The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-28
Writer of Great
Serial ''CIlicIie
resents a New
Novel Of Modern
Life, Conferred
On the Heart and
the Mind of the
'HIapper. =
CHAPTER l.
The fright.

on the table. Now and then she
glanced anxiously, her lips COM
pressed with an inner excitement.
70 the door. win was late.
This often happened. She.
turned the gas low. almost rrefn-
bling lest anything should spoil.
Then she went into the bed. room
and ran q comb through her hair.
All this while she kept white.
strained smile on her face: this
gave it q tremulous. piercing
note. She had . pale. seductive
lace. with deep, warm eyes and
warm. perfect mouth. But Mar.
garet Meadows was Knocked IN
her beauty.
She was always thinking:
Things must grow better; it win
be happy soon." For three years
she had chung in this way to the
hope that VIII Meadows woulu
change.
In the beginning, the memory
Of . starry night and kiss under
the Towering buckeye strengthen.
Cd her. No one could say those
tender things; no one could stir
such alteration In another heart
unless the love were there.
Then before the child was born
there kept singing and sobbing
IN her thought: .'Oh. now--this win
make the difference when baby
comes
Anyone would have pitied her,
reading her thoughts at this time
seeing her brave, pathetic dreams.
She chose q name for the child:
ahe would be q girI-a dear. win.
some child. The father would look
at It; his heard would break with
tenderness. All that was strong
and fine and gentle IN his spirit
would spring with sudden. aoainr
tears to life. He void ,,ssI -.
again.
Thinking these things, mar.
garet often closed her eyes. her
hands claBped as though she
prayed. But she was Whispering
Ah-N0ra Lee and seeing
IN her mind the miracle that
would be wrought; seeing win.
his eyes lifted In pride and sor.
row. sheltertng their baby in his
arms.
Nora Lee was two years old
now. She was q quaint, merry
little thing with his own black
hair, his flashing blue in his eyes.
Even the butcher grinned proud
~ when the baby danced for him.
But other things were just ths
same. No miracle was wrought.
It made Margaret's heart burn,
seeing how little Will loved the
child. She went over and stood
ct its bed, touching its soft, rosy
cheek; touching its silky curls.
Warm, appealing little thing
who could know that 1t was
theirs and not be melted with
the joy. She began to tremble In
. sudden. violent nervousness
Then q key was in the latch.
She steadied herself, raising her
head in q proud, quiet way
making her lips smile again.
Margaret was lovely in that
dress of lavender, the purple vio-
let's at her belt He might be
glad to find her so; he might
remember this festive night.
There might even be one OF
-. -.
standing. They would feel the
love about them as they had
sometimes at the first.
He came in silently. And now
he was hanging his hat precisely
on its hook. then his overcoat.
with equal precision.
Margaret knew this deliberate
manner and was afraid of 1t. Yet
she said lightly: I'm 50 glad
you've come. Win. Is it very
cold outsider"
without facing her. he mum
bled: Paper conner At the
same moment he drew one from
his pocket, pulled chair to the
table before him, pushing away
knives, forks, and butter plates.
All the prettiness was mussed.
He hadn't looked at her.
Margaret went into the kitchen
and closed the door softly. Even
her lips were pale. She sat very
still, her eyes closed
Ten Minutes passed. There
came a banging Of fist and a
heavy: "Say-does fellow get
fed here tonight?"
She brought in kidneys and
rice, with a rich brown gravy.
He shifted, helping himself
until the plate was almost spill.
ing. But he didn't serve her.
She touched the flowers where
the paper had crushed them and
waited. AS he continued to eat,
the tears rushed to her eyes. She
got up with a quick, jerlxy move,
unwilling that he should see her
cry.
The swiftness and quiet aroused
him. He reached across the table
and caught her arm. Even now.
the virile coloring Of hair and
eyes; the free, reckless carriage
Of his head gave him charm. She
said family with fast dividing
reserve: "Will--don't act so--nct
tonight--anyway-oh--how can
; this go on7''
He pulled her to the chair. "Cut
the high strings! Sit down and
0at!'
When she remained motionlens.
ne showed an empty plate before