The Washington herald., 1920-04-26
Remodeling Wife By s::: &c: 60 s:,''"

CXII-LIla's Strange Behavior.
Doris left Anne's cheerful apart
ment feeling an unwonted sense of
depression despite the philosophy of
that indomitable soul. Everything
| seemed wrong with the universe and
Doris herself experienced a sense of
hopelessness-why, she could not
, have told. BY nature she had been
the most sunny little person. and as
she expressed it whimsically to her
self, it was only since she had
learned to think that she had be-
come unhappy.
An distracted mood is not the
best in which to drive a car. At the
| corner of two intersecting streets
| taxi, recklessly rounding the curb,
brought her quickly to earth. She
applied both fNot-brake and emer-
gency and brought her car to a
standstill just in time to Craze the
right rear wheel of the taxi.
Several passers-by had shouted a
warning and a frightened face ap-
peared at the window of the taxi
which had likewise come to aIfull
stop.
Even through an enveloping chif-
fon veil, Doris recognized Lila Dem
al est and waved a greeting, as she
sprang out of her car.
To her surprise, Lila drew back
into the gloom of the taxi and she
heard her voice, queerly agitated,
urging the chauffeur to be on his
way.
Lila" cried Doris. running to
frighten you to death?"
She opened the door upon a
shrinking Lila, who reached out
an unsteady hand and drew her
into the cab.
Don't attract attention, for
heavens sake!" she implored. ''Just
let me go my way without asking
| questions"
Doris quick glance took in the
travelling bag on the seat opposite.
you're leaving town? Why
didn't you tell me? 1 was expecting
you for lunch tomorrow"
To her amazement. Lila covered
her veiled face with her hands.
please CO." she whispered.
Lila, you act SO strangely. You
frighten me-"
please CO." repeated Lila.
Hurt to the heart. Doris climbed
out of the cab and returned to
her own car.
She was more shaken than she
knew bye the narrow escape from
| accident, as well as the strange
scene with Lila. She drove home
| in maze of conjecture. shot with
the horrid fear that Lila had been
about to do something desperate.
When she had turned the car over
to Carrington's chauffeur. she went
up to her dressing room and col
lapsed on the couch.
The conviction, was growing upon
her that Alex Mhncaster had some
thing to do with Lila's strange ac-
ton, and she shuddered at the
thought of the chaos that would
crashs through five lives. Lila and
Alex had been driven to the wall
and they Were undoubtedly taking
what appeared the easiest way.
Doris had learned how to suffer:
she knew the sensations of the
badgc"ed and hunted: she wondered
If things should ever come to that
state whee she would accept the
refuge that Harvey Gatewood's con-
fession offered her.
She raised her head and looked
around the charming room. The
firelight from an open CRATE cast
soft glow over the rose-paneiled
walls. Rose brocade draperies were
drawn to shut out the rainy night.
A white bearskin rug before the
hearth overlaid tho. rose velvet one
and rose satin mules and a rose
peignoir lay spread to the cosy
warmth of the fire.
Everything was there to make
woman happy-Carrington never
stinted his home. no matter how
he limited his wife,s expenses.
Doris wondered, with strange de-
tachment. why she was not SUI
perbly Shappy. The old Doris would