The evening world., 1921-02-26

asked her to marry them. There was
| the Impoverished French nOhlemau
Of undoubted family, who would have
accepted her hand if-'but even she
had not been taken In by that.
| Andrew McManua, who had rushed
her madiy for a season and then gone
or and married a girl from home;
that bOy--what vas his namo-Who
hadn't a cent but said he would work
| for herl That fat old stock broker,
/ but his hands we're 80 wet ana
clammy. Then John, quiet but madiy
in love, with no brilliant proeDectss
and at last, Mel, hard and handsome
with his tank OF mines In the West
She had fancied herself in love with
| himl Love, love, what was isI
| The black marble clock interrupted
her with a wheeSy sound, 0ciockl
Fool. he ought 10 know enough 70
come earlier!
But he had not come at q. and Nina
flung out to buy something for their
evening meal that would not require
cooking, She could not bear house
keeping. She had never had TO do ~
before. she wouldn't do II now. IL
Mel thought she had married him 20
be a servant
The evening wore away, and atiu
| Nina looked eXpectantly at the clock.
She was relieved that John did not
come.
The next afternoon she waited
again, but she knew when twilight
had deepened In the room that he
would not come. A mood OF rebellion
| swept over her; she hated this crowd
cd apartment and the imitation mar
bic hall, the impertinent girl who car
ried her to her floor In the clattering
elevator, and the whole Harlem
neighbOrhood with its squalling
children and dirty streets.
She even hated Mel--Mel, who had a
certain hold on her when she was
with him, stronger will than her
own, a frightening Intensity.
BY Wednesday she had given uD
ali thought of Johns coming. Mel
was eXuberant over some new
scheme" and Nina began 10 work
out another plan OF attack for her
father.
The lunch dishes were still un-
washed. Nina was bent over a morn
ing newspaper reading intently, when
the buzzer sounded.
She had done her hair hurriediy. u
struggled about her face; her skin
looked sallow; she had covered her
self with an apron.
When the open door showed her
John Amory's face she started back
with a little cry.
'Oh. John, II / had Inownl' Then
pushing him before her, she brought
him TO her crowded sitting ROOM and
/, pulling the green portieres or. her
disordered dining room together Rh0
said. Just amuse yourself q mo-
mentI"
} To say that John Amory was
shocked was to put 1t mildly.
Mira had always been surround
ed for him with the odor OF I0Eury.
this Nina-why. she was an0ther
! woman. ~
In her own bedroom Nina pulled
or her apron in frantic haste She
swept the pins out OF hair and
brushed It with long strokes until.
cleaning with life. 1t snapped back
on her brush.
Pulling on a pair of gauzy SILK
stockings, she reached for her slip
pers, and then slipped over her head
a negiigee Of rose tulle that was IKE
a fairy cloud.
The transformation was now al
most complete-not quite-for she
put some color on her cheeks, a drop
OF perfume on her hair. She covered
the light above her dressing table
with pink shade.
A moment she stood doubtful.
Then her dimple showed in her cheek
and she turned and caught the. filmy
tail OF her negligee and very care
fully she secured II in the closet
door She swung the door of, the
closet to, with slam.
Then she gave a startled cry,
"Ohl"
Nina waited breathiessly for 4
movement from the next room, the
Johns reassuHng voice came torher.
Anything the matter3" 10
"Oh, John?"
Yes"
II don't like to--but I'm caught
here-I can't move" -
. "COming!" 40
She saw his head and sfouiderv
as no pushed aside the hangines.
"Its ridiculous OF me-Pm 50 sor.
ry-" Nina breathed.
John hesitated before he came
What a picture she made stahdinR
against the door! Her long darhChair
swung to her waist, and she turned
partly from him, showing the lovely
line Of her figure outlined there.
IF you could unloOse me-T'm
caught in the door"-she said IN thaf
liquid, appealing voice
John jerked open the door, nd
STOPPING lifted the tail OF her gown.
the lacy ruffles from her sleeve
brushed his cheek, the perfume that
was TO be forever assoc 'ated with hor
in his mind, 1Oated to him. ~
His face was flushed when he roee.
he was trembling a little. He thrust
his clenched hands In his pockets. He
got out Of the room as quickly as be
could. ar9
But Nina had cast her old aDeI over
linn again. When she came out a few
! minutes later. with her hair coiied in
her neck and the black dress that she
: had worn for two days In expectation
} OF him, she WIS glowing with the
knowledge that she had him lu the
, ollow OF her hands.
Are you glad 10 see me, John3''
! Nina asked, Civ ng him both her
! hands: II don't think you seem"---
} lie looked across at her. Something
about his eyes 80 dark, 50 full OF pain,
told her that she had made him
/ suffer Then why hadn't he Kissed
her? why he
81 brought you the money. Nina
, the thousand dollars" he said frown-
ing slightly I'm sorry that I'll have
10 ask you. but n Mr. Rogers can get
II back 10 rue by the middle OF next