The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-01-20
Continued from Yesterday.

When Barstowe had gone away to
permit Jeanne to dress for the ride
down to his samily's country place,
she sat for a while in the twilight
of the little sitting room just as he
had left. her.
Outwardly quiet she lounged In
the cushions of the chaise Tongue. but
there was turmoil within. 1t was a
blend OF exultance and fear and some
thing else. which she could not ana
lyze.
She had always been cold. From
her earliest girlhood. she had ridden
her ambition mercilessly. The at
tainment Of wealth and its accompan-
ing luxury was the god to which she
made her obeisance. She hated to be
kissed. hated physical contact OF the
merest sort She had avoided the
inevitable oscillations of family re-
unions. turning a deft cheek even to
Aunt Emily and the affectionate paw
inss of her numerous brood. Once
Henry Harrison had kissed her awk-
wardly at a moonlight picnic and been
furiously slapped for his presump-
ton.
When she had deliberately planned
to make a Ioveless marriage. she had
tried to take this aversion of hers
into consideration. Sometimes she
thought II was conquered. But at
other times, when she looked at the
rich men around her from whom she
would choose her victim and saw their
fishy-eyes, heavy sensual mouths,
most tempted TO renounce her amoi-
- and school
teaching.
But later, at some brilliant function
or other, under the influence of flowers
and service and music. gowns and
Jewels that money brought, her
resolution to go through with it would
find new strength. She watched the
wives of some Of these men, many
Young, beautiful. alluring. wearing
the handsome gowns and jewels
which their husbands wealth had
provided. They seemed happy and
contented. in the main. II was i'm
possible that all could have married
for love of men like Candy. They
too. must have struck bargain with
their souls. Why not she?
But, mindful of her fears. she was
secretly amazed that Barstowe's
kisses. the pressure of his arms.
gentle. suggesting a latent strength
that could crush her, had awakened
no repugnance in her.
He was young and clean and hand
some, Of course. she argued; but she
was no silly girl who found the
caresses Of any personable young man
pleasant!
She was grateful to find hey fears
groundless: but, at the same time,
she was troubled. For she had to
admit that she liked him, and 1t was
dif1cult to double cross someone she
liked. When she had conceived her
plan to achieve a wealthy marriage,
to capture a fortune with the bait
she had cleverly constructed, it. had
never occurred to her that her con-
science would trouble her. She had
been so sure that her victim would
be the sort of man on whom she
would feel quite justified in foisting
the fake that was herself
But Victor Barstowe was honest
He hated lies. She recalled what
he had said to her that afternoon
when they motored to the Forbes!
h liked the truth a:f practiced it
and she could no longer look truth
in the face!
A clock striking somewhere arous
her She spranG up in dismay at the
lateness of the hour. Barstowe would
be back shortly. and she had to make
perhaps the most important toilet OF
her life She must dress for her first
meeting with his critical family.
The maid came in answer to her
summons and began Immediately on
her hair while Jeanne's slim fingers
went swiftly among the fragrant ap-
continents of her dressing table.
Powder. a merest touch of Zip rouge.
perfume, a bit of polish to her
nails.
She had determined to look her
most girlish. depending upon the per-
lection of her grooming to give her
the correct woman of-the-world ap-
pearance. The gown she chose was
simple affair of white chiffon, yelling