Evening star., 1932-09-17
INSTALLMENT XXXIV.

| p
Jean was not i'll. She would
have been little short of human
i If she had not enjoyed the trip
on the palatial French line
their luxurious suite =. the delicious
food =. her stunning clothes and,
above all, the generous, considerate
kindness of her husband -.
No, not her husband he was her
sweetheart . . her father her bril-
liant. cultured companion her intel
| lectual stimulus but not her hus-
band.
Jean was by far the most beautiful
woman at dinner that night. And her
| frock was subtle =. sophisticated .
chic, but not obvious. DR.. Junet, who
had been surrounded by well dressed
women all his life, appreciated Jeans
cleverness in choosing her wardrobe 9.
and his pride swelled when he reflected
that she belonged to him. She was
wearing his wedding gift tonight for the
first time, and he took that as a favor
able sign, too +. . a fine old ruby neck
lace that suited her vivid beauty. And
she sparkled, as if the Jewels brought
out something in her that had been
dead or was it the wine?
Appreciative of his kindness to her.
his obvious efforts to make her happy,
Jean put her arms about his neck that
night and kissed him. Thank you for
everything" she said.
He went into his own room and closed
the door.
In the morning they landed. They
did not go to Paris. Victor thought 1t
better to take Jean direct to the coun-
try and had a car meet them at Havre.
Jean was too preoccupied to enjoy the
picturesque countryside through which
thev drove, or do little more than smile
at Victors excited comments.
His home was in the South. and the
sun shone warmly on the rambling old
chateau that was DR.. Junets ances-
tral home. The land was his as far as
her eve could reach, he told her. Jean
smiled and tried to be interested, tried
to match his enthusiasm with her own.
but the moment she stepped inside the
gloomy. cavernous entrance a three
fold depression settled upon her
Victor had no family. and the estate
was in the hands of caretaker and
servants that had been in the family
longer than he could remember.
Jeans room was enormous. with a
bed that nearly swallowed her. There
was bath, fairly decent, but she had
to ask for hot water. Victor found her
crying.
Darling" he said. you don't like it
here?"
Ashamed. she sat up and tried to
compose herself. 1T is lovely. l guess
it Just seems little strange. II"
1T is my fault. We should have
gone to Paris, where it is gay. I will
take you Just as soon as you have
rested and 1 have attended to some
affairs. And We will go to the Riviera
anywhere you like. have been wrong.
Please forgive me"
Every one was overwhelmingly kind.
The servants heaped attention upon
this lovely sad young wife their master
had brought home. And Jean, hating
herself for her own selfishness, did her
best to be happy. TO make herself agree
able to Victor while he was getting his
business in shape. She was left to her
self more than was good for her. But
if they were going away so soon again
it was necessary for Victor to concen-
trate on the details that were noun
famous.
Preoccupied as he was in his haste
to take Jean away, for she continued
to feel like an alien in this home of his
happy childhood, he did not notice how
very thin she was growing.
1t was almost three weeks later. One
evening at dinner he noticed that she
was wearing one of the new frocks he
had admired on the steamer. Now it
was an i'll fit.
Jean, aren't you well?" he asked,
solicitously, alarmed.
"Of course. Why?" A.:
But you are so thin-I hadn't no.
ticed Don't you like our food? You
can have anything you like, you know"
THE food is wonderful. Vic. I just
haven't much appetite, and why worry
about being thin-that's what girls are
always trying to achieve, you know"
IT am almost through with my work
We will leave the end of next, week. /
have neglected you And I didn't in
tend to do that. I thought We would
remain here for two or three months,
and I would attend to a little business
each day. and We would see people