Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-19
CHAPTER XI-Continued.

Nora left alone. began to look around
her. There was an air of luxury about
the place that was pleasing. The rug be-
meath her feet was thick and soft. With
the red paper on the walls 1t recalled one
of the fashionable hostelries on 9Th ave-
nue. where he had taken her to lunch. In
the center of the room was a square
table of ebony. somewhat massive. with
ornately carved legs An elegant electric
reading lamp upon 1t connected with a
chandelier above. Scattered around the
lamp were novels and few of the latest
magazines. mostly having to do with
sport in some shape or form. On the
smaller table beside which she was
seated. a round one was a delicately
chased vase Of silver In which were some
American beauty roses. Evidently they
had been there for three or four days.
for they were dropping and faded. Heavy
double curtains red also. were Topped
apart at the two windows. disclosing
other long hanging curtains of cream
lace.
Between the windows was a lounge
piled high with the softest of soft cush-
ions. and above 1t, occupying all the wall
space. was picture representing
Youth" in which the life-size figure of
young girl beside stream in listen
ing attitude and wearing little but mis-
startling relief against a somber- back
ground. On piano and amid bibelots of
bronze and ivory on the mantelpfece were
several portraits of women, mostly ac-
tresses. bearing autographs.
A handsome bookcase beside door OPP
posite the lounge extended from the door
to the corner Of the room at right angles
to the mantelpiece. 1t was filled with
books. partly French. bound and in pa
per covers. packed in wherever there was
room for them.
From the bookcase her eyes wandered
to the door. She wondered where it led
to. Then she walked to the mantelpiece
and looked at the portraits. framed and
knew at least by sight and name. She
took in her hand the portrait of one
woman. unknown to her and very beau
tiful. which stood in a shining silver
frame. obviously new one. Something
was written across it in fine. delicate
scrawl. She held it to the light and read:
ITO Dickie from Tat Memento of a
good time never to be forgotten"
The portrait impressed her disagree
ably She was vaguely jealous of this
photograph rather impatiently and rough
ly. AS she did so she caught sight in the
mirror of her own face, all farded and
rouged and powdered. She uttered little
looked hideous. Mr.. Crawford must never
see her like that: she must wash her
face somehow But how? Where? There
was nothing with which she could do it
there. not even glass of water. She
wondered whether she could ask the valet
to bring her one on the pretext that she
was thirsty. She went to the door lead
ing to the hall. but the man was not to
be seen, and she did not like to call him.
Suppose she were to try the other door
She went to it. but hesitated. She was
afraid to open it. Yet something had to
be done. Mr.. Crawford would arrive at
any minute-he might at that very mo-
ment be on the elevator. She looked
around in perplexity, not knowing what
to do. and noticed the roses. Immediate
ly happy thought struck her. Here
was water! Quickly she went to the vase.
but stopped again nonplused. With what
was she going to wipe her face? She had
no handkerchief in her stage dress. With
febrile haste she searched the cloak. hop
ing against hope that there might be one
there. The cloak, though sleeveless. had
a pocket. but there was nothing in it
save a little book of face powder paper.
Her woman's with came to her aid. She
tore a large piece of her petticoat and.
removing the roses. bathed and rubbed
her face vigorously until not a vestige Of
the fardS remained,