Omaha daily bee., 1922-06-11

~ - isek q Ma D1ahAstsa-xsat -
- looked q West; - inoksd q his plata
Mn. punhastoa,Esue saA sethtnS; -
0JsSestoa d pain crossed hsr fAoA Un0
Arsak spoks sAs had looked pieassA She
AAsis hAA borne hsesslS veil Voe the hrst
umI Narss eiancsd as Bella ys seemed 70
Mario aa utterly unreal occurrence. the
passaoaats embrace she had witnessed the
day bsfors and the aushsd facs BsllA had
MteA from ColfAx's shoulder. Evidently
there were unsussssd depths oS passion in
Bella. Undoubtedly 1rsck's inmobllity Gov.
asd - secret and - passionate . nature
Marie felt shrinking disliks Tor Bella. Her
long body. gracefully carried head. and
naughty profile reminded her Of Mrs. Smith.
She seemed TO her the same typs Of woman.
secret and outwasdly cold. but brilliantly
hsautifui she ohoss 70 make herself %;
and passionate 70 Q degree, for the faoe
Bella had lifted from Colfax's shoulder bad
bssn revelation.
West drew . rose from ne vass In the
osntsr OF the table. dried the stem. removed
The thorns. and offered Il 70 Maria. He said
nothing. only looked ct her In an appealing
way that naAde hse drop her eyes. She
hsld the rosa. not looking st Il Il was
going 70 Be dihlcult for her with West doing
such things while Brsck looked on with
thateEnenacing CLINT In his eyes. He seemed
70 hate West The way In which no looked
q him frightened her. and yet. when Mrs.
Dunbarton. Kant had spoken 20 sharply 10
Brsck shs had glanced At him and his face
had made her fesl Ike crying. Il was carven
and still. % terribly unhappy. - Il he realissd
fully the aversion his family felt for him,
and stselsd himself against Il enduring It
With certain cold defiance.
Marie was Glad when they rose from the
table, we have coffee In the library"
NrA Dunbarton-Ksnt said to Marie "You
can 20 70 your room Afterwards. u you
want to. child-you've had . hard diy.' She
took Maris's hand. drew It within her arm.
and led the way Into the library.
Find . corner there on the divan.- she
said. reassuringiy. and with note Of warn.
Ing. sWest the divan's not for you-you
can enjoy your, cachou IN Q chair Just a.
we'll"
svsry wsll.. he answered. quietly.
But before he retreatsd TO the chair and
took out his little gold cachou case he
placed the cushions for Marie and turned his
chair % that he could look at her. Bella
went TO distant lamp and took out her
Knitting. and Brsck stood backed against the
end Of the nnantel shelf. facing them all It
was exactly - It had bean on that first day,
yst how entirely dinArent Marie thought
she did not fsel IKE the same girl That
time seemed . hundred years ago. Now she
felt painful interest in the three seated
there. s
West took the cup from her. Then. in spite
- nvaA AH~~A -
down beside Maria II am going over to
you 90 with met It'll make the ride pleas
ure." Z
Naris's answer was involuntary. 20. no,
monsieur! It u. most kind" she added,
quickly. Anothsr day shan like to 90.
but tomorrow I think Mrs. Dunbarton. Kent
VIII Wish me to drive her" There was an
APPEAL 70 Mrs. punbarton-Kent In the re.
fusal. y; .se3ss.ssA yIesaA,sasas
Mrs. Dunbartou-Ksnt smilsd 70 herself.
Then every one sti6ensd at Breck's abrupt.
remark: Look the roadster over well be-
fore you ride In It, Marie .Angouleme." He
leveled cleaning look at West, then, with
an even, "Good.night," he turned and left
the room Marie saw him go up the stairs
Bella watched his going. her knitting sus-
pended. Mrs. Dunbarton-Kent crimsonsd
wtthSanger, and Marie sat breathing quickly,
terribly startled. Breck had spoken a. II
hs meant to frighten her. and he had looked
defiance at West West seemed to be think.
Ing more Of Maries distress than Of his own
annoyance, though he looked stern enough.
Don't let yourself be disturbed by
Brecks speeches.s hs said to Marie. He's
queer and we can't help It The best We can
do = not 70 notice the things he says ana
does. I'm sorry for him at times. in spits
OF sverything. for he makes his own hell,
Hrsck does-hs's mystery to me-" He
rose from Marie's side and replenished the
dre. muttertng an impatient sigh. Lord"
MrA Dunbarton-Kent was restraining her
self with Amculty Depravity is form Of
insanity, ! suppose she said, bitterly.
West had straightened and smile chased
the gloom from his face. "Never mind,
Aunt Bulah." hs said, cheerfully. you've
managed to introduce bit Of sunshine into
the situation," and he looked at Marie ap-
pealfngly. " II you won't ride with mo to-
morrow. win you walk with me, Miss
Narie7"
He was persistent Marie thought II only
she did not feel 30 wretched and worried
she would Ike him. He had done everything
no could to hSlp her through the evening, but
he showed too plainly that he cared for her
. great deal. and It made her heart ache the 4
worse He looked extremely handsome
standing there by the ire with the color in
his cheals and his eyes bright: such Z con-
trast to Breck's grim irnmobiity. Breck
had frtghteued her. There was something
wrong with his mind. and that might az
plain everything. She wanted to 90 to her
room ana think about It. She wanted to be
nice to West, too. appreciative and friendly,
She wasstoo much distressed and excited to
b IN tho least coQuett1sh or elusive. Marie
fslt - Il she would never laugh again.
II your aunt permits that should walk
with you. monsieur. I shall b glad to 70.
she said with rather wan smile It seemed
. propttious moment for escape. and Marie
rosa And now. madame think I shall
20 to myroom. 90 say goodnight to every
ouAs and she euxtasied to the thres, even to
Bella. In her distant corner.
Il was . quaint good night. IN cid fash.
ioned dignity clothed In modern FREELY gar
msnts and surmountsd BY gravely troubled
little face She was % utterly without self.
and % anxious to pleasa Mrs.
Dunbarton-Kent lost her angry flush Don't
worry about anything, child, she said. kind
h. aGo to bed and sleep and wake up happy.
Wen arrange about tomorrow when tornnr-
row comes"
Vests eyes dwelt On Marie. and whsa
she moved toward the hail he started for
ward inpulstvely. Mrs. Dunbarton,KentS
warning halted him: "Wsstl"
20. I know" hs muttsred. With an I'M
nafiant glance In 8Alla,a dlpncfion hn AZ