The Washington herald., 1922-11-01
Co~tinsed from Yesterday.

Co~tinsed from Yesterday.
He rambIed on, chatting lightly
,f the. tasks and social pitfalls that
confronted a young candidate for
parliamentary honors. Nadia scarce
ly needed him. Her thoughts were
busy with her own secret prob
ems. Presently she caught the gist
of what he was saying.
well, at any rate there are only
ten days more of 1t, thank good
ness. Marples. my agent. says I'm
certain to be in. Then 1 shall be a
member. There's a lot of rot
round il, but l suppose one will
nave the chance of doing a mans
work. 1 shall wind up here and
nave a room in ST. Stephens and
then-you'n go on being my secre-
tary. won't you?"
NO" 1t sounded more abrupt
and more Incorporating than she
aad intended
You WON'T" he exclaimed, taken
utterly aback. why not? / say.
I'm sorry. or course. I've no right
10 ask. but-somehow l had-had
counted on your going on working
for me-
II am sorry" Nadia said very
low. sbut 1 can't"
There was a little silence. Ma
= Has eyes were on the shining keys
81 her machine. Stranack's were
on the fairy shadows thrown by
the tendrils of her hair on to the
enchanting curve of her averted
ace.
Have they been so beastly these
iast two weeks" he asked gently
Have 1 made you hate .meE
Nadia drew an unsteady breath
He mustn't speak to her like that
and whispering in her. might not
os stilled again.
Il think you want a more expe-
risnced secretary" she answered
with an attemSt at matter of-fact-
ness. II haven't been working
long, you see"
You shouldn't be working Al
ALL" Strsnack returned abruptly
You in a typist's agency! It's RI
Iiculous. It's like keeping a hot,
house flower in a piece of sack
ing"
Nadia held up a protesting hand
"PIease-0 please" she STAN
mered. She mustn't let him talk
like this.
Stranack caught the hand and
pressed its palm against his coat
covering it closely with his own.
I've been every kind of a fool.
ne said breathlessIy. pretending G
to myself that a career means such
Iot-when 1t isn't worth thought
r. you aren going to be there al
The time to tell me how splendIdly
I'm doing and how proud you are
If me-prete ending ! wanted you tG
work for me. when it's 1 who ar
going to work all my IYe Ioi
YOU
MIR. Strsnack. you don't realize
let me go do let me GO
Never. Never really. though per-
maps presently you shall have your
hand back. just for a moment to pir
up that adorable curl that's slip
ping down against your neck
In truly feminine panic Nadia
tore her hand away and battIeC
with .the refractory tress. The nex'
instant Stranack's arms were rounC
her, holding her fiercely against HI:
heart.
You can't get away he was
telling her. his lips against nel
hair. you shan't move an inch
till you've said you love me. anC
then you shan't go either till
.-No-wiIfred, no
laughter had gone from his voice
she could feel him trembling. Ma
iia. / can't put 1t into words-alI
feel-but you must know-you mus
guess
PLEASE. hush. I mustn't listen
She freed a hand and laid 1t sgains
his. mouth. He kissed 1t passion
ateIy.
DO you think that will stop me
you darling? Look at me and sa!
you love me. Just look at me then
las she shook her head-"snd
shall know il without words. Shan
see it in your eyes. my sweet
Shan't I?'
Lord DOueester Intrudes.
In the dream she lifted her eye
to her lovers and then, his lips ol
hers, she knew a dream ecstac,
that freed the hidden self in he
that had been alone so long.
There was a sound at the doc
that drove them apart in a flash
Nadia faced Lord Gloucester. Eve
tn that moment of confusion sh
noticed his pose of panied astonish
ment.
Father" said stranack. feproaeh
fully.
Lord Doucester closed the door be
hind him. He advanced into tn
room. unflurried. disnifed.. IL
turned from his son to Nadia.
Il beg your pardon. Miss Quest.
he said grzvely. "Wilfred. / asl
you to accept my apology"
wilfred Stranack bowed. II
would have given anything to re
Iieve Nadia of the emba arrassmen
he knew she must feel in a ia
Sreater degree than himself: bu
until he knew what attitude hi
,ather was about to take he was a
a disadvantage.
Lord Doucester stood for a mo
pent or two regarding them impa
-iently. Nadia was struck afresh b!
he finely chiseled features. the in
scrutable gaze. the perfect poise o
his old aristocrat, whom half I
ointment applauded for his suprem'
skill in matters of diplomacy. !
seener observer might have notice'
weakness round the mouth. hin
of indecisicn in the chin. Nadia
5sv only the courteous gesture tina