Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-21
INSTALLMENT XVIII.

N
Spins sss snsss e e e. s ssss
fully established on the
/ porch, mistress already, except in name,
of everything she loved and with her
heart trimming with q deep happiness
and security that embraced all the
years to come.
There was familiar whirring down
toward the lower gate-Stan's car. Mar
garet's heart began to hammer and her
easy to tell him! Yet she was trembling
in every fiber Of her being.
She saw him Jump out Of the car,
as she had seen him a thousand times
before. He came up to the porch.
"Eminently successful" he said, Of
the blue and tan linen.
Margaret found herself utterly unable
to rise; her spine was cold and her
throat suddenly felt thick and hot.
Stan" she stammered. She put
the crumpled telegram into his hands
Stan" she faltered, as, without look
ing at 1t, he took it, his concerned gaze
continuing to rest upon her face. Hes
deadi" she said weakly.
Stan moved his eyes indiherently to
the telegram, shrugged.
whats the matter? Who Is it," he
asked solicitously.
Hes dead, I tell you'll" Margaret said.
''He-read 1t. He's dead"
Stanley snatched the telegram again
drank in its contents with one glance
flung it from him and caught her In
his arms.
who tsp" he cried, with q sort OF
shout. MY God, you don't mean your
husband? Tell me-tell mel"
But Margaret could tell him nothing
for she was crying bitterly in his arms.
| Stanley's own eyes moistened.
Here, my darling girl You mustn't
cry now. Why, it's all over, dearl II
makes you feel bad, and no wonder.
But when you're over this first shock
my sweetheart, you mustn't cry. Think
Of what our lives are going to be now. y
Her face was still averted, but heI
sobS were quieter. Margaret rested
against him, gradually restored to self
control.
they started and turned, but Stanley
did not release her when Shirley came
suddenly out to the porch.
her astonished eyes not missing the
traces of Margaret's tears, the agitated
faces Of both Stan and Margaret
"Well," Stanley echoed joyously.
Congratulate us, Shirley. There's no
use Disgusting anything-I'm too happy!
We're to be married, Shirley-Margaret
and Its all arranged, it's settled.
You're the first to knowl"
"Oh, on the contrary, every one
knows!" Shirley said, after q very per-
ceptible pause. IT congratulate you, I'm
been wondering exactly why you chose
to keep us In the dark"
There was q reason, Mrs. Theobald:
was not free"
"I seel" Shirley said, trembling, al
though she smiled. The game was lost
now, and Shirley had no thought but
to withdraw as quickly as possible. But
suddenly 1t seemed to her that in los
ing Stan she let go Of everything she
drive me to Menlo Park" she said, not
very steadily. 1--WE got a tea and a
dinner and q thousand things to do.
I'm leaving on Tuesday, you know.
have to get back to my poor sick boy"
Surely Rudolph could" Stanley said
cheerfully obliging.
"Just-just a minute" Margaret said.
turning paler and putting out an i'm
pulsive hand to detain Shirley. She
floor. She sent an entreating look to-
ward Stan. you are too late, Mrs
Theobald," she said, "Cuyler Theobald
died this morning In the Roosevelt Hos
pital at quarter-past 8 o'clock"
II don't believe It'll" Shirley said
fatty
"It's true" Margaret said family.
Then you're" Stan whispered,
staring at her. MY God!"
Yes" she answered, her eyes on his,
I'm Peggy Irwin, Of course. I'm his
wife-his first wife. We were married
six years ago."
You'll have to prove It," Shirley
stannmered.
"I can prove it,
well, I don't believe It'll" Shirley
repeated, narrowing her eyes, scowling.
staring into space. you mean that you
happened to get q job with Cuyler's
nized?" she asked scathingly.
ut wasn't quite accident" Margaret
admitted.
ST never heard anything so ridicu-
louSl" Shirley persisted
your husband was Cuyler Theo-
bald?" Stan demanded.
Margaret nodded, swallowing
Then all this time" Stanley said,
stupefied. finding words with difhculty,
"all this time-you-you- And you
never told mel"
~ never told any one, Stan. ! had
promised had sworn, never to tell"
Promised him?"
"Cuyler?" How readily she said the
name. mo; Trowbridge, the old law
yer" she said.
"Trowbridge! But whyP"
Because he knew Of Jim, Stan, and
when thought was dying, when the
doctor had told me that I was sinking
fast--then sent for Trowbridge," Mar
garet said.
you knew him?"
'Knew him? Oh, yes; he was the
Theobald's attorney. He was like q
sort Of guardian to me. From the very
to reason with Cuyler, try to influence
him. And went to see him a few
weeks after our separation. He was In
the hospital the afternoon that Jim