The Washington times., 1932-12-01

you know, ne comeCn noC' Sne
said'."
Little liar" he murmured.
affectionately. when may I
Gomez" r
you will have to meet Grand.
mother first. She doesn't allow
the boy friends on the door.
step unless she's looked them
over first and satisfied herself
as to (a) respectability, (b)
family tree, (c) manners, I'D
degree of danger"
las bad as thatP" he asked,
in terror. Yes, believe me, I
can meet her requirements on
all points-except, perhaps, the
last"
"You flatter yourself"
Her .MOcking Eyes
Her eyes, under the little
beige helmet, mocked at him
gently. He leaned a little
nearer, took the empty cup
from her hand, brushing her
fingers, very lightly with his
own.
"Are you so sure?"
She nodded, diScreetly. Her
heart repeated his question in
astonishment and mistrust.
There was something about him
"a strength that drew her, a
weakness that held her. She
said to herself, disdainfully,
purely biological, and sue
ceeded in shocking a laugh
from her own white throat.
"At me?"
How your conversation is
stenographic; Perhaps! Have
you the proverbial penny?"
mot 'a'pence," he uttered,
gloomily.
Have you heard from Uncle
Fred? 7 have, two little notes
since he sailed. Look, there's
Grandmother"
She indicated Louisa, moving
across the room toward them,
tall. a little stopped now, the
somber captive eyes upon them.
Basil looked up, said briefly,
MY Aunt"
Not at ALL" Joyce contra
dicted, demurely, and rose.
Yet before Louisa reached
them, she had whispered, hur-
riedly, Don't say anything
about Uncle Fred, or meeting
me with him"
Basil nodded, a smooth blond
eyebrow elevated.
Joyce made the presentation.
Basil bowed over Louisa's thin
hand in an entirely un-English
manner. ,..-+ ......
After a moment of trivialities
he spoke, rather nicely.
Family Friendship
"I've been wanting to call
on you, Mrs. Sheldon, with your
permission. My mother" he
lied sweetly, "has spoken so
often of you to- me-of the
friendship between her family
and your own"
'"Staines?" Louisa unused
aloud. You are Sally Morgan's
Son?"
eyes" He almost added Your
Majesty!
Her face darkened a very lit
tie. She had not forgotten
''Bow to the wittiest, kneel to
the prettiest, kiss the one that
you love best" High, childish
voices and herself outside the
circle. She remembered a Sum
day in May and graphophone
grinding and herself at the
1T viii be happy to, welcome
you,"> she assured Basil with a
stately courtesy. Come, Joyce,
it is time We went on to Mrs.
Delafield's."
Joyce went, meekly, but not
without :. a wicked, backward
glance Basil stood as she had
left him. Witch, that grand
mother! Did she resort to a
broomStick when her cars we're
in the garage?
But the girl took on the
glamour of the princess who suf.
fers from dragons.
He called, Louisa received
him, it was one of her days"
the formality was Stupefying.
Joyce was not there, she was in
the classroom. He called again,
and being a dogged soul, he
kept on calling. Finally Louisa
grew accustomed to him.
Even so it was difficult to see
Joyce alone, in her own house.
When he came, evenings, either
Louisa or Joyce'S mother sat in
a far corner of the great room,
under a reading lamp He asked
Joyce, in despairing whisper,