The Washington times., 1918-07-28

AS Ior Ineooora, no living man could do
anything but admire her, and Sir Patrick
was not an Irishman for nothing.
Hector behaved with tact; he did not at
once fly to his darling. But presently she
found him beside her. And the now habit
ual thrill ran over her when he came
near. He saw the sudden. conYulsive
clasp Of her little hands together; he knew
how he moved her. and 1t gave him joy.
The next batch of arrivals contained
Lord Wensleydown. who showed no hesi-
tation as to his desired destination In the
saloon. He made bee-line for Theodore.
and took low seat at her feet
Hector, with more caution. was rather
to one side. Rage surged rp In him. al
though his common-sense told him as yet
there was nothing he could openly object
to In Wensleydown's behavior.
The little picture of these Eve people
Barbara engaging Josiah. and the two men
vying with each other to please Theodore
was gan and wormwood to Mildred.
Freddy Wensleydown had always been one
Of her most valued friends. and for Hector
she had often felt she could experience a
passion
Lord Wensleyd0wn was exceedingly
ugly and exceedingly smart, and was
known to have specially attractive methods
OF his own In the art Of pleasing beautiful
ladies'. He was always unfaithful, too, and
they had to make particular efforts to re-
tain him for even a week.
Hector knew him intimately. of course;
they had been In the same house at Eton.
and were comrades Of many years stand
ing, and until Theodora's entrance upon
the scene, Hector had always thought of
him as coarse, jolly beast Of extremely
good company and Quaintness. But now!
He bad no words adequate in his vocabu-
larry to express his opinion about himl
To Theodore he appeared an ugly little
man, who reminded her OF the statue of a
satyr she knew in the Louvre. That was
ALL
At this juncture Lady Harrowield, ac-
companied by Morella winmarIeigh. her
lord, and a certain Captain Forester, ap-
peared upon the scene.
Their entrance was the Important one
Of the afternoon. and Lady Ada and Sir
Patrick could not do enough to greet and
make them welcome.
The saloon was so large and the screens
so weH arranged, that for the first few
seconds neither of the ladies' perceived the
fact Of Theodora's presence. But when it
burst upon them, both experienced unpIeas-
ant sensations.
Lady Harrowfeld's temper was bad in
any case on account of the weather, and
here. on her arrival. that she should find
the impertinent upstsrt who had made her
look foolish at the Anningford luncheon.
was an extra straw. -
Morella felt furious. It began 10 dawn
upon her this might be Hector's reaNon in
coming, not herself at all: and one Of
those slow, internal RACES which she sell
dom INDUCED in began to creep IN her
veins
Thus 1t was that poor Theodore. sllsHn-
conscious OF any evfl was already sur
rounded by three bitter enemies-Mildred
Lady Hsrrowfield and MQrella winmar
leigh. II did not.look as though her Mhit-
suntide could be going to contain much
joy.
1t was a good deal after six o'clock by
now. Bridge tables had already appeared
and most Of the company had commenrn1
to play. Barbara saw the look in Mildrn1's
eve as she came across and, ignoring
Theodore quite, tried to carry on Lord
Wensleydown.
"You must come, Freddy" she said.
Lady Harrowield wants to begin her rub
ber."
Barbara. knowing what this move meant.
and blushing for her cousins rudeness,
nervously introduced Theodore to her.
How d do" said Mildred, staring over
her head. Don't detain Lord wensley.
down, please, because Lady Harrowfeld
hates to be kept waiting"
Theodore rose and smiled, while she said
to Barbara: 81 am rather tired Maynt
I 90 to my room for a little rest before
dinner"
Take him. Lady Mildred. do" said Hec-
tor: I'VE don't want him." and he laughed
gayly. His beautiful, tender angel might
be a match for these people after all. Al
any rate he would be at her side TO protect
her from their claws.
Lord Wensleydown frowned Mildred
was being a blessed nuisance he said -
himself, and he insisted upon acccmrarv-
ing Theodore to the bottom of the greet
staircase. which rose to magnificent gal
leries in the hall adjoining the saloon.
Sir Patrick had advanced and engaged
Josiah in conversation.
He knew his guests ways and how they
would boycott him, and, with a serious
question like those Australian shares "on
the carpet" he was not going to have
inSulfad and rT1ffIad Inca