The Washington times., 1920-12-28

frightened. where have you
been?
She started at me with unmasked
hostility.
you set in-through the windows
from the other ROOM" she de-
manded
why. l came In through the
door from the hall" | replied.
(which way?", asked Val. breath
lessiy. sagging against the old ma
hogany back OF her.
II came up the backstairs." / re-
piled. quietly. watching her care
fully as 1 spoke.
"Oh" Her tone held volumes OF
relief. Then she asked. sweetly.
would you help me to bed?"
NEARLY CHEERFUL.
you overtaSed your strength
getting out. didn't you?" / ques-
toned. as l helped her back among
the covers and felt my sympathy
go out to her at the sigh with
which she slipped back among the
soft pillows again.
Val looked up at me smiling, ac-
tually cheerful. i could see that
she found great satisfaction in the
thought that l hadn't seen Envy.
But j couldn't see why that should
make up to her for the upset
Evvy's visit must have caused
why didn't you ring for the
nurse II you wanted anything" l
asked. feeling that this question
had an important bearing on things
/ must know. "Is there something
/ can get from the .closet?"
Some one DhOned the pursa and
i had enough mercy to tell her not
to come back upstairs It'll my sup
per tray was ready. I'm better
much better. Anne. Yau can see
that. can't your"
Yes. l can see that" 1 replied.
coldly, not at all sympathizing with
Val who didn't suffer, who didn't
grieve over Shellys death. Even If
she had no business to care for
Sheldon Blake at all, it would have
been easier to forgive woman
who was capable of deep. heroic
emotions that shook the very ioun-
dations Of her life than to find any
excuse for a creature of petty dove
affairs.
We'll, then" went on Val, an
swering what I had said as we'll as
the thoughts which must have Sr,,-
ten themselves pretty clearly on
my face, you'll understand th.t
/ shan't need the nurse after to
night. But tonight I still wart
her. / don't think I'd like 10 lie
awake all through the dark hours
and remember poor Shelly-smiying
and young one minute. zone the
next"
This was the first tine since the
tragedy that Val had mentioned
Shelly. 1t brought a quick re.
Spouse.
HARD TO EXPLAIN.
'1ll stay with you. dear, if you
like" l said
NO. l might really need the
nurse for hypodermic. Have you
seen him." ASKED Val.
I'm going over tonight with
Jim. Virginia's been over, think
she wants to come and tell you
how peaceful he. looks"
PEACEFUL" Val shuddered "Shel-
don peaceful! Why. Anne, how
could he be when he lived so hard?
He just flooded the place with life
and magnetism. How could he be
peaceful when he saw death wait
ing to pound on him just as he
was living-just as he was get
ting"
Val stumbled and stopped. and.
fumbling for some thing to help
her out of her misery, / returned to
Virginia
"Jeanie's just come back from
Mason Towers. Shall send her to
you?"
Moo. What do need Of Virginia
Dalton's latest reports?" she said,
and If her voice was creamy now il
was thick and curdled. He liked
her once-for a while. didn't he?
And she almost threw away her
chance to go back to Pat for him.
And now she's happy. / wonder If
she knows he died in Envy Mason's
4rms?"
wal! That couldn't matter to
Jeanie," ! gasped.
mo. I suppose not. She adores
Pat too much to care a whit"
Do you care so much, DEAR"
The words fairly tore themselves
from the depths of my subconscious
self. and when / heard them rush
ing to overwhelm poor Val and
wrest her poor secret from her I
was petrifed with pity and with
regret for what I'd said. But in the
next second / stepped back in COM
plete astonishment. Val flung her
self high on the pillows and in a
wild gesture pointed a shaking
hand at me.
Get out Of this roomr' she
screamed. "Get out of this room
and don't you dare come into it
again"
ITO he ContinuedD.