The Washington times., 1918-11-02

nearo nothing but the voice OF
those whom had sworn to obey.
l was in that mad rush through
Belgium I was wounded at Mau-
oeuge, or else should have fol-
lowed hard on the heels OF that
wonderful retreat OF yours. As it
was, I lay for many months in hos
pital I Joined again-shan I con
Tess it?-almost unwfllinEly. The
blood-thirstiness OF it all sickened
me. Thought at Ypres, but I think
that 1t was something of the cour-
age OF despair, OF black misery. I
was wounded again and decorated.
suppose 1 shall never be ft for
the front again. 1 tried to turn to
account some Of my knowledge of
England and English life. Then
they sent me here"
Here, OF all places in the worid!"
Philippe repeated wonderinEIy.
"Just look at us! We have a sim
gle line Of railway, a perfectly
straightforward system Of roads,
the ordinary number OF soldiers be-
ing trained. no mysteries, no indus
trtes-nothing. What terrible
scheme are you at work upon, Mr..
Lessingham?
He smiled
Between you and me-" he con-
fided, Il am not at all sure that 1
am not here on a fools errand- at
least 1 thought so when arrived"
She glanced up at him.
"And why not nowT
He made no answer. but their
eyes met and Philippa looked hur-
riedly away. There was a moments
queer, strained silence. Before
them doomed up the outline of
Mainsail Haul
you will come in and have some
tea won't your" she invited.
"If may. Believe me-" he added,
ait has only been a certain difndence
that has kept me away so long"
She made no reply, and they en-
tered the house together. They
found Helen and Nora, with three
or four young men from the depot,
having tea in the drawing room.
Lessingham slipped very easily into
the pleasant little circle II trife
subdued. his quiet manners, and a
sense OF humor which every now
and then displayed itself, were most
attractive.
Wish you'd come and dine with
us and meet our colonel, SIR" Har-
ASoA osANN nc was al mag
, dalen q few years after Major Fell
stead, and I am sure you'd md
plenty to talk about"
'1 am quite sure that we should"
Lessingham replied. May 1 come,
perhaps, toward the end Of next
week? I am making most strenu-
Gus efforts to lead an absolutely
quiet life here"
whenever you like, sir. We
shan't be able to show you anything
very Wild in the way Of dissipation.
Vintage port and a decent cigar are
the only changes we can make for
guests"
Philippa drew her visitor on one
side presently, and made him sit
with her In a distant corner Of the
room
'T knew there was something I
wanted to say to you" she began,
but somehow or other forgot
when I met you. Ny husband was
very much struck with Helen's i'm
proved spirits. Don't you think
that we had better tell him, when
he returns. that we had heard from
Major Felstead?"
Lessingham agreed.
"Just let him think that your let
ters came by post in the ordinary
way" he advised. al shouldn't i'm
sgine, from what I have seen OF
your husband, that he is a suspi-
cious person, but it is just possible
that he might have associated them
with me II you had mentioned them
the other night When Is he coming
back?"
Il never know" PhiIippa an
eli aDarAo@9 e..
night, perhaps in a week. 1t de-
pends upon what sport he is hav-
ing. You are not smoking"
Lessingham lit a cigarette.
@I fnd your husband" he said
quietly, rather an interesting type.
We have no one like that in Ger
many. He almost puzzles me-"
Phflippa glanced up to find her
companion's dark eyes fixed upon
her.
There is very little about Henry
that need puzzle any one" she COM
planned bitterly. "He Is just an
overgrown, spoilt child. devoted to
amusements, and following his fan
cy wherever IL leads him. why do
you look at me, Mr.. Lessingham, as
though you thought ] was keeping
something back? I am not, can
assure you"
Perhaps I was wondering" he
confessed, ''how you really felt to-
ward a husband whose outlook was
so unnatural"
She looked down at her inter
twined fingers.
"Do yeu know" she said softly,
"I feel, somehow or other, although
we have known one another such a
short time, as though we were
friends, and yet that is a question
which / could not answer. A woman
must always have some secrets, you
know"
"a man may try sometimes to pre-
serve his" he sighed, but a woman
is clever enough, as a rule, To dig
them out"
A faint 'tinge OF color stole into
her checks She welcomed Helcn's
approach almost eagerly.
"A woman must FIRST feel the
will" she murmured. without glans-
ing at him. "Helen. do you think
|, we dare ask Mr.. Lessingham to
come and diner"
please do not discourage such a
delightful suggestion" Lessingham
begged eagerly.
81 haven't the least idea Of doing
So" Helen laughed, $50 long as
may have-say just ten minutes to
talk about Dick"
Ito Be Continued Monday.