Evening star., 1935-08-29
CHAPTER XXVI.

TT WAS an icy December night
The air smeit raw Of frosty ever
greens, pine needles and snow IN
d the clouds cold, with wind
blowing strong from the river. The
cherry trees, failed of every leaf, on
the Speedway across the slick mirror
of the Potomac, stood out like black
lace against the sky. All the little
motor boats, smacks, sloops, were
moored side by side along the wharf
drowsily nudging. driven to port by
the auStere whisper OF Winter to
come.
Betsy opened her lips, but before
she could speak, Marshall swept ner
in his arms, his mouth fresh with wild
new kisses, lifting his lips only long
enough to murmur, why have ]
made such a mess of our lives, angel?
Promise me you won't fall in love
with any one else until can md
way for us :"
Betsy was lost, drowned in lovely
words, drunk on them and glad be-
cause she was. His voice was music
in her lonely world, where there was
so little to sing about now. His voice
made her briefly happy.
And then Marshall said quickly, his
breathing smoking out white in the
cold darkness shrouding them.
.Betsy! Listen. darling. I won't
be married to Libby long. Until
am free, couldn't you and 2"
Betsy looked up into his eyes and
saw the meaning that lay behind their
dark brightness. She drew back hor-
rified, swift scarlet flying up her
throat, scorching her eyes, burning
In coins of angry red in her cheeks
She couldn't speak. There were nc
words left in her, no strength. With
a little sob she tore out of his en-
brace, not listening to his agonized
plea-"Betsy! For Gods sake! ]
didn't mean to be cad! l didn't
mean not wanting to hear any,
thing he could say now-or ever!
With burning haste. feeling defense
less and besmirched, she fled to the
open hatchway, catching her heel In
the billowing white satin skirt, hearing
it rip, almost plunging headlong down
the steep stairs before she caught
herself on the brass railing. She
went straight to John and breath
lessly asked him to take her home.
without a seconds hesitation john
in the middle of conversation with
Angelica asked her to excuse him
Her limpid blue eyes darkened and
the corners of her mouth dropped Just
q little. But she shrugged her sloping
white shoulders and nodded as If 1t
didn't matter, though it did matter
very much.
John got Betsy's velvet coat, helped
her into it and fastened it around her
throat as If she were small child
There were protestations from the
crowd-"Not turning sissy, are you?"
"Say, it's only midnight! The party
hasn't beguni" Whats the idea?"
"You tank you go home now?" An
geIca saying, laughingly, because she
thought no one would believe her
John, you're breaking my hearth"
And having said 1t her laughter died
and the smile on her lips became q
theatrical grimace. She thought
''It's true. He is breaking my heart
When I could have had him wasn't
sure whether wanted him, but now
.-now-"
In the corner Libby lifted her sleek,
dark head from her arms and rubbed
her scarlet fingertips over the i'm
preston on her cheeks that her jeweled
bracelets had made. She said, you're
making rather spot of noise, my
friends. But it probably wouldn't in
terest you that my head is full of
popping little cannons." And promptly
went back into doze. No one heard
her.
But Betsy and John left just the
same. On the way home it began to
snow, the headlights on the roadsters
making tiny spangles of the flakes
that drifted against the windshield
and clouded into the nimbus Of the
lights. He drove carefully, with one
arm around Betsy's shoulder, talking
OF the work he'd have to make up OF
the o.; of Spot, the wire-haired ter
rier he had brought back from Boston
with him. Mrs. Seymour had found an
old soap box, filled with rags and put
1t. under the kitchen sink. In the
Spring they'd establish the rascal in
the back yard, where he'd no doubt
try to plant bone under every one
Of Betsy's flowers! But she was
going to love Spot just the same. Miss
kirkland, dads nurse, had adored
him and almost cried when he car