The Washington times., 1921-01-23
A Throbbing

joy!-snd she held out her hand.
"Anthonyl" she breathed.
hardly knew you-you look Son.
how good Il is to see you'll"
.Adela-Adelal" he murmured,
conscious that be was the less self
possessed OF the two. He cond
hardly hear his own words. Tor
something like an orchestra was
crashing and billowing In his ears.
"And it's youl" he added. "AdeiA'
You will never know what JOY II
is to see you'll" She did not an
swer, but the sudden Frightening
OF her smile into his eyes was IKE
an embrace. The radiance OF her
face appeared somehow completed
and supplemented by a quality OF
more tender sympathy. OF a more
tolerant wisdom. A new poise and
frmness seemed to control her.
"Anthony - Anthony" she MUIR
INJURED, half closing her eyes. rs
though she loved to utter the word.
Then suddenly she spoke brtskfy.
1--WE can't stand here-can we! It's
horrid, but there's no place here
where we could talk. I'll be on
duty a little later-could you come
TO Clarice's studio at the Rubens-
say, at seven, I'm living with her
until Douglas comes back from
France-did you know1 What
heaps of things to hear and tell!
He understood perfectly her irref
evance. But time was precious.
"Could ! wait for you hereY"
"Oh, no." She laughed with q
little shudder. Don't wait here.
Come at seven-not the old studio,
YOU know-two flights above"
"Are you wellT" he asked.
"Fine!" she answered brieny.
"And happyf" he said. She made
a little moue and with a laugh put
out her hand.
"IIl tell you everything - at
seven"
How exquisite were all her move
ments and phases! His eyes clung
to hers. With a little wave OF the
hand, however, she left him and
hurried away to the row OF ele-
vators.
Outside the door he found him.
self engulfed in a jostling throng
of pedestrians hurrying in the Win
try dusk; he was like a sleep
walker among them. What should
he do with himself for.the next two
hours and more? His mind was
awhirl as he turned toward Fifth
avenue and then toward Washing.
ton Square to take a bus up Firth
avenue. When he reached wash
ington Square he decided to walk.
Her words, her gestures, her look
glowed in his mind--surely she was
happy to see him! He could not
be mistaken. He walked like q
spectre in the throng. for 1t did not
exist for him. He walked into the
door of his club, then turned abb
ruptly and went forth again. He
must keep moving. He walked up
to Central Park, stalking solitary In
the paths amid the bare Wintry
landscape. He retraced his steps
and returned to Fifty-ninth street.
He looked into the lighted Plaza
and then resolved to go direct to
the "Rubens." regardless OF the
time, and wait there.
The dusky maid greeted him
with a broad grin Of an old friend.
Yes. Miss Adela was in. her 5es'
come in. Would he wait In theah !?
Certainly! And she moved away
leisurely. presumably to a kitchen.
This was assuredly an improve
ment on the old studio-in size-in
furnishings-those rugs! Old Doug
sic must have been coming money
before he left to make a home like
this.
Where would he begin in telling
Adela all that he had to tell her?
II only that letter had reached him
when it was meant to reach him !!
The wasted time Of pain! He heard
a step and in a moment Adela, In
a frock of soft, shimmering satin,