Evening star., 1936-07-02

minute walk from Tree Tops. She
found him in that curious basement
laboratory of his. He didn't hear her
open the door.
Patsy flung her hat expertly on a
peg behind the door, dropped her coat
on a dusty wood stool and went over
to him. She ran her fingers lightly
through his wavy hair and said
Hello! How's the big streptococcus-
and-botulinus man today?"
Richard turned quickly. His honest
brown eyes lighted up with that tender
look that was hers alone. He said:
Hello, there! You're just in time for
the funeral. Those white rats inoc-
ulated yesterday all turned up their
toes and EXPIRED"
"Oh, Richard!" she cried in an
anguished voice. "All your work for
nothing'
She laughed then. She had seen
him like this hundred times before.
She thought now Hes forgotten that
I told him last night that I wanted
to marry him today"
But he hadn't forgotten. In the
next moment he said Changed your
mind. Patsy?"
Patsy's face paled. She moistened
her lips. Il haven't changed my mind
really, Richard. But I couldn't do
that to grandfather. Not after what
happened last night. He's making
such elaborate plans for our wedding
I think it would break his heart if
eloped."
Richard said: Il guess you're right,
angel. 1t wouldn't be exactly cricket
He's a grand person" Then he took
off his apron and hung it on o wall
rats nest and take walk I DOM
think ever saw more beautiful
day!"
They walked for an hour in the
sunshine, over the fields, red and gold
with showers of Autumn leaves, along
the banks of the Severn. They laughed
at the place where they had once
found Victor Caldwell swimming and
how they had dug a hole and had
buried his clothes in it, leaving him
note to that effect. The ground still
showed evidences of the tunneling that
frantic little boy had done to save
himself the humiliation Of going home
draped in tree branches.
At last Richard said he had to get
back to his work, and Patsy walked
alone for another hour, down twist
ing country road and up through the
apple orchard of Tree Tops to the
house. She came in, her cheeks
flushed from the cold, and found Lee
Cavendish making himself completely
at home in the drawing room. She
winked a little in the soft light and
wondered If her nose was shiny and
hated herself for it.
Lee said: Luncheon has been wait
ing an hour and Mandy is in a temper,
throwing pots and pans around What
made you so late? I've worn a path
from the door to the window and from
the window to the porch. Thatll be
something for you to remember me
by. You see now have home. An
apartment on State circle!"
She felt suddenly that she must say
something or do something lest he
see that she was in love with him and
aching and miserable over it. She
said, quickly, her eyes bright:
I'll race you to the dining room"
They started off at a run through
the big house. slipping on the rugs,
coliiding at the small door Of the
breakfast porch, laughing like chill
| drQr Tn tho ell I,f, r
was determined to be the first through
the door, but his blond hair was pulled
and her fingers bit into his shoulders
| for she became as fierce in play as a
tiger cub. "Oh, no, you don't, my
good woman!" he kept laughing. The
struggle grew secretly more earnest
than play. Because he was q man
he was seriously determined to con-
quer her. He finally held her in an
iron wise with one arm, blocking her
from, passing over the threshold,
smiling down at her.
And suddenly he saw the look in
her eyes. felt glow of excitement
because her golden head was so close,
because there was a faint and elusive
fragrance about her. because she was
as slim and supple and lovely as a
Spring flower against him.
| His other arm went about her hard
and quick and tender, and he bent and
Kissed her mouth. Her lips clung.
And in that moment they went blind
with the consciousness that something
breath-taking and wonderful had
happened.
He crushed her to him again and
| kissed the parting of her hair and her
cheek where he had seen the dimple.
I've no right to love you, Patsy-no
right at all. But I do-God knows
I do. I knew it last night on the
portico and out in the storm. I think
I've known it always"
They heard the front door open:
heard Admiral Warfield say: Now.
Marcia, if you'll just try you can lick
it, dear!" Heard Marcia say. Or.
Proctor was right. I'll try, granddad.
I promise faithfully that III try!"
Then they heard her heavy step on
the stairs and her door close and
grandfather calling old Ephraim.
Lee said: Wait a minute, Patsy"
And he went straight out into the hall
to Admiral Warfield. = Patsy stood
leaning against the door, her heart
racing, her fingers trembling, some.
thing deep within her urging her to