The Washington times., 1931-09-10
CHAPTER Xxv

4uSTS WaS S1IeIICc' nc
said. sharply:
Evelyn Evelyn? Why" he
said, you're crying!"
mo. That is" explained
Fanchon, shakily, I'm trying
very hard not to. Tears" she
went on. recovering herself a
little, may be appropriate to
Juliet, but they'll be no
ticed. :"
THAT means" he said,
brushing her attempt at light
ness aside, that you do care
for me! Oh, tell me, Evelyn.
Let me take that much sor-
rowful comfort away with me-"
YES" she told him, simply,
II do care, Collin"
After all, she had nothing
to lose by her confession for
she had already lost-every-
thing.
He reached out his arms, he
took he close to his breast
and kissed the closed eyes and
the family fragrant cheek and
the warm, red mouth. He said,
after a long moment:
II can't give you up, Evelyn!
After ALL cousins have. and
do. marry"
She drew herself away. She
was shaken rough and
through. Her very heart cried
out for him. Her hands ached
to touch him, her lips to be
under his own once more. She
would have that to remember,
she thought. And wondered if
he would remember, too, with
horror and shame and loath-
ing, in just a few short hours.
NO" she whispered, don't
think of that please. 1T
would break your mothers
heart. She is terribly opposed
to-just such a measure.
have heard her speak of it,"
Loved Her Cousin
She was in love-" he re-
turned, with her own cousin
at one time. Her family inter
fered Didn't vou know that.
Evelyn? Didn't my mother
ever tell you2"
mo" said Fanchon.
He said, taking her hands,
holding them close:
''I'n always love you. And
I'm going to talk to mother
tonight"
The car drew up at the Van
Suydam's. They separated
then. but, in the great ballroom.
they met again and spoke to
their hostess. Mrs. CarstairS
was there, waiting; and that
other Romeo. who drew Fan
Chon aside. on the excuse of
dancing with her. while Collin,
coming up a little too late to
claim her, was forced to content
himself with the youngest of
the Van Suydam girls.
"You didn't come straight
here" said Tony to Fanchon.
mo, l." she said swiftly,
established the headache alibi.
We drove a little in the fresh
air to relieve it."
He looked at her Searchingly,
but her small beautiful face
was perfectly guileleSs. Good
girl" said Tony. Remember
all I told .her?"
Yes"
She danced with Collin and
with others. Her mind was
seething, she felt as if her brain
were on fire. The fiction Of
the headache was no longer
fiction.
Shortly before the supper
hour, she found her hostess and
made her troubled excuses.
Mrs. Van Suydam murmured
sympathy and watched her go
from the room with tall
figure in the doublet and hose
Of Romeo. She said to herself
II wonder.
He Finds Mother
Collin, having engaged the
supper dance with his cousin,
looked for her and did not find
her. He found his mother. how
ever.
Where's Evelyn?" he wanted
to know.
Mrs. Carstairs looked up in
astoniShment.
Il have no idea. I thought
] saw her. some time ago, leav.
ing the room with you, Collin"
she answered.
Damn that Gilli!" was Col
Inns unspoken exclamation, and
damn his choice of a costume!
He went reStlesSly about the
room in which his mother, to-
gether with some of her friends,
were playing bridge, back into
the ballroom, into the conServa-
tory, and looked on the broad
stairs which were covered with
whispering couples. Finally, en-
countering his hostess, he said,
as she exclaimed at seeing him,