Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-18
He Forces
a Girl TO
Expiase
Anothevs
Sin
The Vengeanceaf
Henry JarrOman
BY ROY VICKERS

sui.k Stfreu ouo Woulo NOT easlAy %
'.:Yoa look surprised to ~ me-"
have told an observant eavssdropper
aYou caught me idlins,'r she said,
trying hard to speak in the tone Of
voice a typist ought. to usa to her em.
ploycr. She retreated toward her type.
writer es she added: II thought you
were at a meeting"
1T was q washout, I am thank.
ful to say. Just think Of It: I have
nearly two hours for myself before
other. Two whole hours p
"Are you going to dictate some let.
ters!" asked Nadia demusely.
mo, I'm jfsgered II I am. I've come
for smoke and q chat. May I light
"Of course" she answered. He was
treating her with too much difidence,
she realized with a little bitter, Sigh.
They were for the gossamer women,
these pleasant nothings. and should be
kept for them, not squandered on-a
typist.
Absorbed in Her Secret
He ralnbled on, chatting lightly Of
the tasks and social pitfalls that con.
fronted a young candidate for pariia.
mentary honors. Nadia scarcely needed
him. Her thoughts were busy with her
own secret problem. Presently she
caught tho gist Of what he was say
"Well, at any rate, there are only
ten days more Of It. thank goodness! [!
Marples, my agent. says I'm certain
to DO in. Then I shall be a member.
There's a lot of rot round it, but ]
suppose one will have the chance OF
doing q mans work. I shall wind up
here and have q room in st. Stephens.
tsry. sne 'nsoyGg %on't you 50 on being my s'cre'
mo" It sounded more abrupt and
more uncompromising than she had In
utterly aback. why not9 say,
I'm sorry. OF course, I've no right
to ask, but-somehow I had--6ad
counted on your going on working for
but ut I IN e.s'f,S,' sc,rS'" Nadia said very low
There was q little silence. Nsdia's
eyes were on the shining keys Of her
machine. Stranack's were on the fairy
shadows thrown by the tendrils of her
hair on to the enchanting curve Of her
averted face.
Have they been so beastly these last
two weeks?' he asked gently. "Have
I made you hate me?"
Nadia drew an unsteady breath. He
mustn't speak to her like that or that
strange something. waking and whis.
pering In her might not be stilled
again.
enced secretary" she answered with
an attempt at matter Of -fnctness. 81
Il haven't been working long. you
see;"
Stranack returned abruptly. "You in
q, typist's agency! It's ridiculous. It.,
1,ks pisee kssep'nf os pasF,n. ! dollhouse flower In
Nadia held Up a protesting hand.
'Please-oh, please, she stammered.
She mustn't let him talk like this!
Stranack caught the hand and pressed
its palm against his coat. covering il
closely with his own.
"I'ce been every kind Of a fool
he said breatllessly. pretending tc
myself that career means such lot
when 1t isn't worth a thought If YOU
aren't going to be there all the time tc
tell me how splendidly I'm doing and
how proud you are Of me-pretendin0
! wanted You to work for me- wher
rs | who am going to work all my
life for you--"
'Mr. Stranack, you don't realize
let me 20, do let me Co."
"Ncver. Never really. though per-
haps presently YOU shall have your
hand back just for moment to pin
up that adorable curl that's slipping
down against your neck,'
In a truly feminine panic Nadia tore
her hand away and battled with the
refractory tress. The next instant
Stranack's arms were round her, hold
ing her fercely against his heart.
You can't get away" he was tell
IL her, his lips against her hair. "You
.han't move an inch till you've said you
love me-. and then you shan't 60 either
"No--Wilfred, no"
'Till I've kissed you, Nadia" The
laughter had gone from his voice; she
could feel him trembling. Nadia,
cant put it into words--all I feel
but you must know--you must guess"
Please, hush. mustn't listen--"
She freed a hand and laid 1t against
his mouth. He kissed 1t passionateiy
DO you think that'll stop me, you
darling? Look ut me and say you love
me. Just look at me then"-as she
shook her head-''and shall know It
without words. Shan't see it In tour
oyes. my sweet? Shan't II"
Lord Gloucester Intzudes \
In the dream she lifted her eyes to
her lovers and then, his lips on hers,
she knew a dream ecstasy that freed the
hidden self in her that had been alone
30 long.
There was a sound at the door that
drove them apart in q fash. Nadia
fnced Lord Gloucester. Even in that
moment Of confusion, she noticed his
pose of panied establishment.
Father" said Stranack, reproach-
fully.
Lord Gloucester closed tho door be-
hind him. lie advanced into the room,
unhurried. dignifed. He turned from
his son to Nadia.
~ beg your pardon, Miss Quest" he
accept my apology"
Wilfrcd Stranack bowed. He would
have given anything to relieve Nadia of
tho embarrassment he knew she must
feel in far greater degree than him.
self; but until he knew what attitude
his father was about to take he was
at a disadvantage.
Lord Gloucester stood for n moment
or two regarding them impatiently
Nadia was struck afresh by the finely
chiseled features, the inscrutablc gaze,
the perfect poise' of this old aristocrat,
whom half continent applauded for
his supreme skill in matters of diplo-
macy. A keener observer might have
noticed weakness round the mouth, a