The Washington times., 1922-05-14

and which made of her rather elu.
sive beauty a real and living thing.
They ditted from one subject Of
conversation to another, idly, and
for the most part good humoredly.
though once or twice they found
themselves entering into an ami
mated discussion upon some book
or picture, which occasionally end
ed in controversy.
Lee was amused, the man evil
IDENTIFY enjoying himself thoroughly.
Later, when he had made coffee and
cut some thin sandwiches the con-
versation became more or less per.
sonal again. He drew Lee out more
than she realized. She touched
briefly upon her happy life with her
father previous to his marriage;
she spoke of her loneliness since,
the impossibility Of her position.
She spoke affectionately OF Terry.
with an unconscious coldness and
restraint of Mrs. Dorice. She for
got this man was a stranger only
felt the warmth of his sympathy.
She fell silent for some minutes;
then stirred as he asked quietly:
But you can't 80 on like this.
You're wasting your years, your
youth-hardening yourself. Youth
end by imprisoning your soul, shut
ting up all that's best within you
behind bars, and growing bitter"
He spoke quickly, leaning for
ward. He was oddly in earnest, for
one who was so completely
stranger. Lee smiled.
Surely you can break away"
he, went on, and she interrupted
with a sudden hardness In her
voice.
Il made up my mind to to-day!
In the only way know how
And that is?"
His eyes we're earnest, question
ing. Lee met them, and smiled
cynically.
Marriage with the first eligible
and really worth.having man who
offers himself"
She flushed brightly a moment
after she had spoken the words.
and bit her lip fiercely. She was
angry with herself for having
spoken so. with him for having
drawn from her such a confession.
He stared at her for a moment.
then got up quickly.
you couldn't do that" He spoke
almost roughly. There was angry
distress in his clear eyes. He
went on quickly, rather disconnect-
edly: II haven't seen many women
-girls--like you for-for quite a
good many years. In fact, ! haven't
seen much Of women at all And |
don't understand 'em. But I do
know you're not that sort of girl"
Lees chin tilted. She was still
angry. She felt suddenly resentful.
Her voice had completely changed
when she spoke again. It was chill.
no longer mellow.
81 am, all the same" she retort-
ed. "But its scarcely profitable
discussion, is it? Let's talk Of
something else. About you. | con
fess I'm puzzled can't place your
profession. You know an awful lot
about books, but don't believe you
write. Yet-pictures?
She paused with wrinkled brows.
He was still standing; now he
frowned, as If the subject Jared.
But he answered quietly:
II act!"
Something in his tone forbade
comment or further question. They
drifted into impersonal talk again;
but, once or twice. looking at him,
Lee was puzzled afresh. She had
imagined herself fairly familiar
with the faces Of most actors OF
the day; but she was quite certain
this mans had never been among
those she had seen. Again. uncan-
nily, he seemed to guess her per
plexity. for he broke off in the mid
die of a sentence to say:
81 have not yet acted in Eng
land" And added, so slowly. and
with a deliberation so peculiar that
she looked at him quickly. Il hope
to, however, almost Immediately.
And then again he changed the
subject. Presently he rose and
started the phonograph. He stood
beside it, watching the girl. Her
slim figure was relaxed in her
chair, her head thrown back. The
sleeve of the bathrobe had fallen
back, leaving her arms bare; he
could see the soft pulsing of her
uphung throat.
Her eyes were very deep and
very dark; little Of her rare color
still fingered in her checks, and her
brilliantly red lips were a trife
apart. She was unaware Of it, but
her hair had fallen loose. 1t rip.
pied all about her, silken. dense,
wonderful. The man caught his
breath oddly as he looked at it. and
went an unconscious step nearer.
At the movement Lee looked up
and met his eyes. They were
aglOw, shining.
They held hers against her will;