Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-02-10
CHAPTER XXI,

] LuSluR TO see NlQlt lot SuS IGdllLSQ
that there must be some readjust-
ment or the broil would become
public, and conclusions would be
drawn which would be disagree
able, especially after the public ref
erence she had received. Neverthe-
less, he should have telephoned
before claiming admittance at such
an hour. She excused herself with
out explanation.
When Morley returned with his
note, she took it eagerly frowning,
yet relieved, for she sought way
to close the incident. She tried the
edges, to make sure they had not
been tempered with, composed her
expression, and read the jerky
scrawl.
You must see me. I'm miser-
able; / must explain or l don't
know what I'll do.
Further down as an afterthought
was added:
You can say it's about the cos
tunes for the Versailles fete.
But that's true, we must decide"
she thought Immediately. How
could have forgotten that?"
The Versailles fete which she had
| planned was quite the most impor-
tant event of her whole life. There
were a hundred details to settle, dec
orations, costumes, music, lighting,
but above all there was the minuet
Of honor, which she was to dance
with Dawson, Gladys Challoner, and
Young Pardee.
Il simply can't give that up" she
said miserably, and this last eventu-
atty seemed to her the GROWING
burden of her successive misfor-
tunes. How silly of Tody to spoil
everything by acting like thatl
What am to do? And everything S
announced"
The more she considered the
scrawled note the more the ques-
ton of the ball emerged from the
background and dominated the stu
alton. There was absolutely no pos
sibility of replacing Tody Dawson,
who danced like an angel, according
to modern conceptions of celestial
paradise.
eyes; l must see him. / must see
him if only to find out what | have
done that he could misinterpret.
Eyes, that's it." she said, relieved at
having acquired a nobler reason
than her own personal need. Il
must KNOWN order not to make
another mistake"
She turned to Morley.
"Tell Mr.. Dawson l can see him
for ten minutes" n
Downstairs, madam"
She reflected. There was a morn
ing room off her apartments which
would not be exposed to busy ears.
mo, in the little gold salon"
When Dawson came stumbling
in, head hung and plucking at his
glove, she was waiting by the piano.
mo; leave the door open" she
said as Morley started to close it.
For door that is closed is door
with excellent ears.
The maids footsteps died in the
corridor. All that he had rehearsed
fled from his memory. In two years
the girl with whom he had danced,
flirted and played had assumed au-
thority and poise. He fell like a
school boy caught in an absurdity.
Good heavens, if ! say | was
tipsy, she'll never forgive me" he
thought. ...
"Well?" she said in cold interroga-
tion without relaxing the forbid |
ding statliness of her pose.
Il can't explain" he said, drop
ping into a chair and taking his
head in his hands. Amy. I'm
wretched. l wouldn't have offended
you-you of all the world-Good
Lord, I'd cut off my right hand
first"
rs the boy really in love with |
mel" she wondered, and she added |
more gently, but you must ex-
plain. You owe me that"
Il can't; i'll only make it worse,
he said desperately.
"But what have / done? What
mistake did / make"
"You? Good heavens-youl What |
What do you mean?" he said, look
ing up terrified.
what l can't understand" she |
repeated firmly, is where I've been
"YoSu' Good Lord, Amyl Are
you crazyf"
resolved now to treat him like a
boy, IF you took such a liberty, |
what did you expect me to dor
At this he looked so utterly
crushed that she began to feel
little pity. ),
"Don't be too hard on fellow"
he said, getting up and walking to
the window with real emotion; for
in his effort to convince her of the
depth of his passion, he had begun
to convince himself. Men have flung
away their existence on just such
turns of comedy.
Il suppose he's in love with me,
the romantic boy" she thought I'M
pressed by a spasm which shook his
shoulders. Nevertheless, as she was
genuinely concerned, she repeated
well. what did / do wrong!
aGood heavens, Amy, be human,
have a heart" he said, lapsing into
familiar slang. DO you think |
knew what was doing? Men don't
do things coldbloodedly. We some
times lose our heads" he added bit
teriy digging his nails into his
palms. "But whatever you think
good Lord, Amy, you mustn't think
that for a moment ever believed
you-you cared-that ! meant any
thing to you-that-Oh, Lord,
don't know what l am saying.
He stopped and looked at her,
and as he saw her standing before
him, so near and yet so far beyond
l., "a rndiant and 50 frapile. with |