The Washington times., 1923-12-20

XXXV.
When Mary Zattiany had
reached her bedroom on Sundar
morning she had leaned heavily
on her dressing-table for a few
moments, staring into the mirror.
Then she curled her lip and
shrugged her shoulders. Well, it
was done. she had been as bald
and uncompromlsing as she knew
how to ,be. A picturesque soft
ening of details, pleas to under
stand, and appeals to the mans
sympathy might be for other
women but not for her. Life
had given her a respect for
hard facts and an utter contempt
for the prevalent lodging of
them.
She had told him that she was
determined to relate her story in
full as much for his sake as her
own. But she lad told it far
more for her own. Before going
any farther she was determined
to know this man. who may only
have intoxicated her, as thor
OugAly as it. was possible for a
woman to know any man she
had not lived with. If he met
the test she could be reasonably
sure that for once she had made
no mistake. II he did not
we'll, perhaps, so much the better.
Surely she had had more than
her share Of love, and she had
something to do In the world of
vastly greater Importance than
wasting time in a mans arms.
And did she really want passion
In her life again? She with her
young body and her old mind!.
Did she?
collections
She recalled those brief mo-
ments OF complete and estate
surrender. Or tried to recall
them. She was very tired. Per-
haps she might dream about
Them. but at the moment they
seemed as far away as her first
youth.
She awoke the next day only
in time to dress and go to Mrs.
Ruyler's for luncheon: She at.
tended a concert in the afternoon,
and she did not return from the
Lawrences' until midnight. On
Monday she lunched with Mrs.
Vane and brought Harry" and
Mr.. Dinwiddie home with her.
She would give herself no time to
think and brood. She was
too wise to harden her heart
against him by bitter fancies
that might be as bitterly unjust,
and assuredly she had no In.
tention of meeting disaster weak
ened by romantic castle-build-
ing. Not she. Let events take
their course. Whatever came,
she had the strength to meet it..
AS Clavering entered the H.
brary she was standing by the
hearth, one hand on the man.
telshelf. Her repose was abso-
Lutte as she turned her head.
In her eyes was an insolent
expression. little hooking,
little challenging. There was
no trace of apprehension. AS
she saw Clavering's angry face
her brows lifted.
What did you let those Eel.
lows in for?" he demanded, glar-
ing at her from the door. you
set this hour for our meeting
and I just missed finding them
here in this room. I should
have thought you would have
wanted to be alone before
came"
And then for q moment Mary
Zattianys mind felt as young
e"S HCA OOuy' II seemed TO nor
that she heard ruins tumbling
behind her, down and out of
sight. Her head felt light and
she grasped the mantel for sup
port; but she was not too dazed
to realize that Clavering was
In anything but a love.making
mood, and she managed to steady
her voice and reply lightly:
II lunched with Polly Vane,
and her devoted son was hang
ing round. Mr.. Dinwiddie was
also at the luncheon, and AS
they both walked home with
me 1 could do no less than ask
them in for q moment. But
I never have the least difficulty
getting rid of people,"
"Ah" He continued to stand
staring at her, and, as he had
anticipated, he saw only Mary
Zattiany. AS far as he was
concerned, Mary Ogden had never
existed. But he still felt no