The Washington times., 1918-07-21
Ccontinued from Preceding PaseD


ings leaped to his brain.
How dared Wensleydown. How dared
any one! All, God! and he was powerless
to prevent it. She was the wife of Josiah
Brown over there, smiling and complacent
to see his belonging dancing with a mar
quis!
Hector. dearest what is the matter?'
exclaimed Lady Anningford. coming up at
that moment to her brothers side. She
was with Colonel Lowerby. and they had
made a tour of the rooms on purpose to
see Theodore. You appear ready to muir
der some one. What has happened?"
Hector looked straight at her. She was
a very tall woman, almost his height, and
she saw pain and rage and passion were
Swimming in his eyes, while his deep voice
vibrated as he answered:
Yes, want to murder some one-and
possibly will before the evening is over"
: Hector Crow. leave me with him, like
the dear you always are" she whispered
= to Colonel Lowerby, "and come and find
me again in a few minutes"
Hector, what is it?" she asked, anx
iously, when they stood alone.
Look" said Lord Bracondale. Look
at Wensleydown leaning over Theodora"
He was so moved that he uttered the name
without being aware of it. did you ever
see such cursed cad as he is? ! cannot
bear it,
'He-he is only dancing with her" said
Anne, soothingly. What had come to her
brother, her whimsical. cynical brother,
who troubled not at all, as a rule over
anything in the world?
"only dancing with her! tell you
will not bear It, Where is the Crow? Why
did you send him off? I can't stay with
you; I must go and speak to her and take
her away from this
Hector, for Heavens sake. DO not be
so mad" said Lady Amin gfoTd, now
really alarmed. "You cant go up and
seize a woman from her partner in the
middle of a waltz. You must be COM
pletely crazy! Dear boy, let us stay here
by the door until the music finishes. and
then / will speak to her before they can
leave the room to sit out
She put her hand on his arm to detain
him, and started to feel how it trembled.
What passion was this? Surely the Crow
was right, after all, and it could only lead
to some inevitable catastrophe. Anne's
heart sank; the lights and the splendor
seemed all a gilded mockery.
At that moment MOrella Winmarleigh
advanced with EVermond lie Mesurier-
their uncle Evermond-who, having other
views for his own amusement, left her in
stantly at Annes side and disappeared
among the crowd.
o' JfHow impossible to find any one in this
crushI" Miss Winmarleigh said There
was a cackly tone in her voice, especially
when raised above the din of the music,
which was peculiarly irritating to sensi-
tive ears.
Hector felt he hated her Anne still
kept her hand on his arm, and flight was
hopeless. Just then a Royalty passed with
their hostess, and claimed Lady Aiming
fords attention. so Hector was left sole
guardian of Morella Winmarleigh.
She cackled on about nothing while his
every sense was strained watching TheO-
dora, to see that she did not leave the
room without his knowledge. She was
whirling still in the maze of the waltz.
and each time she passed fresh waves Of
rage surged in Hector's breast, as he per
ceived the way in which Lord Wensley
down held her.
",
the opera last night" exclaimed MOrella.
at last How in the world did an outsider
like that get here, I wonder? She is quite
pretty, close-don't you think so, Hector?
Oh. forgot, you know her, of course; you
talked to her last night. | remember"
Hector did not answer; he was afraid
to let himself speak.
Morella Winmarleigh was looking her
best A tonged. laced. hounced best; and
she was perfectly conscious Of il. and
pleased with herself and her attractions.
She meant to keep Lord Bracoudale with
her for the rest Of the evening if possible.
even if she had to descend TO tricks
scarcely fattering 10 her own VANITY.
do let us go for a walk" she .id. Il
have not yet seen the flower decorations
- in the yellow salon. and 7 hear the, are
particularly fine"
Hector by this time was beside himself
at seeing Theodore cOnvorgiug with her
partner toward the large doors al the
other end of the ballroom.
"No." he said. Il ana very sorry. hut /
am engaged for the next dance. ana must
90 and hunt up my partner. Where can
take you?"
Hector engaged for dance? An un-
known thing. and. Of course. untrue. What
could this mean? Who would b." dance
with? That colonial creature This must
!,e looked into and stopped al once Miss
WinmarIeigh's thin under-Iip contracted
and a deeper red suifused her blooming
cheeks.
Il really don't know" she said. Il am
quite lost and am afraid YOU can't leave
me until ! find some one TO take care of
me" And she giggled girlishly