The Washington herald., 1921-05-21
,xW-A rwo-EDGED WEAPON.

CxIv-A Two-EDGED WEAPON.
The first person Nancy saw In the
exclusive little millinery shop which
she always patronized, was Dr.
Langwelrs friend, Miss Blair.
Seated in q low chair before .
mirror. she was surrounded by hats
Two saleswomen hovered over her.
holding up tempting creations OF
flowers and feathers and tulle-
TN take this one and the one
With the paradise plume and the
little Talbot model over here, she
was saying as Nancy passed
She looked up. and seeing Nancy,
drzwfed:
How do you do. Mrs Burrard
How II Connie Stanley this morn
ing? I meant to call up and in
quire, but D was too beastly busy
I thought I'd ask Freddie this al
ternoon-"
Nancy smiled graciousiy. She was
q tribe amused at the girls anxiety
TO proclaim her friendship with DIR.
LangveIl Nancy being . woman
knew that such anxiety betokened
lack of confidence in the existence
Of such q relationship.
-ConnIe Is q tride better this
morning. she replied we were
very worried last night"
.-oh, Freddie win pull her through
all right" said the girl airtly.
twirling q hat on her forennger.
He never let's anyone die. Do you
know him weIl?"
His wife is an old schoolmate OF
mine. I've just returned from a
viaff IN her in Chicago"
OH The girl raised her brows.
shes rather-er-queer,t isn't sheF
She's a very lovely and very in
telligent woman" said Nancy quiet
ly.
The girl laughed and crushed the
hat down over her shining hair.
"'Nufr safdi You can't damn a
woman more utterly than by calling
her intelligent 1 have a vision of
herr
NO matter how beautiful II is, It
could not do her Justice" was
Nancy's quiet reply.
She was trying desperately to
control her temper. There was
something about the Blair girl that
got under her skin
She had a sudden Inspiration, and
decided wickedly to try 1t out
Drawing a step nearer and taking
advantage of the temporary absence
of the saleswoman, she said in
low tone:
-Of course, you notice how un-
happy the doctor Is? 1 think it's
splendid of you to be so nice to him.
/ NAV seem to be a bit disloyal.
but the fact of the matter is this:
He is a very lonely and deeply dis
appointed man. Edith Is great
beauty. Men admire her very much.
She can't bear the doctor. 1t Is his
great trial. He has wealth and po-
sition and fame, but he can't have
love; so he tries to fiIl his empty
life with the friendship of women"
Miss Blair was staring at Nancy.
almost open-mouthed- Gradually
the color had come creeping into
her cheeks and her assurance was
noticeably lessened-
'T-you-you must be mistaken,
she stammered. Freddie told me"
He is very proud" said Nancy
softly. He would never admit 1t,
but l don't believe he will ever love
any woman in the world but Edith.
The rest are just temporary diver
sions, something to fil in the empty
hours"
She was beginning to enjoy her
own fabrication. She was getting
double satisfaction out of the
knowledge that she was striking a
blow for Edith and humbling this
arrogant young thing at a single
stroke.
Peggy Lewis came flying in at
that opportune moment
"Dr. Langwell is outside in the
ear, Nancy. 1 met him on the ave-
nue.. He said he was lunching with
you, so picked him up and brought
him along"