The Washington herald., 1921-08-04

CLxrII--A VOICE FROM THE
What passed between Enid Blair
and DR.. Langwell, Nancy never
knew.
She accompanied the girl to the
station and left her at the gate to
the Chicago train, which was due to
leave within the quarter hour.
II viii wait for you in the car
outside" she told her.
She had no wish to see Lanswell
again
IL was Enid Biair's affair now.
not hers. She hoped earnestly mat
the girl would come to her senses
and realize the folly Of her In
fatuation- That one brief morning
with Enid had brought her to real
ize that she was only very young
girl, spoiled by beauty and money
and Independence. but all woman
underneath Her bored sophistica-
tion hid a heart as susceptible and
generous as a school girls.
She didn't know how to play
Langwelrs game-her heart had
turned traitor-but she had tried
hlindly to follow the rules he laid
down.
1t seemed interminable to Nancy
waiting until the Chicago train
pulled out
But bnally the girl came.
Her step was dragging and her
hands fingered her veil. Nancy
knew IL was to hide the tears which
the veil would not conceal
She leaned over and opened the
door.
Hop I'M" she said eheerily. not
looking at her. Come back with me
to my apartment and well have
Anna prepare us an early luncheon
You're probably in need Of food by
this time il you had an early break
fast"
Enid shook her head. She seemed
unable to speak.
please come. I wish you would
really" said Nancy sincerely.
Enid Blair uttered the one word:
Home" and burst into tears.
Nancy gave the order to the
driver and leaned back in her cor
She felt that It was useless to
offer sympathy.
she knew that it would be good
for Enid Blair to cry. That tears,
the swift, light tears OF youth.
would wash away the poison OF
that~unfortunate ,infatuation; that
the only danger. the only aftermath
of that nl-adyised affair would be
its memory.
She dropped the girl at the door
TO her studio-apartment.
Let me hear from you soon, she
said warmly. squeezing her hands
in a silent proffer of sympathy.
Thank you. You have been very
kind. But 1 am leaving town.
Not Chicago?" escaped Nancy in
Voluntarily.
The girl shook her head with
trembling lips.
NO, not Chicago. Never Chicago
again"
Nancy drove back to her own
apartment with a heart curiously
lightened.
With Langwell gone, il seemed as
though the last link that bound
her TO an unfortunate situation had
crumbled and she stood erect and
free. the shsckIes powerless and
broken at Aer feet.
She wanted to do something to
celebrate her emancipation. She
half thought of collecting Connie
and Peggy Lewis and giving the
alter party, with tea afterward AZ
the Plaza. ostensibly to celebrate
Peggy's reconciliation with Reeve
Lewis, but in reality to announce
to her own heart and conscience
that she was free, herself, Nancy
Bernard. and none had the right
10 command her time or her serv-
ices.
With that thought in mind, she
hurried up to her apartment and
into the library to phone.
- Anna met her at the doorway, q
parcel in her arms.
70 It found this in the bottom Of
the hall closet where those people"
Annx's pronunciation of the Hard
ings was inimitable must have put
il when il came The postmark' s
nearly. four months olds.'
Nancy took IL curiously.
Suddenly her heart contracted.
IL bore a label. q color picture of
a dainty Dresden lady bearing a
beHowered hatbox above the words:
"Fleurette ct Cis"-and 1t was ad-
dressed to her in Gerry's unmis-
taxable handwriting.