The Washington times., 1922-09-10

Everyone knows them. They're
notorious. A decade ago they
would have been impossible. At
least, Fancy would. But times have
changed, especially in the last few
years, and actions we would have
condemned we condone-up to a
point. All the same"-again she
shrugged-"it doesn't do, even in
these slipshod days, for a girl
alone to be top unconventional.
It's liable to end disastrously."
Mr.. Fanshawe murmured indis-
tinct agreement. He was watching
the expression of Austin Knowles
face as he guided his partner round
the big room. 1t was not alto
gether a pleasant expression,
though Billy could not easily de-
fine it. 1t hinted at desire and de-
mand, while behind the convenz
tional smile there was a queer
quality of only half veiled passion
that was just a little grim.
But if the girl was aware of it
she did not show it. She glided
round the room with her small chin
slightly uptilted, her half indiffer-
ent, lazy glance sweeping the room,
speaking sometimes, smiling al
ways.
Billy Fanshawe's regard, though
brief, was critical. Also it was in
terested, though few would have
guessed at this. He could not re-
member ever having seen any
woman like her. She was quite
remarkable in a room full of more
than usually attractive women.
She was a woman in miniature,
so slight, so small, and so fragile
that one might have lifted her as
one would lift little child. Yet
there was nothing birdlike about
her. Her features were not regu-
lar, her face was soft in contour,
and she possessed no hard out
lines.
She was exquisitely proportioned
indeed the word exquisite, Billy
decided, expressed her better than
any other. He imagined that this
was an impression which would
deepen upon closer inspection.
And, somehow, he found it diff
cult to reconcile with this impress
sion of her person that of her
character at which Mrs. Waring
had vaguely limited.
She was very young, but there
was nothing of the loose-limbed,
rather hoydenish carelessness of
the average modern girl about her.
AS she danced she was grace per-
sopified. Despite her smallness
she had an almost regal way of
carrying her head. Diminutive to
an unusual degree, she was in no
wise doll-like.
Very thoughtfully Mr.. Fanshawe
passed his hand for a second time
over the smooth surface of his
bald but rather shapely head. He
smiled ingratiatingly at Mrs. War
ing.
81 think" he observed quite
-truthfully, that it is a pity for any
woman to be alone"
1t was a very ordinary, even a
somewhat stupid remark, but Mrs.
Warnings color deepened, her eyes
took quick sparkle, and her lips
began to smile.
"Yes. Tits horrid. | know
from experience. But Fancy Re-
veil isn't really alone. She and her
brother Bonny-did you ever hear
such name share a diminutive
fiat in Chelsea, whenthey aIe not
visiting, which is generally the
case. If they weren't, / suppose
they would starve"
Fanshawe turned somewhat
startled glance upon her, and she
laughed. At the beginning of the
evening Billy had thought her
laugh rather pretty. He was in
clined now to alter his opinion. 1t
was too frequent and too forced.
"1ts fact,;;1 assure you. Of
course, l wouldn't say so, only
everyone knows it. They haven't
either of them a penny to bless
themselves with, except what they
make between them by racing or
gambling; and they live chiefly in
other peoples houses. can't
imagine how Fancy contrives to
dress herself as she does. | know
as often as not she hasn't enough
ready money for cab fare! And
she hasn't any rich relations to
hand them along to her-not that
she would wear them if she had.
Fancy boasts a pride which is just
little .'reconcilable with some of
-eccentricities."
Billy Fanshawe pulled forward
cane chair and arranged the cush-
ions neatly. His mild eyes met
hers as she sank down into it.
"You don't approve of her
altogether" he suggested. Mrs.
Waring made an impatient move
ment of her hands and flushed.
"Approve! My dear Mr.. Fan
Shave, no one approves of her!
How could they? She is a mass
of contradictions. She ignores con-