The Washington times., 1918-02-14

Dora Vassell's death, and Esther
was living by herself at a magnih-
cent hOstelry on Fifth avenue. A
strange instinct had taken the un-
happy girl to one of the most splen-
did hotels in New York.
a must go where can drown my
self in life," she cried almost pas
sionately to Mr. Graves; "if I am
left alone with my own thoughts
shall go mad. Let me stay where
can watch men. and women. gaze at
the eternal comedy of human ife;I
have enough money to nay for my
seat"
The kind-hearted lawyer had
shaken his head, but Esther had had
her way; after all she was her own
mistress, and could carry out every
whim and caprice she liked to IN
dulge in. John Graves persuaded the
giZl, however, to promise him that
shs would settle down later in her
uncle's house in Westchester, a fine
place called Helm Court, and he was
now looking out for suitable chap
eron, and thought he had found the
exact person in the widow of an old
college friend Of his, a certain Mrs.
Meredith.
1t was about s o'clock and the
usual crowd Of diners was pouring
into the hotel, but Esther Yassell, sit
ting on sofa in the main hall, for
once took little heed Of the gay
Ecene.
Tonight, however, she was not go
ing to be mere spectator; she also
had her little part to play, her few
lines to recite. She had asked her
unknown cousin, Guy Hooking, to
dine with her that eveninO and she
was expecting him every moment.
Dress Clung Like Snakes
Skin.
The wide doors swun0 open, and .
woman entered. followed by q crowd
Of men She was a huge fair wom-
an. with tremendous shoulders, and
her black seGnin dress clung as close
to her form as . snakes skin. Es-
thers' lips eurled a little as she
swept by: this was the sort Of per-
sol she loathed, yet the woman had
her wedding ring right enough; and
her husband was too clever to di-
vorce her. in striking contrast two
pretty sisters came next, neat, We
tErned-out American girls.
Their father ard a young man eS- {,
corted them, the young man e=ident-
ly in love with the younger sister, q
dark-hairei, bright little person.
Then a woman tripped in, almost a
girl, very fair, slim young creature.
She wa3 dressed in plain white
fro:k, almost yirKinal in It's si2n-
piic;:y, ard she wore her hair just
waved back frarn her tace--=ondsr-
ful hair, too, the c,,lor OF ripe corn,
ali Cnaided 1y art. she had 4 vary
shy. shrinking manner, but her
mouth betrayed her, and explained
WHY every man turned to look a. her
and the women stared and muttered
to each other. Her mother came
with the girl, or the lady who passed
for her mother; also 4 Leavy-sncGi-
dered man. He was a theatrical
and had made the fortune
of the young actress.
Three men came il, and without
knowing why exactly Esther decided
that the one who walked last was
her cousin. He was 4 slim, fair
haired man and locked about thirty
two. He had good features, but tie
whole face was haggard. and the
eyes bore witness to nights Of dissi-
patton. His mouth was loose, and
his hands twitched a little. He was
continually playing with his watch
chain, the restless fingers never still
for long. He kept on laughing and
to a big stout man,
man who lived too well and owed
more to his habits than
to his age. This individual had
black, shiny hair and sharp twinElinS
eyes, a brutal mouth and a decided
stubborn chin. The third man Of
fered a striking contrast to the other;
he was short in statl-e and had
long, spidery arms; his face was
curiously repulsive By reasoE Of tn
ugly scar on the left cheek; his e;eS
we're green and venonous. and his
fair hair had s reddish tfrgs. Esther
noticed that q sort of horror that the
mark on his face bore q distinct lie.