The Washington times., 1923-11-24


Jewels, as she chung 20 the rigor.
GUS law Of her youth which had
tabooed the vulgar display Of any.
thing but pearls In thu daytime.
Az she was too old and yellow for
pearls she compromised on Jet
earrings and necklace. She car.
ried q cane.
Mr.. Dinwiddle to his surprise
had found no difficulty in per-
suading her to investigate the
mysteries OF the Ogden mansion.
for she had leapt at once to the
conclusion that the frieAd Of her
youth was In some way naenaced
BY this presumptuous stranger OF
the fantastic resemblance. There
had been q time when, while in.
dignantly repudiating the stories
so prevalent for many years ate:
Mary Ogden's marriage to Count
Zattiany, she had secretly be-
lieved and condoned them: not
only because she mad loved
her devotedly and known some
thing Of her heavy disillusionment.
but because the Wild secret life
the exalted Countess Zattiany was
believed to b leading fed her
own suppressed longings for ro-
nance and adventure. With the
uasage Of years. which had taken
their toll Of Mary's beauty and
fascination, and brought complete
establishment to herself, she had
almost forgotten that old phase;
moreover, It was many years since
she had visited Europe and CORE.
sponde1ce between the two friends.
once 30 intimate, had almost
ceased before the war. During
that long interval she had heard
nothing Of her except that she
was running hospital in Buda
Pesth, but shortly after the close
Of the war she had been dis.
tressed to learn from Q member
Of one Of the various commissions
to Vienna that Countess Zattiany
was III in q sanitarium. She had
written at once, but received no
reply. Now she feared that some
adventures had taken advantage
Of q superficial resemblance she
dismissed Mr.. Dinwiddie's protesta-
lions Of the exactness- Of that 70.
semblance az the maunderings Of
a weakened memory playing about
among the ghosts OF its youth
to scheme for the Ogden fortune.
When told that Judge Trent was
evidently shielding the woman her
suspicious were redoubled. She
had consistently hated Judge Trent
for fifty years.
Her Decision.
II, on the other hand, the crea-
ture were really Mary's daugh-
ter-and could prove it-well, she
would make up her mind what
course to take when she met her.
''I'll wait In the library" she
announced, and moved majestically
down the hall. Then at a sound
she, paused and glanced toward
the stair which rose on the left.
opposite the library. A woman
was descending, . woman only an
inch or two shorter than herself
and no less stately. with ashen
blonde hair coiIed low on her
graceful neck ana wearing q loose
gown Of pale green crepe with q
silver girdle.
Disturbed.
my Godg' exclaimed Mrs.
Oglethorpe In q loud tmperioua
voice, az if commanding the Al
mighty to leap from his throne
and fly 70 her assistance. Then
she leaned heavily on her cane.
The lady came quietly down the
stairs and made q peremptory
signal to the butler. As he dis
appeared she walked forward more
slowly and paused within a few
feet Of her agitatsd guest. Her
eyebrows were slightly raised, her
face impassive. Not even thoss
sharp old eyes staring at heE
guessed that she had been com
pletAly taken by surprise and wa
inWardly Quaking.
Mrs. OglethOrpe could not speak
for q moment. The years had
dropped from her. She was once
more Q young woman come tc
spend the day with her fAvorite
friend or 10 attend q 70
caption In the stately formA'
house on Murray FIN :. high
rooms filled with women wearing
tight 6aeQues. busties. full sweep
ing skirts. small hats or bonnetI
/ perched on puffs and bralds. -.
Mary, the most radiant and beau
tiful and enchanting girl in thu
world, coming forward with hands
outstretched, while her more
formal mother frowned a little al
her enthusiasm or were
they both risen to haunt the OLD
house?
But confusion could reign fol
only q few seconds in Mrs. ogle
thorpe's indomitabIe soul. Sh'
drew herself up TO her imposing
heiGht, and her voice was hArshei