The Washington herald., 1921-07-19
CLxTY-A RECKLESS DECISION


Edith was not easily convinced.
1T hurts me to doubt you, Nancy.
I would have taken my oath on your
loyalty, but the stories that have
reached my ears from New York
disinterested stories, by the way
cannot be overlooked. ! knew that
Frederick was ceasing to care for
me. but 1 had the comfort Of know
ing that his attentions to women
had the safety Of numbers and were
unworthy Of serious Interpretation.
He was philandsring, but no one
had yet taken my place in his heart,
and felt. somehow, that with your
assistance / could get him back.
Bat you turned traitor.
Nancy flushed crimson; not with
guilt. but with shame that she
sh6JAd ever have let herself in for
situation in which that term
could be applied to her.
Edith, that Is a horrid word and
one which you are using without
pTovocation! There is nothing upon
which YOU could base such an ac-
CuSatioU, except the fact that DR.
York Please remember that j am
NeNf % aDOuN NAACC
women in this town"
Edith turned to look at her again.
Trs ruddv Light of the setting sun
-clnE down over the Palisades IL
iumiratei the cab and accentuated
the startling pallor of Edith's face.
That transient glow, of youth and
radiance. which Nancy had seen
there on the night before Fleu-
fA hAd
forever The weary lines about
Edith's mouth and Iistless eyes. the
Noodles cheeks. were indelibly
marked. they rad been placed there
~ thg slow. lingering, painful
death of NOpc.
"ssancy.~ said Edith. slowly.
''wbatCv,- you are, you can't be so
StSilled a. deception as to deny that
Frederick loves you"
-T do deny it," fiared Nancy. "Dr.
LanSwell loves no one but himself.
Women are only food for his in
satiabIc vanic. II you don't be-
lievs me. go to him and ask him
II he loves me. I'll tell you now
what his answer will be-"
He would lie, of course. Fred
erick is above everything a gentle
man
Nancy's smile was twisted
Il wonderi"
She was thinking of the last night
she had seen him. of his invitation
to supper, of Enid Blaire's cigar
stte case in the dressing and
of Edna Deans hurried trip from
Chicago.
1T is not particularly sporting to
81 10 Nd
even IL your affair with him has
brought you into an embarrassing
situation" said Edith coldly but
then, dare say women of your type
have no loyalty even to their
lovers"
Edith
Sancy's voice was horrcr-stricken.
She gazed at Edith for a moment
il comri-'e disbelief that she could
have heard Alright, then she buried
her face in her hands.
Il hope you will not take refuge
in emotion" Edith went on. ''Of
course. / realize that this is a scene
which. il properly played. should
be accompanied by dramatics; but
loathe such things, don't you! Let
us at least be dignified. There is
no denial possible, for either you
or Frederick. The problem now Is
TO decide what is best to be done
for the future
Nancy flung up her head defiantly.
Il will not be condemned withour
being heard%
She raped on the glass at the
drivers back and gave an order.
The machine stopped. turned around
and started back across the PARK.
Where are we going?' asked
Edith.
ITO DR.. LangwelHs apartment
You're going to make your charge
against me before him.
(copyrisht, 1871. By the Mcclure syndieats.) }