The Washington herald., 1922-03-17
Continued from Yesterday.


The exact events that occurred
after Vic Barstowe's reckless def
anee hung at her accusers always
remained a blur in Jeanne's con-
science.
she had only a vague remembrance
OF what had happened after his cry:
Jeanne goes, 1 will go also"
she knew there had been a great
many expos;ulations and entreaties,
threats and ;ea-s-ths latter IN the
part Of Mrs. Barsto0e. She rcme,n-
oered vaguely that Vera DAYTON had
gone out noiseiessly as one shinks
away from s'oniire which one has
IT. before the ensuing conflaEration
scorches ones fingers.
BUT the main points which re-
malned as vivid as fire in her brain
were that Barstowe had turned his
pack upon them all: had offered her
mis- arm, with as much ceremony
as II she had been a duchess, and
had escorted her from the house with
the same outward nonchalance be-
lore the servants as IL they had
only been going out to keep a din
ner appointment.
Shall you need anything, dar-
nns ne asked, as he tucked her
INTO his car. Shall l 90 back and
get a bag for you?'
She shook her head mutely. For
the first time in her life it meant
nothing to her that she wore her
simplest gown, and was without a
change of any sort.
The ghttering trappings with
which the old Jeanne Dare had sur
rounded herself were indeed tinsel
at that moment,
Never again did she want to see
IN
ments which hung in her ward
robe All the expensive accessories
OF her dressing room, she would
Ike to have cast into the waters
of the sound.
Except for the need of the
warmth of her fur wrap to pro-
tect her from the chill breeze, which
blew across the frozen fields, she
would have stripped herself even
Of that emblem of the wealth which
she had gone through trickery and
subterfuge.
If she could have discarded the
sable coat that had been her
lather-in-laws gift, and stood in
the simplest black gown and
modest hat With its drooping lace
veil which she had worn for her
visit to Bonnicettrs apartment that
afternoon, and which still con-
- cealed her face from her husbands
anxious eyes, she would have
slipped away even from him and
gone back again to being the little
Western school teacher who had
foolishly thought that by her sheer
wit she could transform herself
into a brilliant cOsmopolite. 4. E.
A Quiet supper.
But the car was speeding on
through the darkness and she sat
Imply beside her husband, too
weary and heartsick even to ask
where they were going.
They turned in suddenly through
a modestly lighted gateway and
rolled up before low-rambling
house, which was somehow vaguely
familiar.
Vic sprang out and eld out both
hands to assist her to alight.
Remember this place." he asked
cheerily. It's the funny old road
house where we had tea that after
noon We were coming down to the
house party. We had such a nice
tea all by ourselves, and 1 almost
proposed to you that very after
noon, although I had only known
you couple of days"
She tried to smile. hiding her
trembling lips behind the folds of
her veil.
Why are we coming hereg"
Food. old dear. l am ravenous.
Ii would take too long to motor
clear in to the Ritz. and besides
neither of us are dressed for IL,
either sartorially or emotionalIy.
So l thought we would have a Jolly
little hot supper here and dope out
what we are going to do next"
Vic. you shouldn't have"
Jeanne was beginning as the men,
.0ry Of the evenings events swept
back in a flood.
Shh," He stopped her with a
. finger on her lips. You are not
going to tell me what ] should do
and what l shouldn't. Don't forget
that when you married me you
promised to obey"
In the darkness of the veranda,