The Washington times., 1913-09-20
By
]. RATH

| now: Won't you be merciful-for q lit
Again her big, dark eyes were piteous
as she raised them to mine. l was
, weak, and Irelented.
Let's get a glass of punch" I said
Five minutes later. amid the chatter
ing. laughing, pushing crowd that
surged about the refreshment-tables as
If they were so many bargain-countsrs,
she had, to all outward appearance, COM
pletely recovered her spirits, and was
as gay and unconcerned as any Of the
company. She gave me- no time for
reflection, scarcely any for words she
was as voluble as a magpie, hurrying
from one topic to another bewilderingly.
coming little verbal caricatures of per-
sons she saw, and discussing inconse-
|Quential things with as much earnestness
and animation as IL they were matters
of grave moment Yet underneath il all
/ could detect high nervous tension,
an overwhelming desire to divert her
own mind from something, and mine as
well. She was making a desperate ef-
fort to forget and to make me forget.
Not for one moment would she permit
me TO take her out Of the throng. l
suggested another stroll on the lawn,
where the Marine Band was now play
ing. but she found some excuse; She
question her, and she proposed to give
me no opportunity.
1t was while making our way slowly
through the main hall toward the Blue
Room that received another shock
A young lieutenant Of the army, in
fuIl-dress uniform. stepped in front of
her. halted, and bowed smilingly.
why. Miss Donaldson he exclaimed.
She looked at him with swift recogni-
ton, uttered an exclamation Of pleas
ure and extended her hand cordially.
Mr.. Ferrisv' she cried It's fine to
Won I fhou1ht vov, xvopo -sfi11 d, -.
"oh! they don't sentence us for life,
ne said with a laugh. I've been back
And Captain Holbrook7"
Still mingling' with the Moros. poor
fellow" he answered. But his relief
Fay?"
sometimes when she writea"
Abroad then, take It."
oh. yes. She's a natural-born for
eigneI. II you can say that of an
He was looking down at her sloved
hands as he remarked:
When 1 said Miss Donaldson' I did
not know whether it was still correct
or not"
Yes indeed" she answered laugh
ing: Then. with a sudden apology. she
turned to me. This is Mr.. Larned.
SiSoeChohl ciiIS, bHe SdlO,
Glad to know you, SIR" he responded
heartily, grasping my hand.
1 mumbled something intended as a
greeting. and then dumbly awaited the
Miss Donaldson! Mr.. Larned, Two
orand new sets OF names within a quar-
ter OF an hour! Was It a burlesque, a
or 1?
This time she seemed to have no fear
that / would not play the part, for she
did not glance at me after the intro
duct1on, but entered nto a lively con-
Versaton with the young officer that
consisted mostly Of "reminiscences.
A resident of Washington, Mr.. Lam
ed he asked me, as he prepared fo
take his departure.
"Just occasionally" replied as we
shook hands again.
"A sort Of American nomad." she .un-
plemented: I know not why, unless 1t
was merely for the sake of making con-
yersat!on. We'll. good-by, Mr.. Ferris
! congratulate you on your release from
bondage"
halted her rather forcibly when we
nad moved a few PAGES from him, and
For Heavens sake. what Is the mean
ing of all this?''
Not now" she answered. trying to
urge me forward.
- but VIII hHoW-Mre. VlntOn, Miss
Donaldson-whoever you are II must
end right herew
No. no, nor' Again she wa. ou,vs--
ing with apprehension.
But listen,, -"
81 beg your
There was something in this woman's
eyes that made very easy victim of
me. | made gesture of despair as
she took my arm and led me into the
Blue Room
I'D like to dance" she said 'Will
you please ask me?"
Continuation NJ Tbss S<o.v vl-.r