Evening star., 1940-08-01

1t was the middle Of March when
they landed and France lay warm
and sun-drenched under the bene-
diction of an early spring. Even
in the north the trees were yelled
with a ghostly young green. Elsie
and Kits butler and personal man,
Cummings, had gone on by train to
open the villa and engage the neces-
sary servants. Kit and Mary were
quite alone in their leisurely saun-
ter through France. Kit, unspoiled
by money, got q kick out of staying
at picturesque country inns. Or
perhaps because of it, he was in
different to the charms of palatial
and expensive hotels. 1t was an
informal happy gypsying journey
Kit remaining in his role of protec-
tive big brother, yet gayer and more
carefree than Mary had ever seen
him.
Many girls had loved and wanted
Kit Bardsley, not for his money or
his family, but for his own sake.
And they had not had this wonder
full opportunity to know him as he
really was. Now that the journey
OF exploration kept them hours in
each others company Mary found
every day new things that endeared
him to her And every day she
knew more surely that she was fall
ing deeper and deeper in love.
Villa Is Impressive.
The Villa les Mile Pins was three
miles out Of Cannes to the west,
high up on the Cornich road set
back in a great garden cool with
whispering pines and commanding
superb views of the sea. Almost
every room in the house opened
onto one of the two tiers of bal
comics.
Il don't believe you. Mary. Your
promise isn't worth the breath you
used for it. You're playing your
own deep game. I haven't seen Kit
for four days"
Charles bent over them and nut
the tray with glasses carefully in
the sand. Mary slipped a little and
puts hers down, Mrs. Neville drank
hers as If she were intolerably
thirsty. After Charles had gone
again, Mrs. Neville returned to the
attack. Kit has changed abso-
lutely since you got him down here.
I want to know what you've been
doing with him"
ANY change is a matter between
you and him. And I don't want
to talk to you"
mo? Then you'll listen to me.
know what men are, and I know
something about girls like you.
You've been living with him as his
WIFE"
Mary Is Angered.
You must be mad" cried Mary
furiously. How dare you say such
things?" She started to get up.
Mrs. Neville caught her .by the
ankle and pulled her down again.
Don't run away like coward
afraid to face what you're doing,
I warn you if you don't keep your
hands of Kit you'll be sorry"
Mary glared back into the
smouldering black eyes on a level
with her own. I'm not afraid of
anything you can do to me-"
Mrs. Neville shrugged her slim
brown shoulders. mo? But per-
haps you have conscience. I love
Kit Bardsley in a way that no
woman like you could understand.
II you come between us I won't
hurt your precious skin. What I'll
40 will be done entirely to my
self"
The woman's savage anger had
given way to a dreary hopelessness.
Mary got up and walked slowly
and thoughtfuly away from her.
AT o'clock Mary had dinner
alone, then went into the lofty green
and white drawing room and turned
on the radio. She did not think of
the night clubs, the bathrooms and
casinos strung like a necklace of
pleasure along the brilliant coast
where youth made merry through
the night. She thought Of Kit. And
now even his absence for one eve
ming took the heart out of the house.
making its elegance and luxury
mockery, making the whole beau
tiful world In fact. .unbearably lon
". She went up to bed early hop
Ing to find ease for her aching heart
in sleep.
Kit Out Late.
Kit came in at midnight. Still
awake, Mary heard him in his room.
deliberately moving softly so as not
to disturb her. She lay listening,
feeling utterly different because he
was near her, feeling warm again
and drawn back from some outer
darkness.
Presently the cautious stirring In
the next room ceased and gave wav
to the dreaming silence Tapped by
the murmuring water at the rocks.
1t must have been an hour after
wards that Mary heard the incom-
Ing car. Many cars went by, but
this one seemed to turn in under the
pines and stop. She lay listening
unable to sleep, and only vaguely
interested.
Mary got out and followed him
to the edge of the quay.
That's the Pegasus. The Sher-
ards are here"
'Louise's people?" Mary asked.
Eyes. Her father and mother.
Old man Sherard was Matched out
of duck egg. When he isn't flying
he's sailing"
Kit went on reading the names
of the craft close to the quay
and trying to identify those too far
away for him to read their names.