The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-12-01

enemy within our gates"-
The prisoner, fraulein," said Won Hen
gel in q lowered tone, meant only for Con-
stance Masterson's ear. And then, you
cannot blame me personally for the &C.
tons Of my Government"
She shrugged Hardly. But I'd much
rather you weren't a-Prussian."
ooh, I say, Connie" Jessup's voice
broke In lazily. Conrad can't help that
any more than can help being a New
Yorker And, after ALL" he finished
gloomily, war is war, you know"
She glanced at him quickly. but made
no reply as she poured Won HengePs tea.
shall you be here long. Graf Won Hen
gel?" she asked.
mo. Only until tonight"
"Ohl And them"
Il shall leave America very soon"
A pause, and then slowly:
THAT is too bad she smiled. Il had
hoped In another year to make a good
American of you"
"Who knows what might have happened
had 1t not been for the war? But now
He paused and waved his pink hands
expressively.
"And now" said Miss Masterson coolly
and now our friendship Is over"
He turned his head as though he had
not heard her correctly. And then, "You
can't mean what you say"
Il do" she said, quickly. ut is unfor-
tunate. But do mean It"
The words came from her impulsiveIy
as though with sudden wrench. And
only after She had uttered them did she
realize how desperately In earnest she
was. This was to be q day of decisions.
She had realized for months the utter
simlessness Of her life In the face Of the
European crisis. but 1t had remri-~' FIR
Conrad Won Hengel and Alan Jessup to
bring her inefficiency into focus. As she
saw Alan talking easily with Mrs. Ather-
ton . few yards away she realized. with
Q kind Of shock. that Alan Jessup was no
other than he had been O month ago. q
year ago-calm, kindly, weary and ter
ribly bored. but always the gentleman.
Il was she who had changed. and she had
not known until this moment how much.
The moment was difficult for Captain
ron Hengel, but Mrs. Atherton, with an
air Of proprietorship which could not be
denied, rose and appropriated him.
"Malbrouck sen va-t-en guerre," she
quoted. Don't you hear the bugles.
Alani"
Jessup shrugged
Cant say that door care to-
Won Hengel showed his fine teeth in .
smile.
They that live by peace, my dear Jes-
sup" he paraphrased quickly, may per-
fish Of peace"
Constance Masterson understood his
meaning Their terrible philosophy-and
yet one exemplined here before her very
eyes.
Don't bother about rs, old chap" said
hands full" And then, You're going to
town tonight Can I take you in?"
Il should be delighted" said the Prus-
sian. He hesitated Q moment and then,
81 win meet you-here-at halfpast ten
Then he moved on In the wake Of his
hostess, leaving Constance Masterson
alone with Alan Jessup, who had taken
up his coat and hat with a sudden air of
alacrity which Indicated possible in
terest in the immediate future. But Con-
stance Masterson did not move. She
stood staring on down the road in the
direction In which the machine had van
ished. She seemed suddenly very much
alone. Alan Jessup waited patiently.
Come" she said at last. I'VE must be
getting on"
After they reached the house, her
mother and brother having returned from
town, Constance went up to her room.
where she could think Of her great de-
cision. As yet 1t was irrevocable. There
was still time to change ito go down
again to Alan Jessup, to greet him with
a smile and resume the old life as though
nothing had happened. She took up the
check that he had given her for the Bel
gian Relief and-five thousand dollars
looked at it, and then let it futter from
her finger to the desk. Her lips com
pressed in firm little line. She had made
her decisions, this one and the greater
One, and she would abide by them.
She went downstairs to dinner, and dur
ing the course Of the meal announced
quite coolly her intention to 90 TO Eng
and and Join the Duchess Of Barchester's
Red Cross Expedition. To her mother and
Ter brother Jack, with whom she had
spoken in q general way Of the project,
he matter was only news in the sense
hat her calmness seemed to indicate
lew degree Of certainty. and her tones to
how an accent Of hnality they had never
heard before. But to Alan Jessup, who
vas relishing an excellent pate, the an
had all the quality Of a bomb
hell.
"Oh, | say. Connie-you can't mean it,"
u do. I'm going as soon as can make
he proper arrangements"
But I can't understand" he muttered
And then again as though bewildered, 81
ant understand" .
The general conversation upon the sub
ect which followed did not shake her.
Alan Jessup, after his first outburst, sat
Iloomily silent as the real meaning Of her
was slowly borne in upon
lin. And. after the coffee, followed her
tut upon the terrace, whittier she led him
or his coup de grace, dimly aware now
or the first time that she had weighed
lin in the balance and found him wanting.
what made you think Of this, Connie?"