Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-16
The Dagger 8 s. % %.1 6.t sts,,
Copyright. 1890. By Dunheld and Company.

But as her weeping maid met her in
the hall, second thought pierced her
consciousness like lance:
I'm not married! I'm a widow!"
Strange and shocking implication: a
familiar personality gone utterly; old
ways, old habits left without point OF
reason; her whole life to make over
again. Her heart huttered wildly. If
only she might weep with Marie!
Bizarre were the days that succeeded
Jacks death. Dagger moved through
them in daze, yet a daze which in
no wise confused the clarity of her
perceptions.
She was honestly dismayed by the
tragedy. Death blurred the outlines of
Jacks weaknesses. threw into high re-
lief the lovable qualities of his char
acter. And she was sufficiently honest
to be disturbed by the let-down in
nervous tension which accompanied her
GRIEF. For. sorrow as she might, she
wasn't as cast down as her mother-in-
law, and Mrs. Vaneering was as sensi-
bic of this as she, herself.
Jacks death had severed the only tie
between the two women. Mrs. Vaneer-
irg's original prejudice against Dagger
had never been overcome, and now 1t
was intensified by the discovery that
under the terms of her sons will his
widow was to inherit his entire fortune,
including the millions left him by his
father.
Nothing Dagger could say would
serve to reconcile her mother-in-law
either to this fact or to her own per-
Sonaltty. And as soon as she decently
could, she moved out of the Vaneering
home. Kitty had invited her to Detroit,
and Uncle Jim and Aunt Espy had
telegraphed summonses to return to
Texas; but in her present mood she
wanted to be by herself.
She felt as though she had been
spiritually bruised; her heart ached,
and her mind was numbed and I'M
certain. People bothered her-that is,
individuals. She preferred to remain
in the city because of its immensely,
because she could slip unidentified into
the endless streams of humanity that
flowed through its streets, one of the
innumerable chips tossed here and
there by the turgid current of life.
No plans occupied her. She merely
ate and slept, read enormously, walked
in unfrequented byways, drove her car
miles into the country. Only her
lawyers had her address.
This phase lasted for several weeks.
1t was interrupted by cable from Dick
in Paris:
Just heard your loss Dearest Dagger
DO come Paris Emily and I will do all
in power divert you With much love
yours always Dick"
she read 1t over second time, and
burst of energy dispersed her lethargy,
Darling old Dick! The one friend she
could rely upon in such a time, the
one who'd understand, who'd be silent
when she desired silence, who'd supply
amusement when she was bored
To see him, to be with him. she'd
even accept the company of that pale
gllost-wife of Blaine'S. Poor thing,
this Emily deserved share of happi-
ness after so many years. Who could
appreciate that so much as Dagger?
Who should begrudge 1t to her less?
There was much to do, but the doing
of it pleased and excited her. She and
her maid packed, bought tickets,
secured passports, and a week after
Dicks cable reached her she stood on
the deck of great French liner back
ing out into the stream.
The gay throngs of passengers, the
comfortable living quarters, the courte-
Gus officers. the throb and pulse of the
engines, above all, the feel and smell
of the sea, ravished her. She cast of
tragedy's burden, and resolved to exploit
this new life so much as was feasible
for a young widow, whose mourning
exaggerated the slim youthfulneSs of
face and figure.
1t was exhilarating to Dagger, and
exhilaration was what she needed. In
three days her recent troubles waye a
dark cloud on the horizon of the past
1t wouldn't do to settle into q mar
row rut. She must travel, meet people
OF all races, all degrees, study different
civilizations and different countries
and religions That was what Blaine
would have had her do.
Continued tomorrow.