Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-29

do. Shirley?" and then surrounded
Elise.
Margaret, shaking. walked down the
wooden steps to the path; her back
toward Shirley Jim, brought by the
faithful Nora, rushed upon her. She
heard Shirley, who was apparently en-
tirely unconscious of any awkwardneSs,
address Beatrice Jessop, an awkward,
big girl of is, who came innocently UP
with some message for Mrs. Pullen.
You're not the Jessop baby?" said
Mrs. Theobald, waylaying the child
with q carelessly friendly air. Good
gracious, you were running about with
Teddy bear five minutes ago!"
Beatrice, who had long before this
her intimateS and knew more than even
her mother did Of the case. turned brick
color.
Her mother, who was confident that
Bee didn't have the faintest idea of
society's reason for snubbing Shirley
Wilson, still didn't want the child to
give Shirley an opening, and so said,
in her nursery tone:
Here to Mother, dear. Thank you,
my darling. Run along, Bee, we shan't
need you'll"
Beatrice, breathing deeply and con-
fldent in her boiling heart that she had
somehow disgraced herself and every
body else, escaped and joined Mrs.
Cuttings Miss Yorke, who was walk
ing with the little Cutting boy along q
deserted path.
And with them, she was surprised
and a little pleased to discover, was
suddenly Mrs. Theobald herself, the
romantic and bad and beautiful Mrs.
Theobald.
Miss Yorke looked oddly pale and
unnatural today, looked actually sick.
But little Jim Cutting was, as always.
adorable.
Introduce us, won't you, BeeP" said
Mrs. Theobald pleasantly. 81 don't
think we were introduced?" she said
to Margaret. You left the porch Just
as l was going to ask Lily Priest to
present me-"
"I'm-my name is Yorke," Margaret
said, turning her blue eyes honestly
toward Shirley. I'm Mrs. Cuttings
companion-I help her with the little
boy"
"oh, knew who you were; I've seen
you in the lane with the child" Shir-
ley responded easily. But I've seen
you somewhere before?" she ended in
terrogatively.
stammered thickly. Bee Jessop looked
at her in surprise; she was usually
surprisingly nice to Bee and Bees
group, who regarded all persons en-
ployed in Margaret's capacity as in
clined to be old and dull. .
Shirley.
"As a child, yes" Margaret ad-
well, you look like somebody"
Shirley unused. But Immediately she
noticed the child. 80 they did adopt
one at last, did they?" she asked in
differently. r
More than three years ago." Mar
garet told her.
"You know Mrs. Cutting is Mr. Theo-
balds aunt" Shirley said enlighteningly.
Second cousin, really, believe 1t Is.
But he always called her Aunt Hattie, "
she went on conversationally. II met
him first at her house, as matter of
fact-d'you mind my talking? always
talk! I remember him perfectly, al
though I was kid, like your adorable
friend here. He had polo ponies, and
he played golf and he had a valet-of
course, we all thought he was the last
word in magnificence!"
Margaret found nothing to say to
this, but as they walked on Shirley
chartered unabashed. Beatrice was
thrilling to the music Of the simple
phrase adorable friend" said in the
wicked Mrs. TheobaId's wonderful voice
Mama, as it CHANGED, called Bee now,
and she had to leave the fascinating
company beside her and go back to the
house. Mrs. Theobald and Margaret
Yorke walked on together.
Tell me-" Shirley began, with bright
elaboration, docs Stan Crittenden live
with his aunt, now? Do you see much
of him?" she added, as Margaret
answered only by nod.
whenever he is at home" Margaret
responded.
isn't he charming?" asked Shirley.
Margaret, conscious that she could
not answer this question as indifferently
as she might have done a month ago,
and feeling the blood in her face, said
nothing In words.
Hes the dearest fellow that ever
lived. I haven't seen him to speak to
since came home" Shirley went on,
after keen glance. you know I've
always been especially fond Of him,
since was baby, and we were en-
gagged, years ago." she told Margaret.
Did they tell you that?"
"Oh, yes!" Margaret said.
at suppose they've all been doing an
awful lot of talking about me-" Shirley
unused. "They would, of course. Hat
tie Cutting hates me like cold poison in
q cup, know that" She paused, half.
expectant, but as Margaret did not deny
this, presently the other woman went
on scornfully: well, wish they knew
something about me, before they set
tie everything! Mr.. Theobald is q man
with many fine qualities" she said.
Margaret knew well this generous atti-
tude, so popular with the divorced.
But couldn't-I'll tell you some day,
and you'll realize that simply couldn't
go on" she went on, with her charac-
teristic frankneSS. Just now I'm in
wrong everywhere" Shirley resumed.
''No matter, it will pass. Only I can't
get over old Hattie Cutting putting her
nose in the air. hate them all, any
way" she finished illogically.
BY this time they had made the
round of the gardens and lawns and
had come back to the steps again. Elise
de Vilbiss was duly writing check,
with somebody's fountain pen; almost
all the other women had gUne, the De
Vilbiss car was obviously waiting, and
Stanley Crittenden's car had just swept
about the drive. He had come to bring
his aunt home from the party.
Margaret saw the meeting. Shirley
went up to him gracefully, with an out
stretched hand, and big and rumpled in
his tennis clothes, andNwith a deeper
color upon his Redeemed face, Stan took
her hand and grinned at herr
Stan, you've not changed one bitl"
Shirley said, flushing charmingly, with
admiration in The bright brown eyes