The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-30
THE INVOLUNTARY VAMP

gerous Q situation which formerly
had been merely pitiable.
Diana was thankful now that she
was going to California It seemed
to her excited Imagination that ode
continent was not near wide enough
to preserve her.
II she had stayed In New York.
of what depths of folly would she
not have been capable?
And then she remembered Stephen
Dale's steady dark eyes with the
tragedy and WEAKNESS in them. and
the strong mouth and chin with its
relieving cleft-and she knew that
all her fears were unfounded.
Whatever weakness her love
awoke in her. she could always
count on Stephen Dale!
She would be sheltered from even
the thought of folly. Besides Dale
was planning for a trip around the
world.
At the thought of that trip and
the seas that would soon stretch
between them, Diana's hand with
the powder pun dropped listlessly
into her lap, and she sat staring
unseeingly At her reelection In the
mirror.
Alex. coming in suddenly. before
she had . chance to alter her pose.
asked carelessly:
Dale Enters Into Discussien.
whats the matter. old girlf
Feeling a bit blue over leaving the
old crowd? Never mind. honey,
you'll be crazy about San Fran.
The salt of the earth live out there.
Princes. all of them; especially the
army and navy crowd. And I'll be
the proudest chap alive with such
a bride. Jove. you'll queen 1t over
that bunchv' 49,.
He drew her head down against
his shoulder and set his lips to her
ear.
'T say, what made Dale come
back. like thatT' he asked, rs he
released her. and she resumed her
powder process. Funny whimsical
sort Of q chap. isn't he? ! don't
believe your aunt. Marjorie. quite
liked his coming. do you? She
acted bit snappy. dare say
women get like that when a man
hangs around as long as they say
he has. Thinks she owns him and
all that. But. let me tell you. IL a
woman ever asked me why I did
something wanted to do. she'd
have the surprise of her life"
Diana smiNd. She was too busy
with her thoughts to place special
significance on her young husbands
words though she sensed somehow
that they were a yelled warning.
"Oh. Marjorie and Steve are al
ways disagreeing and making up
again. They're really very fond of
each other"
Fond of each otherr echoed
Alex. why. I understood he was
mad about her. Had been for
twenty years or some such rot"
Steve is only 80 now" corrected
Diana. But he and Marjorie have
been friends ever since she was a
girl. 1 suppose she. sometimes for
gets he's not a member Of the fam
ily."
Marjorie had acted bit authorf-
tative. she realized as. she thought
back over the incident. She had
been so occupied with her own part
in the little scene and the binding
realization that Dale's. coming
meant more than a mere belated
courtesy, that she had not taken in %
the full situation at the time.
She recalled now that Marjorie
had stared at Dale as though he
were an apparition and had said q
bit sharply:
For Heavens sake. how did you
get here?'
Train" Dale answered smllingiy.
But the yacht"
Had her put in at Cape May
Changed my mind about the trip.
DIANA" turning to her.
DO you mean to say that you
did a ridiculos thing like that just
to see these two children orr in
terrupted Marjorie. Steve, you're a
bigger idiot than I thought your
Marjorie" he laughed, you've
been telling me that same thing for
SO many years that I shudder to
think how your capacity for judg-
ing imbeciles must have increased
DIANA" again turning to her.
But aren't you going to the
Capes at alp persisted Marjorie
Perhaps" Dale had shrugged,
and had taken Diana's hand.
You need guardian" had been
Marjorie's opinion.
CHAPTER XIII.
A New Old Acquaintance.
Alex Leigh found cause to take
his young wife to task that very
night.
When they had retired to their
compartment after dinner. he yawn-
ed frankly and threw himself on
the hard reen-upholstered- couch,
tucking a pillow underneath his
shoulders.
Motion Of train always makes me
sleepy" he muttered.
Diana looked up from her maya
zine and nodded encouragement.