The Washington herald., 1922-11-02
Continued from Yesterday.
INsrALLMENT VII.
Nadia IL Camden's Daughter.

Nadia IL Camden's Daughter.
There was an awkward silence.
Stranack was watching his father
oddly. Lord Gloucester caught sight
of Nadia's hat.
One minute. IL you would not
mind. Miss Quest. i particularly
You will have the goodness to wait
here-I Will not be a couple OF
minutes"
Lord Doucester had left the room
before Nadia could demur. In the
corridor outside he hurried so that
he was nearly running. At the foot
of the staircase he paused. muttered
to himself. and then took the stairs
at rate that would have alarmed
his physician.
He found Lady Gloucester alone in
her boudoir She was an active
woman. with shrewd wits and a
wide knowledge of man - and
woman-kind- Years ago she had
proved herself a stanch ally to both
husband and son. and even now.
when the one had found himself be-
ing gently pushed out of the vortex
Of life and the other had not yet
been sucked into 1t. they constantly
sought her advice. and acted upon
II. II below her resourcefulness
there lurked a power OF cruelty
fierce and relentless as death-and
there were those who believed it
IT lay SO securely fettered by her
Will that but rarely could it domi-
nate her purpose.
Ste put down ner book as her
husband hurried in Lord Douces-
ter shut the door behind him and
for a moment leaned against IL.
painting from his exertions.
''Mc.:entrave, whatever is the
NATTER" asked Lady Gloucester. in
as much alarm as was consistent
win her capable nature.
81 happened to go into Wilfred's
roon-I found him kissing his
typist.'
How extremely unpleasant" ex-
claimed Lady D1uceste-. 81 am sur
prised. too. 1 thought that girl
w1s q lady"
',.is-en." intercepted Lord Don
ces.e-. Il took hold Of rhs s':Istion.
I smoothed them both down. Got
ncr to see she co ii ln'r .narry hlr.
and u en- found-:Es = John Cam
denis daughter"
Lady Gloucester started violently.
NO"
There is no doubt that it is so.
She wears the ring
They remained staring at each
other. 1t was as II question and
answer, doubt and reinsurance.
flowed between them. They knew
each other well-these two.
she doesn't know anything" ="
supplemented Gloucester aloud.
Seems to think her name really is
Quest-but of course one can't
tell"
Lady Doucester's eyes narrowed.
"On the whole. Mollentrave.
don't see-that We need worry
now. I'm for letting events take
their course. We will know moth
ing"
Il made them wait a month. ]
should suggest that we go on the
assumption that their engagement
will be announced at the end of
that time. and that we shall be
highly pleased about it. That will
give us time to see how we stand.
IL you've nothing else to propose.
III go and fetch the girl now. /
have asked her to wait. You will
know. better than !. how to handle
her"
As he disappeared. Lady Doucester
rose to her feet and stumbled across
the boudoir to where double doors.
beautifully nodded, shut off her bed
room She flung them open and
made for her dressing table. Powder.
a touch Of rouge. and a thimbleful
Of some strange, colorless liquid.
worked wonders. Ry the time Nadia
had ascended the stairs, Lady Dou-
>cester was back in her boudoir,
gracious, charming. entirely COM
posed.
Nadia had put on her simple.
flower wreathed hat. and from
under its curving brim her great
rye. looked out in bewilderment.
She returned Lady Doucester's s
greeting with an air of detachment
that wrung respect from the elder
woman; the girls manner was
frankly cautious.
Its nice of you to ask US up
here, mother DEAR said Stranack.
I'VE certainly should like some
tea" He. too. seemed ill at ease
and his eyes strayed to Nadia as II
to convey to her that he was at a
loss to account for his parents
change of front.
It'll be here in five minutes" said
the mother gayly. I'm afraid you
must think us extraordinarily err
ratic people" she went on. turning
to Nadia. but your name ISIS
known to us. Ny husband knew a
Quest, long ago. and We felt that
must be our excuse for wanting to
know you better" She gave the
girl one of the brilliapt smiles for
which in her day she had been
famous.
Nadia returned the smile shyly.
II was all strange, but pleasant.
extremely pleasant. 1t was like
having a lovely dream and waking
TO hard every day. and then turning
over and dreaming II again.
You are very good" she said in
her sweet. clear voice. II know so
few people-ho one. in fact; 1t Is
delightful to be here"
The tea equipage was brought in
and conversation flowed cheerfully
and naturalIy.on on topics of the day.
Lady Gloucester had always had a
genius for small talk. Her husband
seconded her skillfully. covering
Strsnzck's silence. Nadia. always
lis