Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-24
| - The Secret of -
~ MARGARET YORKE ~
HIA By Kathleen Norris II

His was one Of those fortunate ma
lures that give small ground to envy
and dislike. He really was the charm
ing, friendly witty, unspoiled man he
seemed to be. Visiting ladies at the
polo, golf or tennis matches Immediately
picked him out.
mo, the tall, sunburned one. The
one who came into the club today with
that English polo man. Yes, that one
in the cream-colored sweater. Critten-
den And Is he married."
The visiting ladies would meet him:
his world was filled with fair-haired
girls who smiled at him and rosy bru-
nettes who talked sports.
Stan lived with his aunt in Burlin-
game, theoretically. Actually he spent
much time with his friends, at his
San Francisco club, or wherever incli-
nation took him. At least one night a
week found him at Uplands, the famous
dairy farm III the Santa Cruz Noun
tainS; it had belonged to his grand
father, old Ross Crittenden, once; it
had been a rich mans delight and toy.
Since her husbands death, Mrs Cut
ting had made the farm her Summer
residence; but Stan managed 1t now,
entertained his friends there; her par
tial claim upon it had long ago been
ceded to him as a gift from his aunt.
This was perhaps the hardest thing
for Margaret to accept. She truly loved
the big farm, where she and Jim and
Mrs. Cutting spent their holidays all
year long. And 1t was hard to think
that Stan, with all his other good for
tune, was master here. Margaret, Xix
ing perhaps to think herself little
his superior, would have been glad to
have him scorn the shabby wooden
I. H-Nr ms Rask
that reigned at Uplands. 1t was some
how oddly disconcerting to realize that
this "pampered poodle" as she some
times called him. was really at his hap
piest and best when he was there.
Mrs. Cutting had introduced the
young people hopefully. She could talk
to Margaret about anything, everything,
all day long, and she hoped to find in
Stan congenial subject. But from
the instant of their meeting both Stan
and Miss Yorke had shown something
almost like hostility. The girl fenced
with him, was always nettled and I'M
was accustomed to kindness and friend
illness, was antagonized by finding a
woman who did not like him. Darn it,
he thought, let her think what she
pleased! But one would think she
might be civil
IT don't get her." he assured his
aunt. Mrs Cutting was, upon second
thoughts. not sorry. The girl was ex-
tremely handsome, after ALL and armed
neutrality was possibly the safest rela-
tionship for the pair.
"She has been a wonderful solution
for me-" she protested mildly. Il don't
know what should have done with
out her!"
whats her history?" Stan had once
asked. His aunt. reviewing readily all
that she knew, had to admit that ii
was not much, after all. She-Mrs.
Cutting had despaired, three years
ago, of finding the right woman to
help her with letters, with bills, with
social responsibilities and with the
recently adopted Jim. And this girl,
delicate after a severe sickness, had
| turned up in California with unexcep-
tional letters from Trowbridge, the old
family lawyer in New York.
"Trowbridge couldn't have spoken
more highly of any one, Stan; he even
said that he would reimburse the girl
for her trip here, If she could not place
herself properly. And ! was just be-
ginning TO have my terrible headaches
Jim was really too much for me. You
can see that she's a gentlewoman, she's