ran her fingers through
her disordered cloud Of black hair, and
went to the door She touched switch
her head little, to avert her redeemed
eyes from servants curious look.
But 1t was Stanley who stood there,
Stanley breathless and in hurry.
Margaret, did you see Shirley's-But
what's the matter?' he said, interrupts
ing his message at the sight Of her tear
stained face.
There waR nothing for it now but
honesty and courage. Margaret smiled.
NOtAll1lB. nay Glcdu aCA1CSi SnS UnAu
composedly. what was IT. Are you
looking for something?"
Shirley left her gold bag, with her
rings in it, on the terrace" he said.
in an distracted tone, still interested
in her. mo, but tell me, Margaret. You
feel rotten, don't your"
! "Her bag?" Margaret said, In concern.
"I'll ask Carrie or Foote. But I'm sure
It wasn't left herel" She rang, and
ran by him TO give Foote, who imme-
diately appeared, her directions, appar-
emily with no consciousness, Stan
thought, of her betraying appearance.
Tell me. what's the trouble?" he
persisted, almost before the man was
gone. He came close to her, concerned
and peremptory.
Margaret began to tremble; she was
afraid. In the soft lights Of the lower
haIl, exhausted from emotion and tears,
and close to the splendid strength and
sweetness Of him, upon which In spite
Of herself she had come to depend, she
felt every fiber of soul and body sud-
denly weaken. Hardly knowing what