The Washington times., 1922-10-15

Of me socially, that even the Ian
and indulgent world In which /
have my frivolous being would
close It's doors In my face shun
me, Danish me, make me IN out
cast for always, without even the
thin-worn femnants Of q reputa.
! tion to clothe myself INF"
Her voice broke at last on
hOarse smothered sob. with In
credible, almost savage strength
she pushed him past the flutferl
ing curtains. Already the hurry
ing footsteps had reached the cor.
ridOr outside her room, 3 voice
called her name.
"Oh, Godp she Whispered, and
then again, for an instant, her
eyes bIazed into Dams. She was
shaking now In q passionate In
tensity Of earnestness.
HY01've brought this upon me,s
she said. III you hadn't come
here tonight this horror could
never have beenl You're 70
blame; and because Of that. an
II there Is the smallest vestige 0f
reality In your ayOwed love for
me, you'll be silent as 70 the part
YOU have played In to-night's hap
penings! Whatever explanation I
may find to giye--whatever the
whispers, conjectures, questiOnings
You must be silenti"
She drew bEek upon the last
word. An instant later she closed
the window soundlessly IN his face.
A moment she leaned against 4,
painting, listening intently for the
sound Of his fOotsteps on the steps
without. The wind shook and
ratified the window behind her.
Urgent hands were upon the knob
Of her door--a frightened voice
called her name.
She caught the knuekles Of both
hands up against her lips, press
ing them there until they bruised
: her mouth, as II to force back the
rising, hysterical desire to scream.
Then came, at last, the sound Of
Dams footsteps, receding, fading.
She let her hands fan and stood
upright.
The handle Of her door ratified
again. Lucy Denning's voice
TREMENDOUSLY demanded entrance
and questioned ineoherently In the
same breath.
HFancyl For heavens sake,
what is Il? Why don't you let me
inl Open the door! Tell us what
has happened"
And then Bonny's voice, scared,
yet rough with anxiety, declaring
that unless the door was opened
Immediately he would break It In.
As Fancy tottered forward to
obey she breathed Q soundless,
broken prayer for strength and
for the power. to think clearly.
Then she laid her hand upon the
key and turned 1t. -..
The door swung wide. Upon
the threshold q group OF startled
people were gathered. Swaying
uncertainty, with lips that moved
dumbly Fancy looked out upon
them. s......s
Her gaze wandered q little
stupidity from Lady Denning's
frightened face to Bonny's white,
questioning one. She made Q little
helpless movement her two
hands, and let them fall again.
She strove, Intellectually, 10
speak, the while her glance con-
tinued to shift aimlessly from one
incongruous figure 70 another.
And t fell at last upon one who
pushed his way determinedly for
ward from the back Of the group
until he stood at Bonny's side.
% His round face was still healthily
sruddy, despite its apprehension; |;
his shining bald head was SIMMER
than ever in the uncertain flicker
i..g of the candlelight; and his ro-
tund person was clad inadequately
and ludicrously in q suit Of blue
and pink striped silk pajamas and
a bathrobe.
Fancy's eyes clung to him, fas-
cinated. And then, quite sud-
denly, unexpectedly, her voice
lifted wildly upon peal after rising
peal of uncomfortable laughter.
p -..-..s