The Washington times., 1922-04-23

Then she hardened. So that was
what she was to be, toy OF men,
to be gambled for schemed for, to
be forced into self.disposal because
she would not be wooed. She had
sense of intolerable outrage.
Gould Stephen be crazy?" she
asked herself, "to think he could
get me by trick like that?" She
read the letter again. Only now
did the story seem true.
Well. she supposed she must take
II as such, and she supposed. too,
she must face the consequences.
Obviously, Godfrey would threaten
divorce. His case was clear, and
even if she defended-which she
could easily dO-so much mud
would be thrown at her that she
could no longer live in England,
while a little more mud wouldn't
hurt Godfrey. No; she must 60
through with It. pay for silence.
And as for Britford,
There was a knock at the door.
please, ma'am," said Maud, the
messenger asks if there's a reply"
Didn't say 'no'?"
NO, ma'am. You said wait
minute. He's been here a quarter
of an hour, ma'am."
Here's the reply" said Mrs. Cal.
decot. She found an envelope and
a sheet OF paper. upon which she
wrote. Never let me see you
again"
When the reply had gone she
first felt very Unhappy. for she had
lost friend and she would not
even have the eternal treasure Of
his ashes. That was over, and as
she dressed she found herself tax
ing unusual pains over the order.
ing of her hair. She put on her
newest coat and kirt. The chiv.
alric sense led her to decorate he
self for the inevitable struggle.
Since she was living in mad world
she'd act up TO its madness; she'd
give il by her beauty and her charm,
In conflict with all this villainy, the
G,a 81 Oan
would make 1t almost grotesque.
She was ready just before ten,
and told Maud not TO bother about
turning out her bedroom, for which
this was the appointed day. but to
get dressed as soon as possible, as
she expected a visitor. Then she
sat down in the drawing room
where already burned a clear fire.
She wanted to be normal in the
midst Of this madness, so she
forced herself to read The Times.
She read it even more thoroughly
than usual, and dallied awhile over
the personal column, where one
item amused her: Lady in Blue.
Why were you not at Y. r? How
could | harm you? Lancelot."
Poor little Lady in Blue"
thought Mrs. Caldecot. Il do hope
Lancelot won't hurt you. sup
pose he will. They all do. Even
the Galahads." When she had done
with the paper she went to the
piano and played, rather badly, the
most forid fragments of Liszt that
she could find. She banged hard
and this did her good. When she
tired, again she was unemployed.
and she had TO realize her pc.
occupation.
Why did Godfrey not come? It
was nearly eleven. He said he'd
come in the morning. Oh, why
didn't he come and make an end Oi
this? She wanted an end to such
agony mixing with despair Sul
pose she couldn't give him as much
as he wanted? And suppose r.
thought he could get more out Of
her? There was nobody in the
world who'd lend her any money.
Nobody she could ask. Stephen
wouldn't; he wanted to get her into
court, to drag her somehow into
his arms.
There was Bob, but the idea was
abominable. To tell Bob a thing
like that; to soil his memory Of
her with such a story! No, that
would be laughable. 81 must face
it myself" thought Mrs. Caldecot,
and as this came to her, as she
realized that she stood alone in
world OF enemies, she was invig.
Grated.