The Washington times., 1922-06-11

about Brookbridge, and. OF course.
want'to see your home there. Let
me know quickly, as ! shall have
to arrange things accordingly. /
hope you're not spelling Terry"
Lee went In search of her hus.
band and put the letter into his
hand. He looked up at her after
he had perused 1t. raising his brows.
"You must do exactly as you like"
he told her. II shall be delighted
of course, to welcome Mrs. Dorice
and any friends she cares to bring.
II you wish Il. too. Personally, I
like q houseful at Christmas and
there is plenty Of room here. ..
He gave the letter into her hani.
holding II for q moment In o warm
clasp. He sat in q deep leather
armchair before the fire. his long
cane propped beside him. . book
on his knee. II struck the girl sud.
denly that he looked very lonely
and her eyes softened. He met
their glance and smiled. -
You're quite happy" he asked.
and she made quick movement OF
assent,
81 should be very ungrateful and
hard to please II I were mott" she
said gently. She did not try to dis.
engage. her hand. and after Q mo-
ment he lifted II ahd held It against
his cheek. Then. with . sigh. he
let It 10. ...
Lee looked down at him gravely.
Upon an impulse. coloring family,
she asked:
-You are, too? I mean--I want
to feel that I have not failed you
In any fespect--that"--
I'm happier" smithers inter
rupted, and the hesitant voice was
suddenly Arm and very deep. than
! ever hoped ! could De!
There was Q sincerity In his tone
that brought the color again to
Lees face. q Frightening Of relief
to her eyes. She dwelt no further
On the subject and stood beside him
speaking for o few minutes OF quite
ordinary things. But before she
left him she laid q slender hand
lightly. half-caressinsly. upon bis
shoulder. .
She wrote to Teresa that night,
stating her accommodation for
guests and the number she was al.
ready inviting. with the assurance
that Mrs. Dorice and any friends.
she cared to bring would be vel.
coined whenever she chose to come
with Aem.
Two days later, following . be-
lated telegram, Mrs. Dorice arrived.
Two women and q man were with
her-Patty Clay. . girl whom Lee
had met at the latter's house. and
Q man, whom she had never seen
before.
He was a rather big man. well
dressed, immaculate and decidedly
handsome, in . dark, clean-shavcn,
rather heavy way. He had splendid
teeth and an ingratiating manner
and bowed before Lee with Q smtl.
ing air OF depreciation as Teresa
airily presented him.
This is Mr.. Gish. Lee. expect
Terry has spoken to you Of him.
He has only recently come to Eng.
land and hasn't very many friends
as yet. He was contemplating a
horribly lonely Christmas, SO [
brought him along"
Lee, giving Gish a cool hand, was
aware Of sudden. sharp movement
her shoulder, saw her husband half
rise, then drop back into his chair
again. His face was in the shadow,
but there was curious rigidity
about him that she could not fa.l
to notice. Remembering his odd
manner when Terry had mentioned
Gish before. she proceeded to pre-
sent the younger man to him a
shade uneasily.
Smithers acknowledged II with
an unsmiling, courteous bending Of
his white head. His hands were
occupied in fumbling for his cane.
Behind his smoked glasses Lee
saw a momentary quick CLEAN OF
unwonted keenness. Then, rosy.
bright-eyed and tempestuous Terry
whirled into the room, and with a
squeal of delight precipitated her
self upon Royden Gsh.
What an utterly ripping sur
prise" she exclaimed. then, having
greeted her mother and the other
two women, she flung her hard little
hat into a chair and herself into
another. 81 simply must have my