The Washington herald., 1921-03-19
Lx-wTrH NANCY IN CHARGE.

Ddlthss maid opened the door of
the sick room at Nancy's light tap.
You may so down to breakfast
now Nancy whispered. 'T'li stay
with Miss Fleurette"
She walked over to the bed and
looked down at the injured girl.
what q lovely creature she was.
in an extrsvagant sort Of way. Her
eoDpery hair was disordered. as II
she had tossed restiessly during the
night There was a bright flush on
each cheek. and violet shadows lay
under, the closed eyes.
Fleurette's mouth was not pretty
in repose. It was coarsely full and
IRREGULAR in outline-the one mar
ring touch TO her beauty-the touch
that betrayed. Crimson and smiling
over even white teeth, as Nancy had
seen II that day in the shop. its tell
tale lines had not been noticeable.
Az she stood looking down at the
girl, clad in Edith's nightrobe. she
was thinking. curiously enough, not
OF the girl. but of Edith's apparel.
she remembered the sheer, lace
friifed garments that had been
Edith's at school; the ribbons and
rosettes dear to the heart OF the
boarding school napper.
:. The price of the nightrobe Fleu-
retts wore would have purchased
half q dozen of the nuffy garments
Of those sby-gone days And some-
hew II, represented the woman Edith
haa~ become. Made of finest SILK
its uncompromising lines. its mod
estly cut neck, its lack of all adorn-
msnt save q primly embroidered
Monogram. expressed the new Edith
whoc was q stranger.
And it's not a pose" thought
Nancy with q sigh, she doesn't
even abandon 1t when she sleeps.
The girl on the bed turned rest
iessfy, as II she sensed q strange
presence, and Nancy moved to a
chSir by the window. But her eyes
never left her patient.
Suppose suddenly the girl should
sIfpy from that grey mist Of semi
consciousness into the blackness Of
the Unknown? Suppose she passed
on--inte- etsrnal- oblivion with two
questions unanswered?
f-she ala, Edith would never
Ahow the truth about that whisper
ed. Freddie, I'm so glad it's you!"
She would always suspect.
The mystery of Gerry's check
would also be left unsolved, and
Nancy would be without the trust
and confidence which was her great
est ally and defense.
A deep-drawn sigh from the girl
brought Nancy to her feet anx-
iously.
As she bent over Fleurette IT
seemed to her ready Imagination
that a subtle change had taken
place in her appearance.
was the bright flush receding to
a grayish pallor?
She rang hastily for Edith's maid.
II seemed an eternity before the
girl cames her eyes questioning.
Miss F1eurette seems worse. /
am little frightened. Did the doc
tor leave. any instructions for an
emergency
II was to give her three drops
Of this IN a wineglass of water"
The girl handed Nancy a small
with Hands not quite. steady.
Nancy measured out the dose, stir
red 1t. and held IL to Fleurette's
lips
but the girl was. beyond swallow
ing. and little 81 the medicine
reached her throat: most of 1t tric-
kfed out Of the sides of her mouth.
and was gently wiped away by
Nancy.
The latter was now seriously
alarmed by Fleurette's condition.
She was also thoroughly incensed
At DR.. Langwell for leaving the girl
professionally unattended.
II seemed criminal negligence.
"A sudden binding thought came
sto her while she sat watching the
Unconscious girl.
Gould IL be possible that the doc
tor would rather F1eurette did not
ycsvydsht. fssi. " wheeler syndie.s.)