Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-11
CHAPTER XXI.

! down SLOWLY, extending MS nanQ, q
hasty explanation on his lips.
"How do, Mr.. Forester"
ooh, how are your" said Forces
ter. who gave him a short look, an
abrupt hand-shake, and began to
struggle out of his coat.
We've just been practicing the
steps for the minuet, Amy's going
to be stunning"
'The what?"
"The minuet-the Versailles fete
you know"
"Ah. yes"
Were counting on your being
there"
Kind of you"
Dawson felt that Forester no.
ticed his embarrassment and that
being an intimate of the household
demanded that he should say some
thing more.
"How are things in Mexico?"
WHAT"
Conditions all right in Mexico?"
he continued, shifting to the other
foot .s.e# .
"About the same"
Staying long?"
Don't know"
"Amy'll be surprised" -.
Forester gave no answer. To
Dawson the door seemed miles
away. He swallowed hard, num-
bled something and departed, ours
ing the impulse which had made him
tell an unnecessary lie.
Amy was content with herself. 1t
seemed to her that even Andrew,
had he been present. would have
been proud of her. She knew that
she was unwilling to punish her
self by losing the boys de-
votion, but she had handled the
situation so firmly, if with kindness,
that he could have no doubt of her
loyalty. Moreover, she had gained
in his eyes, and the memory of the
new alteration she had seen on his
face gave her a spiritual satisfaction
which she thoroughly believed she
deserved. AS for the effect on Tody
at this moment in her life she was
skeptical of the great passion OF
love which novelists harped upon
and newspapers dressed up in SEN
sational colors. To her, it was a
question of propinquity, comforta-
bic sensation such as the emotion
that made her seek strength from
her husband; a logical thing, born
of respect and admiration rather
than of any uncomfortable passion.
She had never known its fever, its
anguish of desire, its obsessing
specter, and she doubted its exist
ence.
at was the only sensible way
to handle him-the dignified way"
she repeated, glancing about the
room. His card had fallen by the
sofa. She picked it up smiling and
was about to tear it up, when Nor
ley rushed in.
"Beg pardon, madam, but Mr.. For
roster is down stairs"
"Mr. ForresterP she said, vaguely
alarmed by the sense of precipitation
in the maids entrance.
"Yes, madam, l was passing in the
hall and / heard his voice talking to
Mr. Dawson. I'm certain Of tt"
Below, the outer door slammed.
She remembered suddenly that Nor
ley was watching her, and angrily
aroused herself.
f"There must be some mistake-go
and see" she said abruptly
The maid departed. She was alone,
Tody's card in her fingers. She
noticed it, and started to hide it
in the front Of her negligee.
mo, mol have done nothing
wrong-why should ] feel like this"
she said impatiently, her ear strained
to catch the slightest sound. The
next moment she heard the power
full fall of her husbands step on
the stairs. ~ -.t
"Why Andrew, it isn't possibleP
she cried, going to him with out
stretched hands.
81 was called up rather suddenly"
he began, then his glance fell on
her negligee, and he stopped short.
The face, already set in nervous ir-
ritation, become ali at once hard,
concentrated, and bitter Before
this look she recoiled as though he
had stepped out from behind mask.
In prophetic flash, she saw what
he might become if he should cease
to love her, and, seized with horror
she cried, warding him from her.
"Oh, Andrew, don't look at me
like that!"
He continued to look at her. His
eyes blazed and the color went out
Of his face. He turned, closed the
door and said.
Il met that young Dawson in the
hall" She was too overcome with the
shock to her heart to comprehend