Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-07-05

After dinner I.orelei 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 |
ms his latest and most tleeting fancy
His marriage they seemed to look upon
as bizarre adventure, sufh as might
happen to any man In their set whc
was looking for amusement.
There was more dancing during the
evening. Miss Wycth continued to
monopolize Bob. and Lorcle 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 I'M
no condition to listen. The dinner had
been too much for him.
There were many gayeties to cnliven
the party. and although outward de
ceneies were observed after fashion,
Lorelei was sickened by the sheer
license that she Tito every hand.
She had 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 aaheadaehe, she ex.
cusad herself as sooh rs she could.
$50 sorry" said Mrs. Fennell; then,
with knowing laugh: There's nc
likelihood of Bob's annoying you for
some time" .
Once in her room, Loreei gave way
TO the Indignation that had been SLOW
~ growing in her breast. How dared
BOB introduce her to such people.. If
this was the world Vim which he had
moved before his marriage, he had
shown his wife an insult by bringing
her into it. Surely people like the Fen
ncls, Bert Hayman, Mrs. Thompson
Bellaire. the Madden woman, were not
typical members of New York's exclu-
sive circles. Applied to them, smart
was lausliably Inadequate term: they
were worse than fast; they were frank
~ Vicious This was more than gay
weekend party; it was an orgy. Lore
loi's anger mt her betrayal was so keen
that she dared not send for Bob imme-
diately for fear Of speaking too VIC
.ently, 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
a maid in quest Of him. but the report
she received was not rcassuring: Bob
was scarcely in a 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
dressing table and pressed the pearl
push button, holding her finger upon
it and staring at Hayman. He moved
toward her, but she snatched one Of
the candestlclis from among her toilet
articles. swung it above her head, and
brought the weapon down. Hayman
reeed away, covering his face with his
hands and cursing wildly; then. Lore
lei, guided more by instinct than by
reason or memory, found Mrs. Fen
nell's chamber and pounded upon Its
door with blind fury. She heard stir
from the direction whence she had
come. and Hayman's voice calling
something unintcliglble; then Mrs.
Tenncll's startled face appeared before
her.
whats the matter? My dear!
You'll wake everybody in the house."
"your brother--forced his way into
my ROOM"
"What are you talking about?' Mrs.
Tanncll drew her guest swiftly inside.