The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-08-01
BEGIN HERE TODAY


 and. taking her daughter,
 LIANE. with her. MRS
 CLEESPAUGH, patron of the
 with her in the autumn when
 her mother goes on tour. Lianc
 cannot forget a mysterious stranger who called her by
 name ono night at the thcatcr.
 At q party given by MCKIEL
 LADD, dcbutantc, Lianc meets
 him again. His name Is VAN
 ItOBAKD. When Cass hears
 that she asks the girl never to sec him again.
 IIianc goes to stay with the
 Clccspaugis. and tres to for get Van. He has been alter
 nately friendly and cold to her during the suI.,mcr. ELSIE
 WINTER, the ingcnuc, tells : Lianc that RObard has been attentive to MRS LADD. Llanc
 Is hcartbrOkcn. Muricl an-
 nOunccs her engagement to
 Van. The same day Lianc re-
 cclvcs worS her mother Is eravcly III.
 At the hospital in Philadcl-
 phia, Cass babblcs in her deli
 rum of her long dead sister,
 LCISA, and of Iiane. Cass
 nearly dies but struggles back
 to life. Mrs Clccspaugh brings
 her tO her home to cOnvalcscc.
 CLIVE CLEESPAUGH asks
 1.ianc to marry him so that he
 may come into his inheritance.
 At first she is angry but later
 agrees.
 NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
 CHAPTER XVII
 Muriel Ladd ran down the step. of the riding club. From top to toe she was the ripe color of saddle leather. Little, saucy. turned UT felt hat. Beautiful fitting coat and whlpcOrd brooches. Shining, mir. boots.
 She put q c!garet between her lips and lighted 1t in the shelter Of the, hedge. A groom came running to open the door of her gleaminr car. She stepped in without a word of thanks and made q reckless swirl around the bluestone drive. A young man, hatless, his boots in the sunshine. ricoch- eted after her. He was half mo. mcnt too late. He ate Muriel's dust and uttered a heartfelt damn at sight of the vanishing car.
 The groom throttlcd q sympathc- tic smile which had sprung un- biddcn to his lips. The young man ground his heels In the gravel and went back into the long. low stone building. In the card room he summoned lackcy and ordered ginger ale. He mixed drink and loungcd. moody and lowering, in the big leather chair.
 "Wherc's the girl fricnd?" a lanky youth inquired.
 Van Robard muttcred. "Gone along home. Got to dress for the Robbins dinner"
 "You'rc q pretty pair of billing doves" the lanky man said ido- lcntly. "T could hear you yelling at each other as took my shower Dam ill., tempered wcnch. if you ask me-
 You keep your thoughts to yourself. No ones asking you," Robard commanded through hls teeth.
 The lanky young man was un- disturbed. "Bit squiffy. ain't you?' he inquired. "Drinkin' before sum- downs q practice I've always de- plOred."
 Look here" Robard thundered getting to his feet. You're too fresh to-day and that's a fact"
 "Cool down." advised the other "Tve known you too long for you to get the wind up over little harmless joking"
 Joking my eye" returned Van Robnrd. He continued to glare as he slipped his drink,
 "No foolin', she's got warm temper, that gal" said the tall man.
 Robard was silent. He fell to staring at the fire.
 "When'S the wedding 2"
 Haven't set the day yet" Ro- bard's tone was markedly sullen
 Never expected you to step off Van. Thought you'd be the gidds bachelor till you were TO-"
 Van said abruptly, Let's talk about something else"
 
 Meantime along the avenue oi copper beeches Muriel drove reck- lcssly. She swerved once, almost hitting the cart of an Italian la borer as he turned out of the lane At the sight of the great pile that was the Cleespaugh mansion she hesitated and her eyes lighted as with q bright idea. With lightning auickness she nosed t he long cal about and presently drew up be- fore the entrance of the house. A maid answered the long drawn out peel of the bell.
 Miss Barrett? She's in, yes I'll be calling her.
 Muriel reflected idly. swinging her crop and looking about her that 1t was devilish quaint oi Gives mother to have these art less peasant maidens on her staff instead of the smoothly insolent servants most of the Willow Stream gentry employed.
 She explored the room in a vair search for cigarets. She chucklet to herself, thinking of how sht had got away from Van. Served him right. It would give him some thing to worry about. looking foi her.
 Liane came down, pale and com posed. A faintly artificial smile . nunr hnv. line