Page:Steadfast Heart.djvu/272

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CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

One staunch friend Angus Burke had among the younger residents of Rainbow: the gentle, lovable, womanly Myrtle Cuyler. From that night at Lydia Canfield’s party when Angus’s ready action and presence of mind had saved her from possible disfigurement, her loyalty to him had been of the sort which nothing could shake. In her presence, more than in that of any other young woman in Rainbow, Angus was able to feel at his ease.

So it was that when, toward the end of July, Myrtle stopped in his office to invite him to a small, informal party, he was embarrassed.

“There’ll only be a few,” said Myrtle. “You’ll come, won’t you? We’re going to have tables in the yard—and a good time without any fussiness… only about a dozen.”

More than ever Angus had avoided junior Rainbow since the day of his encounter with Lydia which had brought to his consciousness the appalling fact that he loved…. It was a fact which had tormented him. And the torment

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