The midland journal., 1917-08-24
thing when he's drunk.

thing when he's drunk. His
latest fancy pretty, Of course,
but from some western village,
believe can't possibly last.
Why should itY' The words were pur-
posely made audible, and during the
rest Of the meal, when Mrs. Thomp-
son-Bellaire was not bitingly sarcastic
to Lorelei, she was offensively patron
izing.
After dinner Lorelei had better op-
portunity than during the afternoon OF
becoming acquainted with the women
of the party, but the experience was
not pleasant. She was made to under
stand that they regarded her not as
Bob's wife in any real sense, but rather
as his latest and most f1eeting fancy.
His marriage they seemed to look upon
as bizarre adventure, such as might
happen to any man in their set who
was looking for amusement
There was more dancing curing the
evening. Miss Wyeth continued to
monopolize Bob, and Lorelei was Of
Tended to note that his resistance gave
signs Of weakening. She smothered
her feelings, however, and remonstrat-
ed gently, only to find that he was in
no condition to listen. The dinner had
been too much for him.
There were many gayeties to enliven
the party, and, although outward de-
cencies were observed after a fashion,
Lorelei was sickened by the sheer
license that she felt on every hand.
She had.a wild desire to make her ex-
cuses and escape from Fennellcourt,
but Bob had disappeared, and she gath
cred that he and Bert were playing of
some fabulous wager in the billiard
room. Pleading headache, she ex-
cused herself as soon as she could.
$50 sorry" said Mrs. Fennell; then,
with a knowing laugh: There's no
likelihood of Bob's annoying you for
some time"
Once in her room, Lorelei gave way
to the indignation that had been slow
ly growing in her breast. How dared
Bob introduce her to such people! II
this was the world in which he had
moved before his marriage, he had
shown his wife an insult by bringing
her into it. Surely people like the Fen
nells, Bert Hayman, Mrs. Thompson
Bellaire, the Madden woman, were not
typical members Of New York's exclu-
sive circles! Applied to them, smart
was laughably inadequate term; they
were worse than fast; they were frank
ly vicious This was more than gay
weekend party; 1t was an orgy. Lore
lei's anger at her betrayal was so keen
that she dared not send for Bob imme-
diately for fear Of speaking too vio-
lently, but she assured herself that she
would leave in the morning, even
though he chose to remain.
Still in blazing temper, she dis
robed and sat down to calm herself and
to wait for her husband. A half-hour
passed, then another; at last she sent
maid in quest of him, but the report
she received was not reassuring; Bob
was scarcely in condition to come to
his room Lorelei's lips were white as
she dismissed the servant.
By and by the music ceased. She
heard people passing in the hall, and
distinguished Betty Fennell's voice bid
ding good night to someone. Still she
waited.
When at last the door opened Hay
man stood on the threshold, peering at
her. She saw that he was considerably
drunken than when she had escaped
from his attentions, but evidently he
knew quite well what he was about.
kindly get out, and close the door
after you," she directed, still without
raising her voice.
The intruder took no warning from
her crisp tones nor from the fact that
her twilight eyes were as dark as a
midnight sky. She stepped to her