The Washington herald., 1921-01-20

When Major Desmond presented
himself promptly as the little
clock in the drawing room was
Ginning the half hour after 5, he
was met by a smart. trim Nancy,
hated and veiled and gloved in
fashion to bring admiration even
from blase Chicago.
You look like a bride off for a
honeymoon" he exclaimed involun-
tarily, and for no apparent reason,
Nancy blushed.
But though the remark was pure
ly gallantry. it established a queer
restraint between the two.
Almost in silence they proceeded
downstairs in the elevator and en-
tered the waiting car. where a bor-
ed youngster in buttons with the
coat of arms of the apartment
threaded in gold on his military
collar slowed Nancy's tnot incon-
siderable luggage at their feet.
The need for speech as the car
rolled away became imperative, so
Nancy began an aimless chatter ig-
noring the steady gaze of the young
man leaning back in the shadowy
corner Of the motor.
Will you be gone long,?
Desmond's quiet voice cut in
abruptly upon an account of a
party Curtis Stanley had given the
week before.
Nancy paused helplessly.
This quiet, masterfuI manner was
discOncerting. Recalling the days
before her marriage. she remem-
bered that she generally held the
reins and set the pace herself She
felt defencefess before Desmond and
wondered if she had become rusty
at the game during three years of
marriage.
Il haven't quite made up my
mind" she answered with a brill
liant smile, summOning to her aid
the old trick of keeping the ad-
versary from suspecting any lack
of confidence, 1T depends upon how
ever, my-friend will be leaving
in day or two to catch her boat"
Il expect to have to make Chicago
on business the latter part of the
week" said Major Desmond casu-
ally, IF you decide to remain over
the weekend, we might return to-
gether"
Again Nancy felt a little twinge
1t was so neatly, so unobtrusively.
so naturally. done.
"A splendid idea" she agreed,
with apparent enthusiasm, deter
mined that the weekend would
find her safely established in her
New York apartment.
"HeFa af
ready" she added relievedly, as the
car rolled up under the Grand Cen
trail viaduct.
"Awfully good of you to see me
on" she said later at the train
gate, extending a slim-gloved hand,
Shall I send you a post card with
the usual message: Am having a
fine time. Wish you were here?
she asked audaciously.
IF you could-by chance-mean
it, he replied gravely, crushing the
hand in his own.
Nancy's gay laugh echoed back
to him bravely as she slipped
through the gate and followed the
porter laden with her luggage down
the long platform to her car
What man?" she gasped to
- Ilc 10 IHe Eng
lish for taking things seriously! Oh
well, those who fall quickly, fall
easily, and fall often. He'll prob
ably be making love to Peg Lewis
or Connie by the time 1 return"
She settled herself comfortably
for her journey, the suitcases and
hat boxes disposed to the best pos
sible advantage; her travelling bag
conveniently at hand; her hat in
trusted to its neat paper sack in
the rack above, pillow behind her
back, and a hassock beneath her
slim suede-shod feet.
Just before the limited pulled out
porter-the same who had stag
gered under her luggage-can,e
bearing an armful of offerings.
There were flowers fashioned into
a corsage bouquet large enough for
an Amazon, two novels, a huge bosrI
of bon bons, several magazines, and
a beautifully carved bottle of eau
de cologne.
''rypicauy English" thought
Nancy, as she slowed the booty on
the opposite seat who but
Britisher would be so medievaI as
to think of eau dc cologne for the
feminine traveller of today?"
She glanced at the card thrust