Evening star., 1935-08-12

ClTCllng Cne QlldLSQ PupllS. ne IOlQ
her nothing; nothing about that draft
of the treaty drawn up by Minister
Planiol. who had Deen secretary of
war prior to his appointment to Wash
ington, which Raoul had stolen from
the safe-that secret pact of aggres-
sion with two powerful South Ameri-
can countries aligning them against
his own country in the event they
declared war. That pact lay close to
his heart now and as soon as his
father received 1t he would publicize
the arrangement and thus prevent its
completion.
After a moment all the uneasiness
drained from Raoul's face and only
tenderness was left in his dark gaze.
He said, throat-deep, nllrmur only,
II love you, Betsy. I'm serious" He
paused, waiting for her to speak;
and when she did not. he went on,
softly: I'm sailing the day after
tomorrow for South America and I
want you to go with me as my wife.
I shall not return to the United States
for many years"
He didn't try to kiss her; indeed, he
neither said nor did any OF the things
she might have expected of a fiery
young Latin asking the girl he loved
to marry him.
Betsy sought light, conclusive an
swer. But when her llps moved to
speak, Raoul touched a gentle re-
straining finger to them.
please don't answer me now," he
begged in a whisper. You might
say no. Think it over I'm taking
the o'clock train tomorrow evening
for New York and you will have until
then to decide. I'd rather you would
be sure before you answer"
And without anothe: word about
the Joke" he had just played on Jose
Ravero, he caught BeSsy's arm and
hurried her up the marble stairs to
the ball room.
No one paid any attention to them
as they came through the columned
black marble arc of the door. The
center of the room had been cleared
for an entertainment and all the
guests were clustered IN groups around
the edge of the waxed flooring. Betsy
noticed that Raoul's eyes moved quick
and secret over the guests; she saw
the relief that traversed his face
when he observed Minister Planiol,
Jose Ravero and several members of
the diplomatic corps talking with Mrs.
Simpson. Mrs. Simps IN was f1utter-
ing glittering fan, her faded eyes
straying from the men at her side
to the assembled groups. frying.
Betsy thought, remembering what
John Storm had told her about this
social climber, to weigh the effect of
her popularity on social Washington.
The marimba music broke through
the voice-f1lled air, sudden and wild
and abandoned. Betsy tipped up on
the toes of her silver sanoalS to peep
over the heads of those in front
blocking her view. A girl with beauty
dwelling in her luminous black eyes,
body as slim and golden as a sun
beam, all SensuouS and supple grace,
flashed into the room. Her bright
red lips were curved IN a smile un-
like most theatrical expressions, in
that it seemed to come straight from
her heart. Her rhinestone sandals
twinkled over the floor Her shim-
merlng legs gave of warmth like a
white fire and the abbreviated CO.'S
tune of ceriSe brilliants caught all
the pulsing lights of the chandeliers,
candles and women's jewels, reflect
ing dazzling facets as she spun like
O top.
A young military attaches gossipy
wife leaned close to him. "L-o-o-k
out, darling!" she whispered. LET
me tell you about her I'm fairly
distended with rumors! She's Sonia
Karsoff! Dancer at the Burlesque
House! Jose Ravero has gone for
her in a big way. You know, I do
believe that If Jose fell into a VOL
cano he would come up on the first
eruption with harem!"
The voices were drowned in a
storm of applause as Sonia Karsoff
cartwheeled so rapidly that she seemed
to lose all identity of self and become
only glittering, spinning hoop of
cerlSe prnIlants. When the noise
abated and one laugh rang out clearly
above the music, Betsy's face went
quickly white like moonflower under
lightning. A shadow swept over the
brightness of the scene. Knowing
whom she would see when she looked
in the direction of that laugh. she
caught Raoul's arm and clung to II
for support.
There, with their backs t. the oper
French doors, giant, incredible moor
like a stage-set behind them, stooc
Marshall and Libby. With somethine
very sick shrouding ner heart, Betsy
looked from one to the other. Mar.
shalls black head was thrown bach
In laughter; and Libby, In white satir
with gardienias against her slick
dark hair, was leaning close to him
her scarlet-tipped fingers tucked un
der his arm, her drugged soft eye.
lifting to his face.
Standing beside them we're Jennie
Travers and her br1ther Lee ane
John Storm and the blond girl who's,
autograph he kept m his dresser
"To my darling John. From Angelica
Christmas -"
It wasn't a simple thing to stanc
there watching Marshall catch Lib
by'S hand and draw her out on tn,
balcony, where they stood limmed il
one melting shadow against the gian
incredible moon; it wasn't simpl,
thing to watch Libby break out of hi
arms at last and return smiling II
watch Sonia Karsoff Marshal
following her. wiping lipstick from
his mouth and laughmgly showing
Libby the red. like a patch of blood
that stained his white silk handker
chief. Be would have fed the bal
room in that moment except that hel
knees had no strength in them at al
and her inherent pride and dignit.
had to be protected.
"Why are you trembling. Betsy?'
Raoul asked, facing her with hi
sharp dark eyes. "You aren't chilly
ore you. dear?"