The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-16
WHEN A GIRL MARRIES
An ABSORBING SERIAL OF EARLY Welded LIFE
Dad Lee Disappears and Anne Assures the
Worried Mabel StOrrs That She
Trusts Her Absolutely.

o'clock breakfast. was forcing
down glass. 81 iced orange
juice, hoping for the best from its
supposed medicinal effects. when
Bertha came in to say that Miss
Storrs was outside and begged
me TO see her at once.
Two minutes later Bertha
brought Mabel Storrs into the
room. leaped to my feet to
greet her and then fairly arrested
myself in mid-motion at sight Of
my Goddess Of Liberty girl.
Her pallor was like the color
ing Of old ivory. Her cheeks
were drawn tightly over her
cheelxbones 90 that they stood out
suuarely IN high relief. Her eyes
were sunlxen. and beneath them
lay purpIish sHnudges. She looked
like the dun image Of the girl
ia seen yesterday shrinking from
Ramon Ortiz and from the ma
licious triumph in Rosa Cor
dova's face.
''1EabelE' I gasped, shaken rom
anything that remotely resembles
poise. &C Good morning. Come
and have breakfast with me. I
hate eating alone"
81 couldn't cal" Mabel muir
INJURED without even the ghost Of
her usually vivid cIearness Of
speech.
You can drink . glass Of iceA
orange juice" ] replied firmly.
Also you can take . cup os
black coffee. Not only Won can
you shall! Am I clear, young
woman: my dear? You must
Please, Annie" said Mabel, If
it had been anyone else. / would
have thought she was whimper-
ing.
You come to see me at this
unearthly hour, therefore you
are uncommon anxious to speak
to me-" went on with serenity
was far from feeling. And you
shall not say word unless you've
breakfasted already. Have your"
No. I couldn't. ! didn't sleep
all night. Z
'Neither did !. So don't irritate
me by neglecting my commands
or discussing them. First we
breakfast. Then we 60 into the
sun-room and close the door, and
there tell each other what Is in
our hearts. Please, Mabel
With a wan little smile Mabel
yielded to my coaxing. She
drained her glass of orange juice.
crumbled a piece Of toast and
swallowed cup Of steaming-ho
black coffee. Then with hint
Of color in her face to make it
clear that she Was not a ghost
but q human being, even il, more
dead than alive, Mabel sent me
a little smile and asked, like
child wanting to be pettei:
did you make me drink that
terrible-thoush wonderefuI-cof.
fee because you're fond of me?'
Yes, dear" I said as If to a
child.
We went into the sun room and
Mabel stood inert and acquiescent
while I lifted off her soft duv-
etyne hat ana pumped out into
the hollow of a big wing chair.
into the nest I'd made. For a.
minute or two she sat with her
eyes closed. Then she opened
them, fixed them on me and
cried:
Would you believe in me no
matter what anyone said2"
Need I answer" I gently
asked.
mo, / suppose Rose Cordova
has said all she could invent.
But, in her case, you don't like
her, don't trust her. Oh, forgive
me, Anne-but I'm half.mad. /
must be sure. Would you believe
me ia man were to come to
you and tell you-and tell you /
was not worthy of your friend
ship? Would you? Could you sim
believe in me If someone told you
/ was-was different from what
you've always thought"
The agony Of pleading in
Mabel's voice made me forget my.
self, forget even Jim, as / leaned
forward, took one of her hands
I'm both Of mine and said with ali
my heart:
mabel Storrs. believe In you
now In spite Of all you are insinu-
ating Do you think ia listen to
anyone who spoke evil of YOU,
when 1 won't listen to your
lla Re Confinuad HenS1nrrr,yA