The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1915-08-14

NAoASN III luC stan OCSSeuuCu " Tue
first bend, and shrank into the corner
behind the car as it shot past her. 1t
did not stop at Crawford's landing.
She leaped upstairs again aud, desper-
ate. pressed the button of the apart
ment bell. Her heart beat so violently
as she heard the muffled "dring" and
waited, that it almost suffocated her.
In a few moments the door opened
and the staid Rogers appeared. Nora
had expected that Crawford would re-
spond to the bell, and she was taken
aback.
lin afraid live made mis-
take. was looking for Mr.. Craw-
ford's." she stamnlered.
This is MIR. Crawford's," said Rog-
ers suavely. Won't you walk in,
madam?"
He effaced himself and. traversing a
short entrance hall, she found herself
in Crawfords den"
Rogers advanced an easy chair for
her near Il fire of Imitation logs fed
by gas that blazed cheerfully in the
piuSSs anu Suc uONu.
mir. Crawford will be here in a few
minutes, madam" he said respectfully
He Is ut his club, but he told me to
communicate with him if anybody
called. Whom shall tell him is wait.
ing?"
Nora hesitated.
Just tell him that lady wishes to
see him and it's very important" she
directed.
Very we'll. madam" said Rogers
with Il bow and an almost imper, ep,i
BILE smile.
He went out closing the door behind
him, and called up Crawford at the
Athenaeum club from u telephone III
the hall.
Lady here wishes to see you, SIR
he said when Crawford responded.
"Yes? What is her name:" he in.
quired.
"She didn't give me any name-jus,
told me to tell you that she wanted to
speak with you and that 1t was i'm
portant."
Important. eh? What does she look
like-oId. young?"
Young aud very pretty. sir. She's
dressed for dinner or the opera.
think. Leastways. she hasn't any
hat"
THAT so? Well. ask her to be SC
kind us to wait one minute. I'll come
up right away"
Rogers conveyed the message t,
Nora, put a newspaper and book on
small table beside her and withdrew
Nora. left alone. began to look around
her. There was an air of luxury about
the place that was pleasing. The rug
beneath her feet was thick and soft
With the red paper on the walls it re-
called one of the fashionable hostel
ries on Fifth avenue where he had TAX.
en- her to lunch. In the center Of the
room was Il square table of ebony
somewhat massive, with ornately cary,
ed legs. An elegant electric reading
lamp upon 1t connected with u chan.
delier above. Scattered around the
lamp were novels and few of the
latest magazines. mostly having to dc
with sport III some shape or form. On
the smaller table beside which she was
seated. round one. was IL delicately
chased vase of silver in which were
some American Beauty roses. Evi
IDENTIFY they had been there for tire,
or four days. for they were dropping
and faded. Heavy double curtains
red also. were Topped apart ut the two
windows. disclosing other long hanging
curtains of cream lace.
handsome bookcase beside a door
opposite the lounge extended from the
door to the corner Of the room at right
angles to the mantelpiece. 1t was fll.
ed with books. partly French, bound
and In paper covers. packed in wher-
ever there was room for them.
From the bookcase her eyes wander
ed to the door. She wondered where
1t led to. Then she walked to the man.
telpiere and looked ut the portraits,
framed and unframed. The originals
Of some she knew ut least by sight and
name. She took in her hand the por-
trait OF one woman. unknown to her
and very beautiful. which stood in II
shining silver frame. Obv iOusIy Il new
one. Something was written across 1t
In a fine. delicate scrawl She held 1t
to the light and read:
ITO Dickie from Tat. Mcmento Of Il
good time never to be forgotten"
The portrait impressed her disagree
ably. She was vngucIy jealous of this
beautiful unknown. and she replaced
the photograph rather i,npatirntIy and
roughly. AS she did SO she caught
sight in the mirror of her own face,
all farded and rouged and powdered.
She uttered little cry of dismay. 1t
seemed to her that she looked hideous.
Mr.. era wford must never see her like
that; she must wash her face some
how. But how? Where? There was
nothing with which she could do it
there. not even a 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 leading 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
1t. Yet something had to be done. Mr..
Crawford would arrive at any minute
he might Mt that very moment be on
the elevator. She looked around in
perplexity. not knowing what to d.
and noticed the roses. Immediately a
happy thought struck her. Here was
water! Quickly she went to the vase.