The Washington times., 1913-10-09

You must believe didn't tell You with
this in mind at all l.
! SILLY, of course you didn't! I'm sc
glad that's all that is troubling you
Where's your check -book?"
| ''There-there are some checks in the
ttop drawer of my little writing-desk iI
the living room" feplied Victoria hes
itantly. but, really, Lucille"
| Lucille vanished arily through the
| wide French easement without waiting
| for further protestations.
Left alone. Victoria stared again ou,
| over the lake, but this time with uu-
| seeing eyes and face distorted with sor-
| row and anxiety, into mere semblance
| Of ITSELF
"Oh, God-" she breathed, making a
6espairing motion as ii to throw out
her arms before her. Then her hands
| relaxed and fell at her sides.
''One more humiliation! How much
longer will this go on? Where will il
all end?'
"HereI'' cried Lucille, lightly. advanc-
| ing with a slip Of paper between her
fingers.
Now we're quite all right. I only
wish you had told me before; it was
"Lucille," said Victoria, shamefaced-
y. II can't thank you You've help
ed me out of what Robin would call a
'beastly hole 1 can't explain. but"
Don't bother to. dear. 1t was Jour
own, you know. You should have mad
don't say one word to Dysart-
When / first married l thought I
had to tell Bertram everything. l used
to bore him to death with the most
/, lengthy, uninteresting anecdotes, and
II, by chance. one of them did happen
l,o1 ha foo
full rows. Now, / don't even admit
anything. let alone confess, and We set
on famously."
Hello. Where is everybody" asked
a hearty, breezy voice from the case
ment.
Victoria hastily slipped the check be-
tween the pages of book lying on the
table and dragged forward an easy
chair.
Il hope you've finished your letters;
it's tco perfect an afternoon to waste
indoors. The men will be back soon,
and wen have tea"
Madge Ashley bent her stately head
to avoid the Intel, and came indolently
forward.
She was a tall, magnificently formed
woman, with long, slender limbs. and
a 1.-the, SinuouS grace IN every move OF
her supple body.
She curled herself in the easy chair
and yawned frankly.
"Tea-and the men. Sounds exciting"
she said diffidently. oh. do like
your nice little husband, Lucille! I've
him at close range before. He regards
me with an air of admiring apprehen-
sion that is perfectly delightful He
doesn't dare speculate on what I'm like
ly to say next! I'm not at all sure that
he considers me quite the proper sort
Nonsense. It's good for him to be
walked up once in while. Lucille
tossed her head.
.'If 1 tried to say anything the least
bit clever he'd think 1 borrowed It He
has always treated me like an over
grown baby
you never will grow up, Lucille.
dear" fnterposed Victoria You are
the type of woman who will remain in
genuous always"
Yes" replied Lucille, dlsgustedlyy,
land an ingenue OF forty is such an al
Turing spectacle. isn't she?"
You've got a long road to travel be-
fore you reach that hoary age. my
dear" Mrs. Ashley remarked. land. as
a general rule. Heaven preserve me
woman Of thirty-five can usually be
gauged from her achievements but the
limitations Of sweet young thing, in
any direction, are unbounded."
tndI why you Keep care
fully tucked away at school?" asked
Lucille a trifie maliciously.
Partly" Mrs. Ashley turned to her
frankly.
"At first, after I divorced her father,
T had her with me constantly-not as a
pose 1 assure you, but because / was
hungry for companionship. ! clung to
her as a reminder Of my disintegrated
home After a time / learned to stand
alone. other interests came into my
are born with the maternal instincts of
a house cat. I'm afraid I'm not one
o. them
You shall not slander yourself.
Madge?" cried Victoria warmly. Il re-
member when Betty had typhoid you
Mrs. Ashley flushed slightly.
I'm not-unnatural!" she conceded.
I'm proud of Bettey in spite OF the
fact that she's the image OF her father.
and I'm ambitious Of her. but 1 don't
want her always under my nose.
"You needn't look shocked. Victoria
II YOU were q free woman and-momen-
tarily interested, and trying to appear
particularly young and engaging, II
would be disconcerting to hear bleat
from somewhere of mamma, and have
an awkward long-legged young person.
lity suddenly injected into a carefully
arranged conversation-you know II
would"
NlctCrla laugneC.
Don't be absurd. Madge," she said.
I'm not Mrs. Ashley persisted.
Just wait until you have children of
your own
She paused instinctively, and Lucille
gave little gasp of surprise and fright,
for Victoria suddenly turned upon them
a face livid with horror.
T." she cried ''Children, All, no.
no, Pray God that never a child is
born of me-
Why. Victoria." fasped Lucille
Mrs. Ashley gave her a hurried, ad-
monishing glance, and chartered on
quickly.
I've heard lots Of women talk who