New Britain herald., 1922-02-27
I SAB E l.
CHAPTER I.

Why, Frank, You're back again and safe." The young woman in mourning held out her hand to the chauffeur. My aunt wrote you were prisoner in Germany" It's fine to see you. Miss Fay" re- turned the chauffeur They turned us loose after the armistice." He hes ,tated. "I-ld like to say, miss, that we all felt something terrible-the servants. mean--when the news came about poor Mir. Tudor He shut the door and. climbing in behind the wheel, drove down the village street. l'ay's soft blue eyes lad blurred at the reference to her brother, but she winked back the tears determinedly. Sandy Cove was one of the most exclusive of summer colonies and Fay looked at the superb estates which had once been so familiar with q sense of bewiderment. Everything seemed just the same. just as she had remembered 1t, and yet there ap- peared to be a subtle, intangible diff ference. Could it be merely her nerves again, those wretched over taxed nerves which had driven her from her reconstruction work in France?
 She leaned forward impuisively.
 My aunt and cousin; they are both well, Frank
 Yes, Miss Fal?"
 Fay sat back once more. Dear Aunt Clara. Her uncle's widow was as close to her as her own blood, and laurel, her cousin had been like a little dark-eyed, vivacious sister.
 The car swirled up the driveway. and halted before the steps of the wide porch, upon which slender, white-clad figure stood.
 Fay had only time to note that the piuuant face seemed as childishly naive as ever before her cousin fold ed her in tense embrace
 "Oh, Fay. Fay. l thorght that transport never would get in' Laurel, dear. Fay kissed her warmly and mounted the steps to meet the gracious figure advancing toward her.
 Mrs. Tudor was thirty-seven and looked twenty-ti five, with the delicate tender irregularity of feature which just escapes actual beauty. Every thinG about her was pretty; her blond hair and soft blue eyes and the rose leaf skin, which was inno- cent of the slightest line. Her still girjishly slender figure moved with a slow rhythmic grace
 Later, during the meal Fay studied her aunt and cousin covertly.
 note fin Laurel's vivacity which betrayed nervous tension.
 She was p,lzzling over it when the giri remarked:y
 "Yor haven't asked about any of the old crowd. Fay. Now that the men are back it is like the old Sandy Cove again"
 "Mr Clayton and others are staying at the Country club
 "Mr. Clayton" Fay glanced up quickly.
 "Yes. One of the dolar-a-year men in Washington.
 He has been magnicently gener- ous!" Fay's eyes glowed. VI snail DC glad to see him asain.'
 Mrs. Tudor glanced across the table at her niece and smiled.
 He's quite the same as ever she said. Plays abominable bridge ana talks shop.
 "Oh, mother only abuses nm pe- cause he is as insane about her as eyer." Laurel laughed, but there was a. nervous little quiver Tn her voice as she hurried on. Jack Hunt inrton is at the club-and Harry Cadnus.'
 She drew quick breath as she mentioned the last name, ana her eyes seemed to burn into her cou- aims. but Fay merely responueu quietly:
 "ls he?' .
 Harry Cadmus. Fay actually had rorrottcn his very existence for more than a year. How heartbroken she had fancied herself when the big test came and he had frantically pulled wires to obtain an assignment at home rather than face the hazards of active service! With what not scorn had she parted from him! And now it was with difficulty that she