The Washington herald., 1921-04-16

LXXXIy-CHANCE FOR ESCAPE
Edith's maid was brushing 9
Nzncy's hair as she lay stretched
On couch before the IRE in her
dressing room. when there was
Hight tap on the door.
Edith entered III response to
Eaacy's call. looking more tired and
white than usual
You poor dear! Are you ready
to drop? Here. lie down on TINS
comfortable thing"
Nancy sprang OF the couch and
began to nun up the cushions Tor
Edith's occupancy, but the latter
made a little gesture of refusal,
and seated herself in a chair. clos
ing her eyes with a sigh Of utter
-Let me send for some broth or
hot tea" urged Nancy. You look
all In"
I'm not hungry, only terribly
tired. / should like to sleep through
eternity, I think-like Fleurette."
: Nancy sent the maid away, and
going over to Edith, took her cold
hands IA her own warm ones and
rubbed them gently.
-Frederick tells me you are going
away tomorrow" said Edith DULY,
Nancy. why do you go when I need
you 30 much?"
Nancy was momentarily at loss
for an excuse.
--Connie needs me, too. II seems.
And there are other reasons why l
ought to go home. I'll come back,
raallv
You've only to send me a wire"
Edith sighed and pressed Nancy's
hand absently.
sYou've been very good to give
me SO much of your time You've
had a wretched visit. I know-vhat
with the accident, and F1surette's
death
sTs she-are you
She will b buried tomorrow,
Edith answered the question evenly.
Il shall attend the services, and
wish you would accompany me,
Nancy, unless you really feel that
dressmaker -
SSH Nancy laid a hand over
Edith's mouth. DO you think I'm
a miserable snob? Aren't we all
equal in death7'
Then you will conner
.But Pm leaving on the Twentieth
Century" --.
wait for the Lake Shore. Every
thing will be over by then"
In an Illuminating flash Nancy
realized two things: First, that DR..
Langvell did not intend to be pres
ent at the simple ceremonies which
consigned Fleurette's beautiful body
to the earth; second. that he had not
told Edith that he, too, was leaving
for New York.
Nancy made an instant decision.
By remaining over for the later
train she could successfully evade
Langven without seeming obvious
ly to do 50. What excuse he would
make for his visit to New York she
could not guess, but granting that
II was professional 1t would be awk
ward for him to- change his train
at the eleventh hour.
She remembered that she had also
Connie and Curtis Stanley to con-
the two trains. undoubtedly. She
choose the Lake Shore
So she said to Edith:
I'll be glad to accompany you,
Edie- think you're a perfect peach
to do all this for poor Fleurette.
Your goodness makes me feel like a
selfish. frivolous little beast. Had
Fleurette no relatives?"
Apparently not. Nancy, / only
realized today how awful 1t is to die,
when one dies in the house Of stran-
gers and can command only the cas-
u9l consideration which human de-
cency accords the passing df p soul.
I have wanted to die so many times
Fhen the world looked SO fearfully
black. but never like that Plefse
God, never like THAR she whispered.
You're morbid, dear. Such a
thing could never happen to you
with your homes and servants and
and husband"
Husband" echoed Edith, and the
smile that accompanied the word
was sadder than tears.
ocSpyrsht, isz1, by whsslsr syndies4s, Incl