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

Nan would have refused Martins
offer gladly if she had dared. But she
didn't dare. She had gone over the
thing too many times in her own
mind.
She didn't care about herself, but
there was the baby to consider. The
baby must have at least start. When
she was well again and on her feet
she could support it. Then she would
pay Martin back the money that she
owed him. There was something about
him, something cold and repressed,
that repulsed her. There were times
when she was afraid of him.
But just now she was helpless.
There was nothing to do but accept
his aid. OF course she would go on
posing as long as she could, but If
she took advantage of this offer from
Mr.. Lee she could give her baby a
better start than she could otherwise.
She hadn't been able to forget, how.
ever, that night he had seized her in
his arms and kissed her. Perhaps she
had been more than ordinarily upset
because of Toms condition, but there
had been something very different
about his love-making. Tom had al
ways made gentle love to her. There
was nothing fierce in his makeup.
Martins kisses had been hot, insis-
tant and in a way (she trembled. too,
whenever she remembered this) she
had responded. That was what had
frightened her. She tried to tell her
self that she exaggerated all this, but
in her heart of hearts she knew ii
was true, and it made her vaguely
ashamed.
Nan was always honest with herself.
She never pretended. She always ad-
mitted her faults, and they worried
her perhaps more than they did most
people. How could she have respond
ed to the touch of Martins arms
around her and his lips on hers when
Tom was lying there in the apartment
dying? 1t made her shudder to re-
member it. And now she was going to
let Martin Lee help her bring Toms
baby into the world. Certainly that
didn't seem right. When he had first
she was going to have baby; after
ward he had said it made no differ
ence. But it did-she knew 1t did!
She knew enough about men and their
possessiveness to know that much,
and although she was not conceited,
she knew that Martin was in love with
her. That worried her, too. But there
was so much to worry about and she
was tired a great deal Of the time
now.
DR.. Mathews insisted that she give
up posing Immediately.
Its too strenuous, Mrs. Elliott"
Her sensitive little face colored. 1t
was during the doctors office hours
one afternoon.
you mustn't worry about a thing.
You're not any too strong yourself,
you know"
They were very grave beneath level
brows. did it ever occur to you, DR..
Mathews, that l am accepting a great
deal from Mr.. Lee as it is? had ex-
pected to pose until the last minute"
He shook his head slowly.
That's out of the question. Posing
is difficult work. Far more difficult
than most people imagine. 1t is very
bad for you at this time"
There was a puzzled little frown be-
tween his brows. Didn't the girl know
that Lee was in love with her? Didn't
she return his feeling at all? And yet
that wasn't so surprising either. She
had probably been terribly in love with
her husband. She wasn't at all the
type of woman to have an intrigue
with another man. Was the feeling.
then, all on Lees side? Was that why
she was trying hopelessly to vaunt
her pitiful independence? He had
never been so sorry for a woman in
his life. Because he knew that Lee
was the type of man who always got
what he wanted, and this girl would
eventually give in if for no other rea-
son than because she felt sense of
duty. The idea of her ever being
able to pay him back while she sup
ported baby in the meantime on
the earnings she made as a model
was ridiculous.
Nan felt caught, trapped. And yet
deep within herself she had
known that it would come to this.
She would have to give in, and In
the meantime there was nothing to
do but grit her teeth and wait. She
didn't want to do anything that might