The Washington times., 1918-06-23
CHAPTER v.
Her Dream Of Bliss.

mally, and hers was against the opening.
so that It proved easy for Lord Bracondale
to come up behind her unperceived.
She believed he had gone. She could
not see distinctly from where she was but
she had thought she saw the automobile
whizzing by. She recognized Mrs. Eller-
woods hat An UNCONSCIOUS feeling OF
Darkness came over her. She grew more
silent.
A lady beyond the Prince spoke to him.
and at that moment Mr.. Hoggenwater rose
to put down her coffee cup. and in this
second Of loneliness deep voice said In
her ear:
81 could not go-I wanted to sqy good
night to you!"
Then Theodore experienced new emo
ton: she could not have told herself what
it was. but suddenly a gIsdness spread
through her spirit the moon looked more
softly bright and her sweet eyes dilated
and glowed. while that voice, gentle as
doves, trembled little as she said:
Lord Bracondale! Oh. you startled
mel"
He drew a chair and sat down beside
her.
How shall we get rid OF your American
millionaire?" he whispered. Il feel as II
wanted to kill every one who speaks to
you tonight"
The half light. the moon. Paris. and the
Springtimel Theodore spent the next
hour in a dream-a> dream Of bliss.
Mrs. Mcbride, with her an-saefu~ Eve.
perceived the turn events had taker. She
was full Of enjoyment herself. she was
quite-almost quite-decided to listen 70
the addresses Of Captain Fitzgerald. there
fore her heart. not her common sense. was
uppermost this Di0ht
IA 60. Hnwd
evening Of agreeable conversation. and II
would do Herrymsn Hoggenwater a great
deal Of good to be Obstacled; thus she ex-
pressed II to herself That last success
with Princess Waldersheim had turned his
empty head. So she called him and planted
him In a safe place by an American girl.
who would know how to keep him. and
then turned to her own AFFAIRS again.
The Prince was a man Of the world and
understood life. So Theodore and Lord
Bracondale were left in peace.
The latter soon moved his chair to a
position where he could see her face.
rather behind her still. which entailed q
slightly Ieaning-oVer attitude. They were
beyond the radius Of the lights in the
bosquet.
Lord Bracondale was perfectly con-
versant With all moves In the game; he
knew how to talk to q woman 50 that she
alone could feel the strength Of his deYo-
ton. while his demeanor to the world
seemed the least compromising.
Theodore had not spoken for a moment
after his first speech. 1t made her heart
beat too fast.
81 have been watching you all through
dinner" he continued, with only a little
pause. You look immensely beautiful to
night, and those two told you so. / sup
pose"
Perhaps they dial" she said. This was
her first gentle essay at fencing. She
would try to be as the rest were, gay and
full Of badinage.
And you liked it?" with resentment.
'Qf course did; you see, never have
heard any Of these nice things much
Josiah has always been too i'll to go out
and when I was a girl / never saw any
people who knew how to say them
She had turned to look at him as she
said this, and his eyes spoke a humber Of
resentful, and Jealous. and full Of some
thing disturbing. Thrills ran through poor
Theodore.
His eyes had been capable Of looking
most Of these things before to other
women. when he had not meant any OF
them. hut she did not know that
WELL" he said. they had better not re-
turn or recommence their compliments.
because am not in the mood to be polite
to them tonight"
What is your mood?" said Theodore.
and then felt little frightned at her own
daring.
my mood is one Of unrest would like
to be away alone with you, where We could
talk in peace" and he leaned over her so
that his lips were fairly close to her ear.
THE people jar upon me. ! would like to
be sitting in the garden at Amalf. or in a
gondola in Venice, and I want to talk about
all your beautiful thoughts. You are a new
angel from the other women in the world"
"Am -" said she, in her tender tones.
II would wish that you should always keep
that good thought Of me. We shall soon
go our different ways Josiah has decided
to leave next week and we are not likely
to meet in England"
yes. We are likely to meet-I viii ar
range It." he said
There was nothing hesitating about
Hector Bracondale-his way with women
had always been masterful-and this quail
ity, when mixed with a sudden bending to
their desires, was peculiarly attractive.
Tonight he was drifting-drifting into a
current which might carry him beyond his
control.
It was now several years since he had
been in love even slightly. His position,
his appearance, his personal charm, had all
combined to spoil nature capable Of great
things. Life had always been too smooth.
fortune.
(contlnued on NexI Page.)