The Washington herald., 1921-06-21

Curtis Stanley had invited in a
number of friends for dinner that
evening Nancy discovered when she
returned home, still smiling over
the way Philip Harding had unwit-
tingly opened to her a means OF
eyading his unwelcome attention.
Poor old Gerry" she said to her
: self, as she dressed for dinner. "As
il he'd ever be so selfish as to
make me promise not to marry
again IL he died, Gerry is too fine
for that Langwell might be cap
a BILE Of it Even il he were very
dead his vanity would receive a
blow if Edith ever looked at an
other man. But Desmond-I don't
know"
Raising her elbows on the dressing
table, her chin on her crossed palms.
she stared refiectively into the
mirror"
She was pretty! The light on her
blond hair. the creamy color of her
bare shoulders, the sheen of the
silver gown that encased her slim
figure were undeniably attractive,
she admitted to herself. She was
creating a good deal of trouble for
a number of people she frankly
realized. As long as only men sur-
fered she didn't mind, but the
thought that she was involving
Edith and perhaps-according to
Peggy Lewis's gossip, even Connie
Stanley-was disquieting.,
Back Of all these disturbing
thoughts was the conviction that
her interest in DIR. Longwell was in
creasing rather than disappearing
as she had confidently expected.
Harding had been easy to handle.
Curtis Stanley-if there was any
truth in Peggy's insinuatiOns-
would be another and much more
difficult matter. And beyond all
others was Maj. Desmond, the most
formidable of all because he was in
earnest.
Not that she feared Desmond. He
was as fine and big and as conf
pletely a gentleman as Gerry Bur
rard, but his very devotion and his
UnQuestionable belief in his right to
love her made him an undetermin-
able factor. She felt for him none of
the fascinations that DR.. Langwell
exerted upon her, but what was
more dangerous. her admiration of
his sterling qualities and her own
uneasy sense of unfair play made it
impossible for her to dispose of him
as she would have done with the
others.
As if in answer to her thoughts.
the maid brought up Desmond's
card.
Mr.. Stanley has asked Maj. Des-
mond to stay for dinner and the
major wishes to know II he can
see you for a few minutes in the
library"
Tell him that I'll be down di-
rectly."
Nancy abandoned her meditations
and completed her toilet in short
order.
Before leaving the room she
went back and looked at herself
again in the pier glass. She felt
somehow, through the intuitive
power which is undeniably woman's,
that she was on the eve of a dra-
matte moment. and being thorough
ly a woman, she wanted to be sar-
torially prepared to meet it.
Her survey completed to her own
satisfaction. she went down to the
library.
Desmond was standing at the
window with his back to the room.
his hands thrust into his pockets.
staring out into the darkened
street.
He did not hear her footsteps on
the thick rug. He was unaware
Of her presence until she laid her
hand on his arm and looked up at
him with smiling eyes.
For one instant before he had
opportunity to get himself in hand
he looked down into her eyes and
Nancy drew back before the in
tensity of the love she read there
He took a step after her, grasp
ing her by each elbow.
Nancy" he said huskily. I've
got my orders. I have to go back
to England. Will you come with
me7'