Evening star., 1934-06-12
CHAPTER XVII.

4. the others had gone, walked
slowly to her dressing table
and seated herself again be-
fore the mirror. She put her
elbows among the shining silver and
crystal fittings which Strewed the
table, and for long moment sat sur
veying her reflection in the glass. The
wide, dark eyes, the delicately curved
brows, the ardent, Willful mouth in the
creamy oval of her face stared back at
her. Butt lost in the black pit OF her
own thoughts, Barbara was conscious
of nothing.
1t was no secret to the Therrold
family that Barbara had come home
early the night before from Irene
Fleming's party. Early-and in furl-
GUS temper. The breath-tak1ng speed
with which she had driven up the
eraveled drive. her headlong rush into
the house and the slam of her bed
room door had told their own story,
There had been, as Ursula had in
timated, a new man at the party. Con-
ME Bates, divorced and blond, had
caught his vagrant fancy. And Tor the
first time in her arrogant young life
occupied to notice. For Barbara, OF
late, had been occupied with but one
thought-to get rid of Rose Therrold;
to get her out of Catherwood. and to
regain. as she saw it, the proud posi-
ton of leadership she once had held.
Ten minutes after her arrival at the
party the night before she had been
informed of her Aunt Abigail's visit
to Rose.
Il know-we all know what it means
to you. Babs, dear" Irene Fleming
had consoled her friend. Its so
dreadful having that creature right
under your nose. It's Illuminating
Really. there must be something we
can do. Connie Bates says we could
have her run out of town" Here
even the intrepid Irene had faltered
under Barbaras disbelieving glare.
"Yes, honestly-w her past
record in China-and all OF
course. you'd have to get something
on her
Rubbish" Barbaras arrogant
black eyes had been stormy. Are
YOU absolutely crazy. Irene? My
mother'd die-and as for the rest OF
us
Viciously she had snapped open the
lid of her Jade and silver lighter, the
cigarette trembling in her slim hand.
She had not needed the mingled SYM
pathy and triumph in IreneS face to
tell her what she already knew: that
all of Catherwood-all of her world
in fact-waS specializing as to just
where the Therrolds did stand in the
matter of Shanghai Rose.
That the situation was in no way
her fault. that in acting as she did in
the matter she but added fuel to their
interest. Barbara did not consider
Too emotional and intense to ignore
Roses presence. as Ursula was able to
do; too self-centered and undiscip-
lined to accept it in silence, as JEFF
had done: too young even to under
stand herself. Barbara merely knew
that for the first time in her spoiled
pampered life she had come to g
hurdle she could not jump. And Bar
bara did not like hurdles.
In the beginning there had merely
been hot boredom in her heart; scorn-
full resentment at the necessity for sc
much fuss about something she con-
sidered not worth noticing. Let the
woman stay in Catherwood. What
was it to her Barbara proclaimed
:. to any of them?
Moving restlesslv about the bed
room. she opened her closet door ano
took from it the blue and silver host
ess gown she was planning to veal
to tea this afternoon. Holding it ir
her arms. she walked with unseeine
eyes to the window-her thoughts 60
ing round and round like something
lashed to a wheel For a moment
she stood looking down into the square
rose garden beneath her window, its
. details irnprinting themselves on he
memory in a sort of haze . mig
nonette bed, the bluejays. the bees
and the little stone fountain; tht
rambler rose above the latticed per
COLA.
Mechanically she turned away. slip
ping the gown over her head and pac'
ing restlessly to and fro. reviewed
again the events of the evening before
For weeks Barbara had been look
ing forward to this party of Irene's
For davs they had talked of nothing
else Yet less than an hour after Sh'
had arrived there Barbara had plead
ed a headache and gone home.
Irene. by a system of bullying anC
caiolery. had persuaded her parent
to let her rent the Country Club 70,
the evening. There had been dancing
there had been bridge. there had beer
moonlight swimming in the special!
heated pool. 1t had been a night o
unreal and shining beauty. with |
moon to paint the earth in strange
witch-struck colors. There had beer
plenty of extra young men from thu
adjoining towns. And Barbara hac
had a new gown
She glanced at 1t now, froth o.
tulle and spangles. suspended from
the padded silken hanger where Annie
had hung it after she had flung it of
last night.
Tears came into Barbara's eyes
Childish tears. Tears of Illustration
and rage.
Life to Barbara Therrold had al
ways flowed past like lily pad or
a pool And Barbara had f1oated with
it. Life had meant the smart WOO
frocks she wore under her tailored fu
coats in Winter; the scented. film!
Summer gowns, worn for season anc
discarded Life had meant the limou
sine, her own little roadster, her boz
at the annual horse show. 1t hat
meant an ability to talk in her pretty
pleading fashion until she had gained
her own ends with her family; it hat
meant ruling imperiously over th'
small world of her friends.
Troubled and restless. she walked
again to the window then drew hasti'
ly back at the sound of a motor com