Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-06

Non Hartley, an artists model,
chooses bettCeen aCe1lth and semf-pov-
ertV. Martin Lee is rich and Tom Ell
lott poor. After the 1CeddiHO to Tom.
q struggling artist. she goes on posing
in order to augment their finances.
She is trail, hotceUer, and during the
hot days her strength 0tUes Edy.
Then she DISCOVERS she Is to haze q
baby. Helen Sheridan, q 1cedlthy
1coman Nan has met through posing,
inUites her to the se1shore for q brief
vdcati0n. There she meets Martin
Lee again. He still cares for her. She
returns to the city. and in the Fau
Tom takes q terrific cold and dies of
pneumonia. Nan struggles on, but
the fight Is too much for her frdilty.
One day 11hen she is posing she fdfnts,
and 1Chen she returns to the cold and
cherries apartment that night Martin
Lee is sitting on the stairs. He helps
her inside and telephones his doctor.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Blow.
Lying on the couch, Nan heard
voices apparently from great dis
lance. They were talking about her.
She tried to make out the words, but
she was too tired to concentrate. Then
there was a silence, but she didn't
even notice that. 1t was so wonderful
to be warm again.
The coal in the CRATE was glowing
into a ruge red heart. She liked a
quiet fire so much better than one
that cracked.
A coal fire just seemed to spread
and spread and spread and it was so
warm. She didn't know when she had
been so warm.
Then the different voices began to
distinguish themselves.
First. Martin Lees, arrogant, dicta-
torial. Sometimes he frightened her
little. He was so sure of himself.
His sense of values seemed so perfect.
II want her to have expert care and
attention. Yes, I'll attend to all that;
you do the rest. Where do you think
would be the best placer"
Then woman's voice, nice thick
contralto-Nan liked her at once.
Maryland. Of course, don't you
think so, doctor? There's so little of
the hospital about it. It's new sani-
tarium, several of the doctors are
interested in, Mr.. Lee. I think she'd
be happy there"
DIR. Mathews had not spoken, and
now he came over to the couch. Nan
felt flame of hot color rush up into
her face and her eyes. There must
have been something in their depths
that interested the doctor, for he
turned abruptly.
would you mind leaving the room
a moment. Lee, l want to examine
Mrs. ELLIOTT"
The moment Mr. Lees back had
disappeared into the studio Nan strug-
gled into a sitting posture. The nurse,
a jolly comfortabl e-looking woman of
about As. thought she had never seen
so lovely in her life as Mans |
face in the freight.
Nan began passionately.
IT should have told him. but some |
how I couldn't. Somehow / am never !
quite myself in his presence. I feel |
so small. Do you understand" Il
The doctor and nurse exchanged |
glances. |,
They understood.
'Ill explain things to you she |
went on hurriedly, pushing her hair !,
off her forehead with small nervous |
fingers. You see-you see" her |
voice trailed off and she bit her lip. |
Then she went on determinedly. I've |
only just lost my husband. He was |
an artist, and he died of pneumonia |
have a baby"
The effort had weakened her and !
she sank back on her pillows.
Once more the doctor and nurse |
exchanged glances.
This was rather interesting. What |
old it mean? Was old Lee caught at |
last by this beautiful little wife of
penniless artist? And did he know the
II so, he must want
her a great deal to be so generous.
Not that he didn't have plenty o.
money, but he was known as rather
cold. depressed man who had never
cared a great deal for women.
Does Mr.. Lee know this?" DR..
Mathews asked kindly. :.
"No, he doesn't, and 1 hated to tell
him. I can't bear to talk about 1t.
He mustn't be allowed to do this
thing. 1t would never do. But I
hated to tell him myself. You tell
him for me. won't you? I'll manage.
all right. He's very kind. but you
see how impossible 1t is for me to
accept it,"
Once more the doctor and the nurse
exchanged glances, and then DIR.
Mathews spoke.
"You stay here with Mrs. Elliott,
Miss Marshall, will you?"
In the cold. drafty studio the wind
whistling around the skylight. DR..