Evening star., 1935-08-07

dark had made him seem young
fool in his own eyes.
YES" John said. "I once wanted
TO get away from things. Not a
dinner party. thought" And he
laughed little. Shall we drive
say, to the Alps and bring home a
mountain goat for a pet? Dad and
I climbed Gross Venediger in the
Tyrols last Summer and we saw a
beaut. He was bilious and tired-look-
ing. All duked out in fancy horns next
to his bland, powdery face. Like an
Egyptian head dress. He reminded me
of a dissipated old woman trying to
knock off 40 or so years!"
Betsy laughed and some of the tears
stopped dripping from her heart.
But maybe we'd better be satisfied
with short drive out Conduit road"
he suggested, grinning. We'll go as
far as 1.-The Rocks" and then turn
back. "The Rocks" in case you don't
know, belongs to the Thaddeus Simp-
sons. Newly rich. Made their money
with an invention of a radiator cap
that doesn't hiss like an old man with
his teeth out. Great invention. All
Tor II"
1.-THE Rocks? Betsy repeated, ques-
tioningly. What a horrid name for
q home. 1t sounds cold and jagged
and damp. I I don't Like 1t.
Do you?''
MOT for my home! But it's perfect
for the Simpsons" he said without
any malice. Their ambitious bark is
destined for the rocks! They're snobs,
Betsy Looking down their noses,
crooking little fngers-the vilest af-
fectations! Only social climbers like
the Simpsons, who aren't sure Of
themselves, who 60 feeling their way
around in expensive velvet gloves to
cover hands that show generations of
honest toll, are ever snobs!"
Betsy looked at John Storm-looked
hard.
II like you" she said, frankly. "You
came into my life at exactly the
proper moment. I was needing some
one Just like you"
"1 like you, too, Betsy" John said
huskily. II told you on the cruise
last night. Or did I? I meant to!"
The cruise last night! Now her
brief reprieve of forgetfulness was
shot through with the gloomy threads
Of remembrance. She was suddenly
seeing clearly everything she wanted
so desperately to forget last
night =. tonight! Would every one,
everything keep reminding her? First,
Terry then the white taffeta i.
and now-John! But she wouldn't
remember. Shed do anything to for
get :. to get those thoughts out of
her mind.
john" a small voice from
somewhere below her heart. will you
=. will you kiss me?" kissing an
other man ought to stop thought; it
ought to kill memories!
They were approaching a gnarled
tree that leaned heavily, with the
rheumatism of many years, upon the
wall Of an embassy. John stopped the
car and drew up under its leafy
branches. Years later gnarled tree
would touch q memory and Betsy
would feel sad; she would not remem-
ber just why.
Certainty" said John, gayly. with
the greatest of ease and pleasure!"
There were other light words on his
lips, but he didn't say them. He took
Betsy very gently in his arms and
kissed her. Oh, he kissed her in
differently enough at first. any young
man kissing any pretty girl who had
asked him to, but 1t didn't turn out
to be like that at all. His arms
dropped at last and she was free.
He sat silently for long moment
looking at her. And something lay
very still and lovely in Johns heart.
I'm falling in love with you, Betsy"
his voice was as tender as his eyes.
"And you're :. you're going to love
me, too."
Betsy saw that his fingers trembled
rs he found the ignition on the car
and tramped remorselessly on the
starter. The roadster groaned, plunged.