The Washington herald., 1922-11-19

and an anectlon which he was very
far from feeling. t.-
He reviewed these facts smil-
ing grimly, and mentally decided
that he was a quixotic fool. Yet
in his heart Of hearts he knew
that he could not have done other
wise. Sally's whole happiness was
at stake. He was nliserably con-
scious' of that. Her mistake had
been u natural as it had been
wretchedly unfortunate. Fate,
and his own hot heart and head
ami blood had conspireG to place
him in a predicainent from which
it was impossible to extricate
himself without bringing bitter
humiliation and intolerable pain
upon a girl who, in all innocence
and trust had revealed for him
feeling which he had never, for
one moment, suspected.
Those years in the wilds of
Africa had fostered his naturally
somewhat primitive instincts.
There were moments, even in the
overwhelming atmosphere of ultra
civilized civilization when he was
powerless to put a che * upon his
passions, and they held unbridled
sway. Last night had held one
of those moments. In his inten-
ton of pressing his attention upon
Fancy, albeit against her will and
her desire, he had erred against
all canons of good taste. He had
forgotten his obligations toward
Billy Fanshawe as host. He had
remembered only that he was just
man, hungry hearted, and robbed
ruthlessly of his mate. He had
allowed the savage i, Linn to pre-
dominate. And now he was being
punished
Still with his fingers pressed
against his eyes he laughed bit
terlS. Then as the car whirled in
at the station gates and stopped
with jerk he threw hack his
head and Strengthened himself. A
new mood of recklessness swept
down upon him. After all, what
did it matter? Fancy was lost to
him. 1t lay in his power to make
another woman happy. So be it,
then,
He sent the announcement of
his betrothal to Sally Hicks to the
papers that night. By his orders
thOseEjournalS in which it appeared
We're despatched to Billy Fanshawe
upon the day foll~ wing his de-
parturc. They arrived by the late
evening post, while Fanshawe was
smoking his after dinner cigar.
He glanced through them in sill
ence. In silence he rose and made
his way ir'O the drawing room.
Fancy was sitting i'll deep chair
just within the window. Her eyes
were closed, her face had fallen
into the strangely weary lines
which, he had noticed, had become
habitual to it of late.
A little strand of hair had fallen
loose across her forehead. 1t
softened her expression, giving her
a half childish appeal which stirred
the mans heart to quick tender
ness. One hand dropped rather
Imply over the side of her chair
The rings hung upon it loosely,
and quite suddenly he was struck
by the fragility of her whole ap-
pearancc.
Impul5irely he stopped to touch
the white wrist. Then. as she
"pt ned her eyes quic xiv and looked
up he laid one Of the papers, with
out speaking, on th:> arm of her
chair. Turning he vent with the
others to whele Sally stood, her
face tilted up to the mOonlit sky,
dreaming among the scents and
shadows OF the garden.
He watched her while she read
the brief paragraphs; then closed
a kindly hand upon her arm as she
lifted rose-red. startled face to
his. Behind the smile in his eyes
thee WAS a shadow. The look of
inefable gl&dness that shone out
VI ICI O"n eyes SSHl d SIdD Ol
chill apprehension to his heart. 1t
was with something of an effort
that he uttered few quiet words
of congratulation and ood wishes.
Sally hlnked up at him, the
paper squeezed tightly in her two
hands. Her voice was not alto
gethcr steady when she spoke.
"Tt's-rather like waking out
of dream to find that the creams
come true" she sad, with a quick
little laugh. "This" she looked
down at paper-"makes me
realize for the first time that l
am awake-that it's all--true"
She turned away her face for
a moment. When she looked hack
at him her e"cs We're full of tears.
Il never guessed" she said very
low. that I could care so much!
Or that 7 could be so happy"
Billy nodded. His vocabulary
was limited at the best of times.
In The face of the girls joy-and
the truth as he imagined he knew