The Washington herald., 1921-04-24

thing inherently at war with the leashed
restlessness this and the sword her father
had suspended, had served to protect her
up to the time she met Eric Lenmore-
She hrst met him in the little ivory and
black and gold sitting room Of her own
pocket apartment. Leila Ford brought
him there. Leila was another Of those
girls with promising" voices who nutter
so precariously round the enchanted lights
Of the strange big town. She had for a
long time been talking of her fascinating
British major and wanting to bring him
to call, but Perdita, because she didn't
care much for Leila the men she was
apt to choose. had never warmed to the
suggestion. Odd. that the very week Leila
was to sail to sing for the soldiers over
seas. the very last occasion Perdita would
probably have been thrown in his way,
she should have agreed to meet this man.
She did 1t because it was a rainy. dismal Z.
Sunday; because she felt dismal, too; be-.
cause she had a headache. And. then. be-
cause she was blue and had a headache,
at the last minute she almost telephoned
them not to come. Almost-but she
didn't. - . 10
:, Maj. Lenmore was handsome to look at.
A towering figure in that little room. but
! extraordinary 1.-THE and graceful for all
its height and weight; a breadth of color
upon. the olive drab of his left breast
Leila had told Of his decorations for
bravery-and stripes on the olive drab
Of his .sleeve-Leila had told, too. of the
wounds which had >"inyalided" him the
third year of the war; darkish hair grow
ing thin at the temples a lean. long face.
deep set blue eyes with asnetwork of little
wrinkles at the corners. and a stern look
ing mouth. That is, 1t looked stern at
hrst-while he sat quiet. listening to
Leila'sc chatter. ..
For Leila was doing most of the talk
y ing. Perditas head was throbbing; she
sat relaxed. in . gold colored armchair
with the light from "a gold shaded lamp
falling upon her soft blue dress, upon her
}, hair very, black and her neck and face
: very white,i upon her long dashed. languid
eyes and her compressed. family smiling
mouth. Though it was not Perdita who
s was talking, 1t was at her the man looked.
He noticed when she lifted her hand and
: gave a little. involuntary pressure to her
temples. .. ~ 1850
He leaned forward.
"a headache?" he asked. His voice, low
pitched. was not musical. yet 1t had Pc
culiar clipped vibranee which made 1t
seem musical. sEE
=. Perdita nodded. ~
; '.will you let me cure 1t for your"
"or exclaimed Leila, "can you rub
F away headaches; major" -
Lenmore shook his head. NO. he said,
Z almost curtly;s then. glancing at a cigar
cite box on the table beside her, he went
on Ito Perdita:
= - ,s"Smokinga-with q headacher;S
y "No-Fve sworn off,
!. Leila answered for her less briefly.
"Perdita, you know" and Leila laughed,
is q scream, major--she's always swear
ing OF cigarettes. just so she can go at
them harder than ever!" =
Il don't seem able to do anything by
halves" Perdita explained. in a voice al
= once listless and touched with bitterness
mo-" said Lenmore, ssyou are not able
:, to do anything by halves - S :,
Il He. was regarding her attentively. re-
( laxsd there against the gold cushions of