The Washington herald., 1921-10-16

steady gaze and 'winked back the
tears that rose to her eyes.
ssa'You mean-you couldn't care
little bit"
He released her suddenly AND
turned back into theatwilight Of the
drawing room. -,
A ,Cenfession. -s.,.N, /.
As though. suddenly bereft, OF
strength, she sank again into the
capaciohs corner of the divan,
lingering the folds of her gown
which she saw through swimming
eyes.
From, his post by the ymantel
where he lit a cigarette, extinguish-
ling the match with exaggerated
care. Dale spoke 'gravelyl -
e. Diana. I am going to tell you
something which I have never told
another living soul. r~thought L
could kick on some day without
ever having to tell II, but"-he
moved hts shoulders suddenly As
though easlngsa burden-"you have
a right to know"
He added something under his
breath which she could not quite
catch, but IL sounded like: What IL
my pain against your pride7"
He came over to the divan where
she waited. huddled and silent and,
seating himself beside her, took
both her hands in his.
'Di, "irs said; IT can never marry.
havsn'tsthe right, to love any
woman. There Is in my family
taint-a terrible somethins-that
| forbIdsr its ..,. -. -
Diana turned. wide startled eyes
upon him and shrank a little. He
pressed her two hands between his
palms. and went on with an EFFORT
at lightness- s..,- ...5.-.
ago an ancestor. went or his nut.
It crops up once in q while. It's
not particularly pleasant when 1t
does. I only found out "a few years
ago when my uncle died and left q
letter telling me about IL and di-
recting where ! should leave my
lInheritance and why. 1 almost de-
veloped the family scourge then,
but that year on the yacht gave
me back my, courage"
That was when you went away
without saying goodby,, and nobody
knew'1began Diana impulsiveiy.
He nodded, looking down at the
slim white hands clasped in his own.
so that it why there can be no
real life for me, Di. wanted you
to know"
Diana regarded him through wide
Questioning eyes. Instead Of shrink
ing from his confidence, she found
that 1t had lent him the charm or
mystery and drama. It made the
tragic WEAKNESS Of his eyes more
insistently appealing.
Does Marjorie know" she asked
bluntly.
He shook his head.
What Ne One Guesssd.
There was no need to tell her.
Marjorie refused to marry me vars
ago. Thank God?' he added, under
his breath.
But you love her, don't you?"
insisted Diana.
He looked at her curiously
through the twilight. It seemed to
her that he was searching his own
soul for a reply.
Il wonder IL I love Marjorie-or
whether / am devoted TO her rs
brother would be? 1 am happy with
her; but am never unhappy with
out her. II she married, I could
be best man at her wedding-I could
even give her away-if your
father granted me that privilege,
and should miss only her charm
ing companionship."
Diana drew her hands away and
rose.
Then you don't love herr she
said, with the finaIity of youth.
II couldn't see you married with
out wanting to scratch the eyes out
of the girl that got you"
He tried to laugh off her intensity.
Rising. he caught her hand and
pressed 1t boyishly to his lips.
Dear little Inconsistent vamp!"
Suddenly she was very close, her
hands clinGing to his breast, red
mouth raised invitingly, her slim,
young body quivering against him.
II love your she whispered. ct
love you Steve! I'll never love any
one else as long as live! Kiss mew
No mortal man could have resisted
that appeal.
With the young beauty. the lure
OF her in his arms, Stephen Dale
forgot his inhibitions. He crushed
her to him. feeling in every nerve
OF MIN the soft contours of her
Slim young body. And she yielded
up to- him with rapturous abandon
her lips and eyes and throat and the
tip Of each white finger
CHATTER ".
The Lash Of Pride.
At dinner an heIr later neither
Diana nor Stephen Dale gave any
sign of their encounter earlier in
the evening.
When Diana had broken out of
his arms and fed to her room, she
found there Madeleine Davis, with
whom she was to share her suite.
That young person was being
coifed by her hostess maid while
another unpacked a riot of lingerie
and gowns from a wardrobe trunk
up-ended on the floor.
Hell, Dill" Madeleine greeted her.
waving at her reflection in the
glass. Glad to see you! II 1 move
I destroy the work OF an hour on
nay head. Where have you been?
Marie says you arrived ages ago,
but she couldn't hnd you. I'll bet
you've found a new man and
vamped him before any of 49, rest
Of US have a chance at him."
Diana shook her head smiIingly
and went over to the mirror to re-
place the powder that Stephen
Dale's lips had removed. She
wanted desperately to be alone.
mo. Only an old beau! This
house party promises to be a frost"
Isn't your naval officer here?" in
quired Madeleine, screwing around
to view the effect OF her completed