The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-03-29
BY GILMORE COWAN STONE

CONSTANCE MAIDWELL -
heroine: the stand-in.
DEREK MANTHON-an artis'
who loved money first.
HILDEGARDE THORVALD-
Derek painted her portrait.
DR.. ROGERS-he met his mos
difficult case.
Yesterday: Seeing Derek alone
for the first time since arrival al
the Thorvalds, Connie forgive
everything else in the JOY of hi'
nearness.
CHAPTER XVII
Derek had evidently just re-
turned from one of the moon.
light gallops about which he hac
written, for her was wearing Jodh'
purs and a soft white shirt, oper
at the throat. As Constance came
up, he was standing, his bright
head bare to the moonlight, with
one booted foot on a low stone
wall that ran along the edge OF
the grove, flicking idly at a weeo
with his riding crop.
At some faint sound she made
he turned, flung aside his whip
cried softly, Connie, darling!
and springing toward her, caught
her into his arms. The whole
movement was as beautiful as q
wcll-rehearsed dance.
Some perverse imp in the back
Of her mind raised its head and
murmured maliciously, Very
good theater-what?"
But Constance put the thought
angrily from her. Derek was not
really theatrical. Even if he did
dramatize himself a little some
times, it was all part of his exu-
beran need for self-expression-
like his painting and his loving
to play the piano.
Now he was holding her from
him, laughing down at her like a
delighted boy.
Darling" he cried, 81 can't be-
lieve yet that you're actually here
after these terrible empty weeks"
Were they empty, Derek?"
She couldn't hear him say it
often enough.
Weren't they for you?" he
asked reproachfully into her hair.
"Oh, SO hideously empty,
Derek."
And in the end it was she who
had to reassurc him, to tell him
over and over again how dcsper-
ately lonely she had been. &.
when ! walked in there this
evening and saw you, Connie, it
almost floored me. All the time l
was making those silly marks on
your face, I had the strangest
sense of unreality-of. not actual
" being there and seeing it all
happen, if you understand what !
mean ! hardly dared speak for
fear you'd vanish"
Of coarse! That was why he
had seemed so strangely silent:
81 know" Constance murmur-
I'd. ,"fve been feeling that, too"
They sat down on the low stone
vail, lis arms around her..
."Yol see, all they had told ME
was that the doctor was bringing
on some one to double for the
Wynne person. Even when the
nurse zane to get me, she didn't
remember your name. Of
course, if | had known Rogers
knew bu, ], might have guessed.
You art like the .Wynne. :. How
did he tome to find your,
Nhel Constance had told him
about .ler three meetings with
Marx logers, Derck trowned and
said smewhat sulkily, There's
something about all this l don't
exact! like-thc way this fellow
seems 70 have been following you
aroun, for one thing, ever since
| cam away, That day he came
to thd studio wanting to buy your
poltra, /"
CoItance sat up very straight.
"Tk day he-~what?"
30 didn't. l tell you that?
Well! Everything was in such a
nude then. Just few min
uteS efore you came in the day |
I lefwith the Thorvalds, he came
bargg into the studio, wanting
to br the Lady in Blue. Said his
moth liked it,"
Slit was Derek's studio Mark
Rogs had been coming from
thatlay when he had nearly
knoed her down on the steps.
y course / told him pretty
flat that the portrait wasn't for
sale Derek was going on. "But
| thght then-do you know, !
don altogether like your flying
outvith him alone, Connie-a
magou hardly know" /
&c gave the best of reference
es ind his circle Of acquaintance
es Eemed to be absolutely gilt
eda-Dr. Ardmore, for instance
It to speak of the Torvalds,
whe opinion" Constance added
delrely,. "you don't seem to
thi too badly of, yourself.
les, | know. But you can't al
wa judge from that"
bnnie smiled a little secret
sn. :. This from Derek, who
hanover considered any uncon-
vsonal prank in his own COM
pa too indiscreet - even from
thirst.
You needn't worry" she said.
"hn if | were interested, |
DIT seem to be having a start
lii success with the" gentleman.
Inct, this evening he very en-
plically washed his hands of
ID , ......
Washed his hands of your"
DIX echoed blankly. "You mean
h but, ! say, he can't do that,