The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-23
CHAPTER LXKxIv.
Love.

-. T,rva 1t M
Chickie went back to her pa.
tient. She moved in fiery still
ness. Scraps Of Mrs. Burdell's
! accusations darted into her mind.
\ Morally .looseP "You do az you
please and then come back and
attempt to marry asman OF pres.
I tige and family and bFilliaTlce.
She was saying all this now TO
David. Why was he so+angered
that his aunt had visited her?
Didn't he realize the impossibility
OF any association between him
self ana hcI?
Why then did he have that
cold furious look when he asked
what the mystery was? Why
did he stare at her In such p
' hurt, piercing way when she said
that matter was Of no conse-
Quence to her-it was closed.
Chiclie kept walking into the
hall-snatching' q moment to
think-to cool her blazing cheeks
Ito fight, against the return Of
, that high tide Of feeling. But
she Remembered that he took her
hand, half p)eading-'you owe at
least some candor to me-in the
merest friendship even"
Now he was gone to his
aunt's and in a threatening, hos
til mood. ''You may not have to
answer rme, Helena-though
4 think you shouldn't she shallv
She wondered what he would
do--and why-why was it of
1.-THE greatest consequence to
him?"
David found his aunt at home.
She was in her sitting room
small place, furnished in teak.
wood and with faded colors Of
dove gray and old wine. She sat
now in q deep chair, her feet on
a stool. Seeing David she took
off her glasses, the aggressive,
olive face softening: you've
come for. Dulcie? Why didn't
you phone? The dear ! child
didn't even think you'd flattered
her by hearing the invitation.
So they've gone. My dear boy,
honor me with q visit, won't
your" She motioned to a rather
ornate cabinet In the corner:
Help yourself"
He ignored this and stood with
his arms folded on the back Of a
high, straight chair. There was a
smile on his lips, studied and
cold. He would have to go care.
fully or he would learn nothing.
And he knew Emily BurdeIl well
( enough to sense this.
q Thanks, Emily. Too bad
missed Dulcie. I've only q few
: moments. BY the way" Gle
, spoke with a suppressed quietly
why did you deny knowing
Miss Bryce? Don't you recall
your rather extraordinary visit
to the Nurses Home q few
months ago?"
She pushed her book with a
sharp movement along the arm
OF her chair, her Lips tightening:
Yes! Well, may have reason
y for forgetting 1t! And certainly
she has! may have delicacy
enough to deny recalling a most
unpleasant though necessary in
terview. But see she hasn't"
Who made the scene unpleas-
ant, Emily? And what made it
necessary for you to have this in.
terview? To protect Yne?"
Into his low, deliberate tones
went vibrating surcharge Of an.
ger. 1t was not lost on his aunt.
Nov listen, my dear boy, be-
fore you let that little temper Of
years fly off. I had good rea-
sons for calling on this Miss
Bryce"
''What were they?"
Plenty. I can assure you.
And If the young lady had any
feeling and any fairness she
would have understood my mo-
tives and respected them. She
would not, under any circumstan-
ces whatever, have; repeated the
matter to you. It IL a shameful
breach Of confidence"
LET that go, Emily-but what
were your motives? Why play
the guardian angel to, me? Just
why did you presume this far!"
''Mrs. Burdell tapped her slip
pered foot xon, the stool: 81 hap
pen to. know a few things about
Miss Bryce, David, that you evi.