Show WON PARADE by evelyn campbell S Morrris ht by evelyn campbell CHAPTER X continued is 16 she picked up op her fan her little satin party bag giving a last look at her face ace in the mirror what was behind those eyes fear unrest appeal but with her first question it was gone she saw herself as she was touchingly beautiful with the perfection of maturity in the body of youth with a sweep of passion she threw out her arms to her own image happiness was her right she would take it now in whatever form it ca came me nothing could hold it back from her then she made a little prayer 0 let we me be happy I 1 she was standing there when the knock came upon her door how strange to see her own face whiten and whiten to see her own eyes widen and grow dark with fear fear that had been at her elbow through this ho hour u r lurking beyond her hei in the corners comers of the room unnamed fear that her inner self had bad known of an and d tried to warn her of but which she would not heed it was strange to watch her own own face like this marking the change of its emotions as one would watch a strangers face come to in she said th the e door was not locked through th the e m mirror arror that site she still faced she saw it slowly open and saw a man standing on the threshold of her room he was a short stocky man without age and without memorable features you pass twenty like him any afternoon without seeing one of them yet vet there was a look of strength of resistance si about him that made itself felt through hla his unremarkable per sona sodality lity As he be advanced closing the door behind him she retreated her arm touched the mass of gardenias and the contact released a burden of heavy perfume slie she heard her name spoken and murmured yes I 1 am linda roth both brian was walting waiting for her at the entrance of the ballroom as she knew be would be he looked at her anxiously as it if aware of some vague alteration te in her features tills was not external for her cheeks were delicately colored and her eyes softer and more brilliant than ever she smiled but there was a coldness in her smile that repelled the warm eagerness of his greeting he had bad waited a long time and neither men nor lovers like to wait you are late linda her white shoulder moved with an imperceptible shrug 1 I found that I 1 was tired of dancing I 1 was in halt half a mind not to come down the puzzlement of his eyes deepened that afternoon she had bad promised to meet him here it was arranged as if they had passed hours in the planning and now this with that faint incomprehensible smile she walked with him through the length of the room to tile the group where the presumable hostess was to be found it was one of those odd gatherings where anyone who asks properly tor for fin an invitation may find a welcome the lady whose name appeared on the card was a shy bewildered person in a frock that had bad seemed very fine at home but was quite lost and effaced among the frocks of guests whose names and faces were equally strange to her people kept coming and going while she smiled mechanically she did not know who mrs airs roth hoth was or liow how she came to be there but site she welcomed her with the rest linda saw a dozen faces that she knew and smiled at each of 0 them in turn a smile as ley icy and impersonal as the hospitality they shared then from the blur of moving figures she sha saw converse his face distinct I 1 in it its purple outline over the enormous white expanse of linen spread upon his breast like a shield As their eyes met his bis own sent a shaft of malice to meet her impenetrable calm she smiled disdainfully lie should not know even now that she was afraid then the music caught them and she 6 he was moving away in brians arms for the last ume time she thought dream lly ily threading through the crowd of unhappy bored unexcited couples who made their way joyously about tha perfect floor to the rhythm of a perfect orchestra brians arm held her like steel she had remembered atso it so well longed for it again I 1 what have I 1 done he asked but she withdrew herself ever so lie ile stopped abruptly they were near a palm lined ante room and he drew her inside with an afi unexpected expected determination that controlled her studied defiance this was a new brian she waited in hence wondering how she would do what the she had to do Is it necessary to be rodet she murmured the room was a small cozy place with low chairs and a deep divan carefully with screens and the inert inevitable taba tubs tuba of indoor shrubs which so 10 delight the furnishers of hotels and tho the givers of balls almost as they entered a man passed the door glancing in at them in a casual sort ot of way lie he was a plain unimportant person whose expression remained unmoved even when aheu his incurious eyes met lindas there was another door just behind the divan where she and brian sat and she imagined that she heard beard it well through a surge of drowning music but she was playing with the pearls colling coiling them through her long slender fingers and she did not turn her bead brians strong profile etched against the thick green background the boyishness so much a part of him had vanished suddenly and in n its was something new and disturbing beneath the dull ache in her breast fear began to stir it if he would nut not take her for what she played and go got memory leaped from some still place to remind her of that time when she had bad lain isla in his arms and be would not release her in spite or of all her silly fright if she could give herself to those warm arms now if she could shield herself against the strength of him halml I 1 of what was she thinking she thrust these imaginings from her la in terror that way lay a danger of which she dared not think for she had no doubt bf what he be would do if he be knew the truth she was to be tempted he took her hands and would have drawn her closer to him but that she resisted what has come between as since this afternoon theres always somebody a crowd I 1 cant get a word with you alone he bent his eyes deeply into tiers hers and she lowered hers her quickly to hide bide what he might read there she managed a laugh an un real sound that Is what one must expect in washington she said lightly it in 1 the life you have chosen dont tell me that you are tired already she I 1 the door was not locked was overacting over acting but hla his bewilderment saved her from allure his eyes were a little more than she could stand that Is what washington la Is tor for crowds she said why else would one come cornel not you he said earnestly you did not come tor for that reason that gave her the opening g she was looking for why else her tone was so insolent that he flushed darkly but he was brave enough to go on you came because you loved me his words poured over her la in a good flood she bent her head so that it was im possible to see her face linda dont let us take refuge in evasions pretenses bowl now I 1 I 1 have been so happy my G d dl I 1 I 1 have been happy knowing that you cared 1 I have seen it in your eyes at first that night we were together in the snow you seemed as far away as the stars and as cold but since thon then you have hae been in my armst arms I 1 I 1 know that you are a woman that you live she managed to say any you are try tag ing to tell me that I 1 followed you here TO BE CONTINUED |