The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-16

She wondered vaguely why all the time
she was talking TO Kim. Why had nus
bands always to be bores and unattractiye.
and sometimes even simply revolving, like
hers? Was II because these beautiful
creatures could not be bound to any one
woman? II seemed to her unsophistica-
ted mind that It could be very nice to be
married to one Of them; but there was no
use fighting against fate, and she person
ally was welded to Josiah Brown.
Lord Bracondale's conversation pleased
her. He seemed to understand exactly
what she wanted to talk about; he saw all
the things she saw and--he had read Jean
d'Agreve!"-they got to that at the end Of
the first half-hour, and then she froze up a
little; some instinct told her 1t was danger
Gus ground, so she suddenly spoke Of the
weather, in banal voice
Meanwhile, from the beginning Of din.
ner, Lord Bracondale had been saying to
himself she was the loVeliest white flower
he had yet struck in a path Of varied ex
periences. Her eyes so innocent and true.
with the tender expression Of a fawn; the
perfect turn Of her head and slender pillar
Of throat; her grace and gentleness, all
appealed to him In a maddening way.
she is asleep to the whole Of Iife's Dos
slbilities," he thought What can her
husband be about and what an intoxieat.
ingly agreeable task to wake her up"
He had lived among the world where the
a. Il -
any woman who could please man. was the
natural course Of the day It never even
struck him that II might be a cruel thing
to do. A woman once married was always
fair game; II the husband could not retain
her affections that was his lookout
Hector Bracondale was not a brute. lust
on ordinary Englishman Of the world. who
had lived aud loved and seen many lands
He read Theodore like an open book: he
knew exactly why she had talked about the
weather after Jean d'Agreve." It thrilled
him to see her soft eyes dreamy and lu-
minous when they first spoke Of the book.
and it fattered him when she changed the
conversation.
As for Theodore. she analysed nothing
she only felt that perhaps she ought not to
speak about love TO one Of those people
who could never be husbands.
Captain fitzgerald. meanwhile. was
making tremendous Roadway with the
widow. He battered her vanity. he enter.
tanned her intelligence and he even ended
BY letting her see she was causing him.
personally, great emotion.
At last this promising evening came to
an end The Russian Prince. with his
American Princess got up to say good
night and gradually the party broke up.
but not before Captain Fitzgerald had ar
ranged to meet Mrs Mcbride at Doucet's
in the morning and give her the benefit of
his taste and experience in a further shop
pink expedition to buy old bronzes.
We can all breakfast together at Hen
rvs" he said. with his grand manner.
which included the whole party; and for
one instant force Of habit made Theodora's
heart sink with fear at the prospect OF the
BILL as IT had often had to do in the olden
days when her father gave these royal in
vitations. Then she remembered she had
not been sacrificed to Josiah Brown for
and that even IL dear. generous
papa should happen to be little hard up
again, a few hundred francs would be
nothing for her to slip into his hand before
starting.
The rest Of the party. however. declined.
They were all busy elsewhere. except Lord
Bracondale and the French count-they
would come. with pleasure. they said.
Theodore wondered what Josiah would
say. Would he go? And II not, would he
let her go? This was more important.
Then we shah meet at breakfast to-
morrow" Lord Bracondale said. as he
helped her on with her cloak. That will
be something to look forward to-"
VIII it, she said. and there was trou-
,le in the two blue stars which looked up at
lin. Perhaps shall not be able to come:
ny husband is rather an invalid, and
But he interrupted her
Something tells me you will come: it
$ fate he said. and his voice was grave
md tender
And Theodore had never before had
he opportunity of talking about destiny
nd other agreeable subjects with beauti-
al Englishmen who could only be lovers
felt the red blood rush to her cheeks and
thrill flutter her heart. So she quick
ned her steps and kept close to her father.
vhO could have dispensed with this mark
+ affection.
Dearest child" he said when they were