The Washington times., 1918-11-22

IL the sword OF Damocles were
indeed suspended over their heads.
1t seemed only to heighten the mer-
riment Of their little repast. Philip
pa had ordered champagne, and
the warmth OF the pleasant dining
room, the many appurtenances Of
luxury by which they were sn.-
rounded. the glow OF the wine, an1
the perfume OF the dollhouse flowers
ypon the table, seemed in delicious
contrast to the fury OF the storm
outside. They all three appeared
completely successful in strenuous
effort to discuss, all disconcerting
subjects. from their minds. Lessing.
ham talked chiefly ofethe East He
had Travelled In Russia, Persia,
AfghanIstan, and India, and he had
the unusual but striking gift OF
painting little word pictures OF
some OF the scenes of his wander
ings It-was haIf-past nine before
they rose from the table, and Les
singham accompanied them into the
library. With the advent OF cof-
fee. they were for the first time
really alone. Lessingham sat by
Philippa's side, and Helen reclined
In low chair close at hand.
II think" he said, shat can
venture now to tell you some newA"
Helen put down her work. Phil
ippa looked at him In silence, and
her eyes seemed to dilate.
II have hesitated to say anything
about it," Lessingham went on, be
cause there Is 50 much uncertainty
about these things. but believe
that IL is now finally arranged I
think that within the next week or
ten days-perhaps q little before.
perhaps a little later-your broth
er Richard will be set at liberty"
~Dick? Dick coming homer
-Philippa cried. springing mp from
her reclining position
~DIck?" Helen faltered. her work
lying unheeded in her lap. ~Hr.
Lessingham, do you mean it?' Is IT,
possible?"
1T is not only possible" Lessing-
ham assured them. but / believe
that IL will come to pass have
had to exercise . little duplicity.
but 1 fancy that It has been sue
cessful. / have insisted that with
out help from an influential person
in Dreymarsh, I cannot bring my
labors here to q satisfactory con-
clusion. and ] have named as the
price OF that help, Richards abso-
Lutte and immediate freedom
heard only this morning that there Z
would belno dfnculty."
Helen snatched up her work and
CROPPED her way toward, the door.
ssslsJe via e1me baelE iRa 6eW !
minutess she PROMISED. AeP Solce
a little broken. I
LessinEham, who had opened the
door for her, returned to his place
There were no tears in PhilIppa's
brilliant eyes, but there was q faint
patch of color in her cheeks, and
her lips were not quite,steady. She 4
caught at his hands.
,"Oh. my dear. dear friendI" she
said. .'If only that light nightmare
part OF you did not exist! II only
you could be just what you seem,
and one could feel that you were
there in our lives for alvaysi feel
that want to talk to you so much.
to you and not the sham you What
shall I,call your"
'Bertram, please" he whispered.
"Then Bertram, dear" she went
on. "for my sake, because you have
my heart aches at the thought OF
your danger, and because-see how
honest AMI am q little afraid
Of myself-will you go away? The
thought Of your danger Il like .
to me. It all seems 50
absurd and unreasonRble-I mean
that the danger which fear should
be hanging over you. But think
hat there Is just q little something
back of your brain of which you |
rave never spoken, which IL was
your duty to keep to yourself. and
t Is just that somsthing which
brings the danger"
'I am not afraid for myself, PM
ppa," he told her. 'T took Q false
Itep in life when came here. What
{ was that attracted me do not
lnow. think II was the thought
'f that wild ride among the clouds,
md the starlight. It seemed such
! wonderful beginning to any en-