The Washington times., 1918-06-23

~ EFoRE she went to bed in her hotel
n in the Rue de Rivoli, Monica EIler-
wood wrote to her aunt.
The letter was quite long and full Of
special information about Hector.
Paris, May 18th.
Ny Dear Aunt Milly-We have had a
delicious little week, Jack and I; quite like
an old honeymoon pair-and to-day we
ran across Hector, who has remained hid
den until now. He is looking splendid,
just as handsome and full Of life as ever.
so it does not tell upon his constitution.
that is one mercy! Not like poor Ernest
Bretherton, who, If you remember, was
quite broken up by her last year.
"And have one good piece Of news for
you dear Aunt Milly. do not believe he
is so frantically wrapped up in this Es-
cIarmonde de Chartres woman after all
in spite of that diamond chain at Monte
Carlo. For tonight he took US to dine at
Armenonville- although Jack particularly
wanted TO go to Madrid-and when we got
there we saw at once why!
There was a most beautiful woman din
ing there with a party, and Hector never
took his eyes on her the whole Of dinner.
Jack says-I had my back that way-and
he got rid Of US as soon as he could and
went and Joined them. Very young she
looked, but l suppose married, from her
pearls and clothes-American, probably, as
she was perhaps too well dressed for one
Of US; but quite lady and awfully pretty.
Hector was so snappish about it, and
would not tell her name, that IL makes me
sure he is very much in love with her. and
Jack thinks so. too.
$50, dear Aunt Milly, you need have no
more anxieties about him, as she can't
have been married long, she looks so
young, and so must be quite safe. Jack
says Hector is thoroughly able to take
care Of himself, anyway, but know how
all these things worry you.
IF can find out her name before / go
| will, though perhaps you think 1t is out
of the frying pan into the fire, as it makes
him no more in the mood to marry MOrella
Winmarleigh than before. Unless, of
course, this new one is ulkind to him.
I'VE shall be home on Saturday, dear
Aunt Milly, and I will come round to
lunch on Sunday and give you all my news.
Your affectionate niece,
MONICA FLEETWOOD"
Which epistle Jared upon Hector's
mother when she read II over coffee at
her solitary dinner on the following night.
Poor dear Monica!" she said to her
self. 81 wonder where she got this strain
trom-her fathers family, ! suppose
Wish she would not De so bald.'
Then she sat down and wrote to her
son-she was not even going to the opera
that night. And II she had looked into
the tall mirror opposite, she would have
seen a beautiful. stately lady with a
puckered, pIaintive frown on her face.
II a woman absolutely worships a man,
even IL she is only his mother, she is
bound to spend many moments of unhap-
piness, and Lady Bracondale was no ex-
ceptiOn to the general rule.
Hector had always gone his own way,
and there we're several aspects OF his life
she disapproved Of These visits to Paris
his antipathy to matrimony-his bore
dom with girls-such nice girls she knew,
too, and had often thrown him with!-his
delight in big-game shooting in alarming
and impossible countries-and; above all,
his absolute indifference to Morella Win
marleigh. the only woman who really and
truly in. her heart Of hearts Lady Bracon-
dale thought worthy Of him, although she
would have accepted several other girls
as choosing the lesser evil 10 bachelor
hood.