The Washington times., 1913-09-21

- 2
N/ short laugh. May
" have this dance-Mary ?
For answer she gave m,
! an amused nod, and l made a passag,
for her through the Gordon of onlookerI
that stood three and four deep about tn,
dancers The orchestra was playing a
waltz.
: 1 am not fond of dancing as a rule
but my partner was revelation. She
! was eXQuisitely graceful So lightly and
surely Gid she move that ] could scarce
. ly feel that my arm cIrcled her waist.
1t was like dancing with some beauti-
ful phantom That she was attracting
an unwonted amount OF attention
could See with half a glance. The old
feeling of self-fiattery mounted within
me again.
AS 1 led her from the floor we came
face to tace, on the threshold of the
Blue Room, with Jeanette Fenwick.
Her hand was resting on the arm OF a
young officer to whom | had been in
troduced but a few minutes before.
The color mounted to my face as our
glances met, and involuntarily l opened
my lips to speak. The words died on
my lips when i saw not the slightest
sign of recognition in ner glance. She
bestowed a swift look at my companion; /;
then she stepped aside to make room
for US to pass.
we htSl MI. LdiIici, Sdlu
the lieutenant, with a genial nod as We
went by them.
And Jeanette heard-I knew it. al
though she did not for an instant be-
tray a sign of emotion or surprise.
Mary glanced inquirengly at me, and
asked after a moments pause:
Isn't that one OF the ladies We saw
this afternoon"
1t is l said stonily.
Il thought you said you knew her?'
Il do."
But she saw you. She looked di-
rectly at you
Yes
Then why-has anything happened?
Who is she?"
.She is Miss Fenwick," 1 answered.
and added, rather brutally, that is her
real name, too,''
IF have done anything"
Nothing" / broke in. l was too
angry for much speech.
Yet it seemed as If she deliberately
ignored you,'' she went on. persstentIy
Would she never stop? Was this part
of the errand upon which the tall man
had dispatched her. Well, l would sat
isfy her. then,
said. sharply. Miss Fenwick and l are
engaged to be married-and you have
led me into fine mess
1 heard her gasp. but for a full min
ute she did not speak. Then il was in
a very subdued and frightened voice:
81 am sorry-very sorry. Please take
me away, now"
We went downstairs to the cloakroom,
neither of us speaking again. AS
placed the scarlet wrap about her
shoulders ! could feel her trembling.
She steadily avoided meeting my glance,
and seemed anxious to escape from the
place which had been the scene of three
bewfldering meetings.
For my own part. I was more than
glad to go. / wanted no more chance
encounters: but I did want an oppor-
tunity to demand from this woman an
explanation that would cover every
thing from the moment of the over
heard whisper.
/ heard her murmuring to herself as
We went to the carriage entrance, and,
inclining my mead slightly, caught the
words:
Il cannot do it. I cannot"
/ gave the attendant the number of
our carriage. and, after a short wait
the taxi drew up under the porte
cochere. AS the door was opened the
girl stepped forward and said some
thing in a low tone to the chauffeur.
who nodded. ! handed her in. and as
! was about to place nv foot on the
step she reached out her hand and
drew the door swiftly shut.
"Good-by-and forgive me-. she said
in a tense voice, leaning forward so
that could see her white face.
And then the taxi swung down the
driveway, leaving me standing on The
White House steps.