1938-12-30 — Page 21

THE CHINA MAIL FRIDAY SUPPLEMENT, DECEMBER 80, 1938

"THE GIFT OF YESTERDAY"

(Continued from page 1)

this, when I phoned you. I thought Florence was staying here, but afterwards when she had to get back and Huntly want- me to-" she stopped. "You must believe me."

"I do," Linda said shortly, "al- though that isn't important."

"Does it matter so much whe- ther your friend believes you or not," broke in Huntly impatiently. Jean asked, her voice harsher,

now:

"Why have you

Why

alone?"

couldn't you

come, Linda? leave me

Linda ignored that. She turned to Huntly Manners.

"So you love Jean?" she said. calmly.

He moved from one foot to the other and made an irritated ges- ture..

"What business is it of yours?" His thin lips rapped out the words with a deadly precision; his tem- per was rising.

"I thought," Linda went. on, "that you wanted to marry Jean ?" Manners laughed: it was

蟲

laugh in which relief and irrit- ability. were curiously blended.

"Marry her! Good heavens, how sentimental you women are!" He moved nearer to Jean, his cour- age returning. "Jean's not a child; she knows what she's doing. As for marriage! That's good. Nei- ther of us is particularly interest- ed in ties." He laughed.

Linda looked down at Jean, who had sunk slowly down into the nearest chair.

"I'll give you two chances, Jean.. Either you stay here for good with this noble specimen of humanity, or you give me your sacred promise never to see him or communicate with him again. And warn you that if you do stay here, I shall see to it that Simon never takes you back. He' loves you; and you are smashing his life, his happiness, and I don't intend that you shall go on doing it. Do you understand?"

Huntley Manners rapped out: "So that's it! Your concern is for-Simon! You came down here to spy on us so that you could be- tray Jean to her husband and, in the process, grab him for your- self. Very neat." He turned to Jean.

"I suggest you show your friend to the door," he said. “Her threats are rather foolish."

Jean stood up in that, second and her voice trembled with scorn as she said, loyally:

"I can. never repay Linda for showing me what a cad you real- ly are."

"

"Jean !!!

"Don't!" There was distaste, contempt in her expression, "I de- pise myself for ever listening, to you."

Not a nightmare but the fancy dress football game at Caroline Hill.

Manners began protesting. This was the first time in his worthless. life that he had ever been desert- ed. It was a blow to his pride. A severe blow. To him the asso ciation had been a very pleasant interlude.

Jean dragged, her coat on and followed Linda to the door with out looking back.

Later, on their way home, she cried in a tone that was pathetic: in its earnestness:

"I feel so-so ashamed!" There

was a tenderness in Linda's voice as she said:

"Experience isn't always plea- sant. I knew from the start that Huntly Manners was not the type to be sincere."

"If only you'd told me"-plain- tively.

"Would you have believed me?" "Wouldn't you have told me-to mind my own business and ac- cused me of merely being narrow- minded; of criticising the circum- stances rather than the man?".

"I suppose so."

"And now all you have to do is to forget all this; start again and make Simon happy."

"I must tell him."

"No," cried Linda sharply. "That would merely be relieving your conscience at his expense."

“Bút”

"Don't you see, Jean? It would serve no purpose and jeopardise his faith in your love for him." A pause then, unevenly: "There's so ́ much ahead for both of you that it would be madness to smash' things now."

"How can I explain my neglect -everything?”

"By telling him the simple truth that you didn't realise how stupid and thoughtless you were being in spending so much time away from him. Tell him that, now, you're weary of the eternal round of parties, etc. He loves you, Jean; explanations won't interest him so long as you con- vince him that you-care."

Jean's eyes were bright-sus- piciously bright as she murmur- ed:

"I do care." It was the merest whisper. "You may not find it easy to believe in the face of-of- all that's happened, but I know, now, that had I stayed there with Huntly she broke off with a shudder "I could never have gone back. Oh, Linda, what, you have saved me, spared me. You

once

could ever ad me that nothing,

put back the clook and

give me yesterday. I know," to- night, what you meant. You've

The start of an event at the International Sports. saved me from a life-time of re- morse, of misery, I'll never be able to repay you-never!”

It was getting late when they reached London.

Jean did her best to persuade Linda to stay the night, but with- out success.

"I'm going straight home to bed," was the firm reply. "You run in. Simon will be waiting for you and there'll be no room for a third party."

"You've

got to

be fussy

over horses.

Fussy about their training

11

"There'll always be room for you," Jean-whispered. "I shall tell. Simon that—”

"Tell him nothing except that I've I've returned you with my love." Linda forced a laugh, slip- ped the car in gear and slid away into the darkness.

Unshed tears burned her eyes? sobs rose in her throat.

But in her heart was a strange, comforting peace as of a battle having been won-with honour.

-fussy about who rides them. Personally I find it's the only way. For instance, I don't much care to lead in a lucky winner; but, it gives me the rarest pleasure to watch any thoroughbred ridden to a faultless victory.

In the same way I appreciate the good judgment used in the making of White Horse Whisky. I've yet to discover a richer flavour with a finer frag- rance, à silkier smoothness; with a more heartening glow. Till I do, I shall in- sist on White Horse.”

WHITE HORSE

Whisky

Sole Agents for South China: Jardine Matheson &