The Washington times., 1922-06-25

slightly to the light and she could
see him more clearly,
"Have, you knocked yourseif?'
she asked. There's such q brown
mark on your forehesd--there!" I
She laid a finger lightly on the
spot. Smithers started almost vfo-
lently. then unexpectedly reached
up and caught the hand, drawing
Il down over hts eyes, holding the
pink palm close against his lips.
For an instant Lee stood motion
less. Then with a choked cry she
snatched her hand away. Her face
was flaming: the memory Of last
night--of Denham Carson--seared
her. Smithers's csress had brought
back anew q suffocating conscious
ness of guilt-of wrong doing. An
overwhelming shame and self-scorn
scourged her. .... IN. -.4
"Why, child"
She heard her husbands voice.
suddenly gentle, % she caught her
hands up over her hot face. Then,
In the other room step sounded
on the threshold Frost coughed dis
creetiy! and. precipitately, Lac
turned and fed. (.
Lee spent q wretched, unrestful
hour In her own room. Later, max
ing her way listlessly to the stair
way, she encountered Teresa Dorice
At her room door. Her eyes were
hard and bright with anger: the
unbecoming flush that temper
brought was hot In her cheeks. Be.
hind her Terry was standing. She.
too. was flushed, her mouth mutin.
Gus, her eyes ahsme with defiance.
Il needed but one glance at both Of
them to tell Lee that something
had put Teresa out seriously. aud
that Terry's inhammabie temper
had been famed to furnace heat
and was wholly dominating her. In.
terrogative, distressed. she paused.
and Mrs. Dorice lifted q clenched
hand In which was crumpled note.
81 suppose" she said thickly,
this is your doing!" Then, as Lee
stared, Read It! Roland has just
sent It up to u.s."
Silently Lee took the paper and
read:
"Mr. Smithers regretfully re-
quests Mr.. Roland Gish to make 1t
convenient to leave Brookbridge
tonight. Mr.. Gish's notoriety tn
the United States OF America has
become known to Mr.. Smithers.
which will doubtless be sufficient
explanation OF his seeming inhos.
pitality."
As silently Lee gave the note
back. The distress In her eyes
deepened, she looked almost ap-
pealingly at Terry. But Teresa
spoke before she could.
T1l never forgive you for this.
Lee; never! I've got a good deal
piled up against you, anyhow, and
this about makes the limit! And
I'll take care ! get even with you
for it-some how, some day-and
with that interfering, domineerins.
seniIe caricature OF a husband OF
yours! For the rest. you might a.
we'll know that when Roland leaves
here Il will be to make arrange.
ments for an immediate marriage:
Terry and Join him as soon as We
hear from him that he has the
license!"
Her voice caught and broke hys.
, tericaIly. Terry, with a not too
gentle hand. pulled her back into
the room. Lee. white-lipped but
composed, passed on and down the
stairs to her waiting guests.
When, some time later, she was
about to return to her room to
dress for dinner, servant came
soft.footed to her side.
"Haines Is in the library, ma'am.
He wishes to know II 1t win be
convenient for you to speak to him
fer a moment"
Lee started. She had nearly for.
gotten Haines. For an instant shs
hesitated, then she nodded.
Thank you. / will go to the
library now" she said.
She found the chauffeur standing
by the uncurtained windows staring
at nothing. AS he turned to her
the look In the boyish face made
her CRY out in quick pity and dis
tress. He appeared years older.
his mouth was twisted and grim,
his eyes haggard.
"Haines!" She uttered the word
bresthlessly. Don't - don't look
like that"-
She broke of. In a few long
strides he had reached her side.
His lips we're twitching uncontroli-
ably.
"It's true, then?" His voice
seemed to her to hold q savage
accusation. She threw out q Pro
testing hand.
"Yes." Her voice shook a little
Again she found herself disregard
ing this boys position in her house
hold and speaking to him as to an
equal. Terry has consented to
marry-Mr. Gish. Mr.. Smithers
has, I am afraid, precipitated mat
ters by intimating that he finds Mr.
Gish an unwelcome and updeslr.
able guest--he has already left"