The Washington times., 1922-09-24

DOnC De 80 rlulculOuS, rdnCy!
Again Lucy Denning's usually
pleasant voice had a little rasp of
sharpness. "Yeu know, or ought
to know, that am only too pleased
to be of any assistance can. AS
for disregarding conventions any
further" grimly, 'it's out of the
question.
"There must be some semblance
of dignity about the affair, even if
it is the maddest that was ever
conceived! I'll write to Billy Fam
shave myself, and say so. But
oh, Fancy!
Wont you wait a little longer?
Won't you reconsider things, think
of all that such a step as this is
going to mean to you? My dear
child" She leaned forward to lay
her hand upon the girls again,
but with a sudden movement Fancy
swung down from the couch and
stood before her, laughing, but
with hard brightness in her eyes,
a set line of determination about
her mouth.
81 have thoughtw she retorted.
Otherwise, do you suppose for one
moment that l should be going to
embark upon it? 1t is just what it
is going to mean to me which de-
cided me when I had to make up
my mind"
81 never guessed you were so
mercenaryw
"No?" Fancy blew a cloud of
smoke, with her head tilted back
and her lips pursed.
Her eyes, narrowed, regarded
Lucy Denning,s rather flushed face
with something of resentment in
their depths. Her tone was merely
mocking. (Which goes to show"
she added, chow really little one is
likely to learn of the character
even of his most talked about
neighbor"
The words were subtly barbed,
and Lucy Denning stirred uncom-
fortably.
"And Bonny?" she asked quick
ly. "What does he think of-of
all this?"
Fancy's face hardened.
"In this matter" shereplied with
a certain sharp defiance, "Bonny
can scarcely be. expected to have
any say at ALL"
81 should have thought" Lady
Denning was beginning, but some
thing smouldering deep down in
the girls eyes warned her that it
would, perhaps, be wiser to keep
her opinions to herself. Fancy, to
say the least of it, was in a difficult
mood.
Presently the older woman broke
the silence which had fallen be-
tween them.
Then, if you are quite deter
mined to go on with this folly, |
suppose we must consider things
settled as Mr.. Fanshawe has ar
ranged them. Only"
Again she stopped, and Fancy
spoke quietly across her words.
81 am quite determined" she re-
turned, and spread out her little,
delicate hands in a rapid, half ner-
vous gesture of finality. "And if
you really mean that you are will
ing to keep me with you, allow my
marriage to take place from your
house, shall be really glad"
Lucy Denning looked at her
searchingly, then got up slowly and
laid her hands gently on her
shoulders. Quite suddenly the girl
struck her as being very fragile
and rather pitiably lonely.
"Of course, | mean it," she de-
clared heartily. "And, believe me,
my dear, l have not meant to be
officious or interfering. Only I
like you well enough to want your
future to be as happy as l would
wish my daughters to be.
And"
"It is very kind of you," Fancy
interrupted.
She spoke unhurriedly, with her
customary air of flippancy and in
difference; but again the strange,
beautiful eyes softened slightly,
the smile upon her lips lost,a shade
of its airy mockery.
Then she laid her fingers upop