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

ranch e yplands; and MsrgsTet, drivinI
With stanley tells him what abe has
farm. finds that her dislike Of stanley is is
being overcome.
NSTALLMENT "
IN TAN was home for breakfast the
next day; went on again, and
did not come back for 40 hours.
- A score OF uproarous friends
came down, on q Friday night,
and struggled away on the following
Monday morning, after tearing madly
through all the amusements that the
ranch afforded.
Margaret found the 70 hours of their
visit exhausting. Mrs. Cutting played
the part Of hostess, which meant that
Margaret carried the heavy RESPONSE
bility Of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: she had
not a second free. The ranch house
and the guest houses were stretched to
] their utmost capacity; the very sight
and smell Of food sickened Margaret
before the two days were over. Mar
garet and Mrs. Cutting congratulated
each other YEARLY, when the last car
honked away into the hot Monday
morning, upon an experience that had
undoubtedly been great success.
Stan was pleased; that was the great
thing to his aunt. She had her own
room put mo spotless order and went
peacefully to bed with some new books.
Margaret and the Spanish women,
with Nora, gathered q great bundle Of
sheets and towels for the laundry,
folded blankets, closed rooms, threw
out dead flowers.
In the late afternoon peace de-
scended once more upon Uplands.
Margaret and Jim had q swim; the girl
washed her hair, 1dled and dozed in her
steamer chair under the oaks.
She wakened to silence, sunset and
the cumming of swift bees through the
bright still air. Her eyes roved lazily,
happily about; she sat erect, smiling
confusedly. Stan was near her, in q
basket chair, turning the pages Of
magazines.
Margaret blinked, brought her feet
to the ground and gathered her cloud
Of hair confusedly together.
"Stanl" she said A moment later
she could have bitten her tongue out;
she had never called him that. But he
did not notice 1t, or was 1t q part Of his
exasperating adequacy that at least he
pretended that he did not notice 1t?
i thought you weren't coming homeH
stammered Margaret.
II wasn't. Margaret" he said. 1t
was deliberate; he had noticed her Slip
thenl He never had called her by her
name.
,"The truth is" he said again, smiling
in his friendly way, 'I got to thinking
about you, and all the nice things
Sorter-thought I'd come home!'
you humiliate me-" she said, by
saying they spoke nicely of me. I've
been spending all day reSenting the
the waste of this beautiful place upon
them! They might just as we'll have
been in-in Hale's Bright Bargain
Basement for all they saw or cared
about-thisl"
Her gesture took in the whole ranch.
That's exactly it-but I care!" Stan
said, eagerly.
He took q neighboring chair. CT
honestly, hate that sort of-oh, social
thing, as much as you do. realized
that today. I'd much rather fuss
around here with you and Aunt Hat
and the kid. You think I'm-you
mo, I don't. Naturally I have no
right to. don't think of you at ALI"
Margaret said, in an embarrassed voice.
"Oh. yes, you do!" Stan asserted sim
ply, with sudden significant flash in
his gray eyes that made her heart be-
last year." he reminded her. laugh
ing But even that's something, isn't
it,"
81 never hated you, Mr.. Crittendenl"
Margaret assured him, beginning to be
oddly frightened. IT was unhappy when
I first came here-I had been i'll. But
mo, Of course never hated youi
And Tm-I'm glad to be friends" she
said, confuSedly, getting to her feet.
49,
Interrupted himself snadeniy; by the
way, O wire came for you today. 1t was
telephoned to the house, and copied
it down."
! "A telegram" She was suddenly
tense; she turned pale.
He took q penciled memorandum
from his pocket, and without moving
her eyes from his she received 1t from
his hand.
excuse me-" she said. reading 1t.
Stanley knew what 1t said. He had
been conscious of surprise upon receiv-
ing it. It contained the words:
mo immediate occasion for alarm.
Person you fear plans Summer In
Southampton. will keep you advised.
Remain where you are. Am constantly
concerned for your interest"
ut was unsigned. Is that all right?"
SLNIl1cy SdlQ, Trying W NC NCAy OdouoA,
sorry for her, and noticing the effort
she made to show no emotion in her
expression.
'Unsigned?" she echoed confusedly.
"I-yes, thought so. Lifts moth
ing. Just some-some business OF mine,
that's ALL
Her agitation was so marked and ne
felt so embarrassed to be q witness to
it that Stanley tried to restore her
usual calm by saying significantly and
pleasantly:
I'm quite aware, at least. that it's
no business Of mine"
ooh, it's not thatI she said, with
an apologize laugh. lists some
one I have been-annoyed by" Mar
garet added, somewhat regaining her
composure.
I'VE all have WORRIES" Stanley as
sured her lightly.
She did not answer. except by O
shamed smile. She read the message
again and carefully tore 1t into minute
pieces.
Then she gathered up towels, hair
brush, book. Stanley had also gotten
to his feet. They paused and looked at
each other ir a little bewilderment
WAS there something's" the girl
asked.
mo. I was just thinking" he said.
Margaret hesitated, not knowing just
exactly how to end the conversation.