The Washington times., 1922-05-28

more than usually extravagant
kind, to make herself more than
ever attractive. No wonder the
awakening had been bitter!
Characteristically she thrust the
blame upon Lee. instead OF accept
ing It herself. even while she found
It impossible to cheat herself into
the belief that the girl had been
any wiser regarding the old mans
intentions than herself.
After a moment, with an effort,
she forced herself to speak more
quietly.
"Of course" she declared, "he 10
awfully old, and very old men never
know their own minds two min
utes together! You'll find II wiser
to make up your mind without too
much dallying, Lee. He may want
to back out later on. Not" i,h
another shrill laugh-"that being
tied up for life to any one quite so
senile is altogether enviable. when
one comes to think about 1t! can
imagine that Mr.. Jason Smithers
can be more than little trying on
occasions. He's pretty peppery. at
the best of times"-
Lee interrupted deliberately,
Aren't you taking a great deal
for granted?" she said. 81 am not
aware of having said or done any
thing to give you the impression
that ! have any intention of-of &C
cepting this preposterous offer!
p
But you are going to-"
Teresas voice was sharp. She
sat upright among the cushions.
and pushed the hair impatiently out
OF her eyes. Lee looked at her in
vague surprise, and reading the
glance Teresa flushed a little more
deeply
"Of course you are" she re-
peated "Youll be crazy i you
don't"
Lee made a restless movement.
81 think" she cried, that
should be mad If did. Why. it
it's unthinkable. Mr.. Smithers is
almost Old enough to be my grand
father
"Tc!ck," Teresa sCoffed 81 tell
you it's a chance in a million, Be-
sides"-she hesitated for a mo-
ment, and her eyes narrowed
things can't go on here as they
are. | can't have you on my hands
any longer, Lee. l limited as much
before you went to Surry; | told
you you'd have to marry. I'll
speak more plainly still tonight.
You've got to marry-or-or find
somewhere else to go. l simply
can't afford to keep you or dress
you-or have you hanging around.
It's no use mincing matters. You're
in my way now; as you yourself
said you'll very soon be in Terry's.
There's no room for the three Of
Us under the same roof, Lee"
She paused. eyeing the girl a
trifle nervously; then, before Lee
ould speak, she added:
Besides, you know, you said that
the very first proposal you might
have, whoever or whatever the
man. you'd accept"
Lee started. Her eyes had dark
ened. She was no longer flushed,
but very pale. Her lips were
pressed close together, and her
breath was not quite even. She
was conscious of suffocating
sense of bitter resentment-ando of
sudden, utter helplessness The
pride in her cried aloud to her TO
take Teresa's unexpected blunt
ultimatum in the same spirit in
which it had been flung at her.
Existence under Mrs. Dorice's
regime had been difficult since the
moment of Tom Dorice's death.
Lee knew that after tonight It
would be impossible. She had en-
dured dependence upon her step.
mother stoically until now; but she
could endure it no longer. Things
: had come to a climax; the breach
between them was open now.
Teresa had said I'M the heat. of the
moment and the bitterness tof her
angry disappoiatment that which