The Washington times., 1922-11-12
(continued from Page I2)

known il before she had joined her
guardians household. and often
Fancy, below in the garden or
across the corridor in her own
boudoir, would hear the mans
deep, wholehearted. bOyish laugh
ring out-and frOwn and sigh and
shrug all at once.
Yet there was always something
In his eyes during their brief meet
inxs which told her that while they
were near each other she could
never be quite sure Of her ground
with him-could never be certain
that the smouldering unrest and
passion within him would not
break suddenly into flame, and
consume her.
And, in her dread Of such pos
sibility, with sort Of panic
stricken seeking after safety, she
turned to Billy. She showed an
interest in his .amusements and
pursuits that she had never evinced
before. She sought his companion
ship, rather than avoided II. And,
when Dan was near especially. she
kept the bewildered little man very
close to her side.
A stranger would quite simply
have believed that affection ex-
isted on her side as well as on his,
II not actually love. She was no
longer aloof, sereneiy cold. She
was kind. Kinder, indeed, than
ever she meant to be. And Fancy,
when she was kind to a man, could
be the most alluring and adorable
Of her sex.
Her one desire, consuming, ever
present, was to impress 2 an with
her complete Indifference to him
self. She knew it would not be
easy, wherefore she took no risk
of half measures. Before 81 . was
entirely aware of it herself she
was carrying on an intricate and
animated filtration with her own
husband. And, incidentally, she
came to know him as she might
possibly never have known him
under other circumstances.
Gradually, though she would
not admit it, her sense Of resent
ment towards him grew less. Her
thoughts of him were softer than
she had imagined they could ever
be. The almost passionate amaze
and gratitude with which he ac-
cepted her utterly unexpected
change of front touched her oddly.
Dan watched the little comedy
with mingled fury, amaze, and Bit
ter heart. Sally was frankly de-
lighted. She was fond Of Billy
as she was fond of few people.
His adVation of his wife had been
obvious, her complete indifference
to him equally obvious. In her
pleasure at the unexpected turn
events had taken she confided her
approval, one wonderful gold and
blue evening, to Dan.
'It's really rather extraordi-
nary" she said. "But if Fancy
was anyone else I'd-Pd say she
was falling in love"
She glanced round as Dan
stirred sharply, and grinned at
him..
"Tn love-" she repeated
land most unfashionably, with her
own husband"
For one blank instant Dan
stared at her, his dark face deeply
flushed, his blue eyes aflame-
then he flung back his head and
began to laugh. Sally regarded
him Indignantly.
81 don't see anything to laugh
at" she informed him a trifle
acidly. "If he is bald and-and
rather fatter than is exactly
romantic, Bil'y's as good las any
man and better than most! And
if anyone deserves to be happy he
does. Only"-she frowned for an
instant-"I was afraid he never
would be-that way. Now-Im
not so sure. Fancy's changed-oh,
quite amazingly! used to think
her hard-and shallow-and alto
gether artificial. But just lately
there's something about her"
"But it's absurd" Revell
began explosively and then stopped
short. The flush deepened in his
face. then died. Upon the arms