Evening star., 1934-06-27
SHANGHAI ROSE
By ANNE FORESTER
Author Of Spite Wife"

pallid flag of truce-to be followed as
always by hurt that would crush her
to the heart? Wearily she put the
thought from her, even as she dropped
the doll back into the box. Kitten
would be delirious with excitement
when tomorrow came. Old enough
this year to be enchanted by 1t all. she
had with difficulty been restrained
from permanently fiattening her small
nose against the window pane at Cas-
selle's-where all during the previous
week the frosted delight of a NAM
moth tree had dripped its pinnacles
of silver tinsel above a Santa Claus in
red flannel and twig vhiskers.
"Delicacy," said Larry's decisive
voice, land a certain amount of good
old-fashioned home training compel
me to refrain from inquiring into your
thoughts"
"Oh-1'm so sorry!" Rose said con-
| tritely. even as a suffering clsngor
without announced the arrival of Lot
ties equipage for the evening follies.
Mr.. Mertz. having thus announced
himself, remained glumly seated out
side in the car
Its that fender" Lottie had whis-
pered in a withering aside to Rose,
who followed her to the door. "Miz'
| Therrold, you amt never known a man
til something like Mr.. Mertz's fender
/ happens to upset 'eml He's that
/ ravin mad at that Deering man that
it's all my life's worth to sit beside
4 him"
/ Even Mr.. Mertz. Rose reflected as
/ she turned back into the house, felt
| the chill breath of Austin Deerings
presence in the simple town. 80.
! Il know" Larry was saying plain
/ lively, that it never makes you any
/ less determined TO have your own way
just because you can't happen to think
what it is you want to do. But I would
/ like a moment-just a modicum of
/ your attention for a jot. After all, it's
Christmas eve-and nothing he
added virtuously, draws people so
/ closely as being outcasts together!"
"Outcasts?" Had Larry heard some
thing? Did he know of this threat of
Austin Deering? The girl felt fut-
tering sense of unease-quickly dis
PEELED by the next words the man
/ spoke.
Just an expreSsion-knowing as I
do. that you consider me outside the
/ social pale for that last transgression
| OF mine! Oh, forgive me. Rose girl.
q. I'm just talking through my hat!
/ You know as well as I do that I'm
| ashamed to the very soul for what
/ happened the other night. -.
Ashamed Of having gone to Lotties
store in the first place in that con-
Y nd Of
more stamina than to stick around
when l knew l was getting worse as
/ the evening wore on. just can't help
things when I'm like that, Rose"
His voice trailed lightly away
! Can't help it, churned the thought
round and round Rose Therrolds
| brain. That was what some one else
used to say. If Larry could know
the terrible danger of this visit of
his had put in her pathy today
/ If he could know of the weapon he
/ had put in Austin Deering's hand .
/ would he treat it so lightly so re-
motely? . Clairvoyantly she knew
! that he would. 1t was part of it
all.
/ Harvey used to say he couldn't help
/ it either, Larry" she said, as though
| partly to herself Harvey used to
make fun of it, too. no matter what
the result e. until bitterness and
remorse and self-loathing set in"
"Self-loathing?"
The usually quiet. controlled voice
OF the man before her was startling In
the rough intensity of its changed
tone. You said it" he said. 1inging
himself suddenly upright from his
] chair. Rose girl . don't you think
| I've known all along what that is?"
There was more than mere anger in
| his changing voice now. There was
! fear and a confused sort of anguish.
She saw that his face. a moment be-
fore so mockingly alight, was sur
prisingly haggard and drawn.
Sit down here for moment. Rose"
/ Larry Morgan said softly. Il have
something to tell you-right now"
The tenderness she felt for him
breaking through the numbness about
her heart, Rose crossed the room slow
ly and sat down by his side.
| CTomorrow-Larry Tells the TruthD