Read Ebook: The official chaperon by Lincoln Natalie Sumner Frederick Edmund Illustrator McMein Neysa Illustrator

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Ebook has 386 lines and 16169 words, and 8 pages

"Do not class me with your associates," she answered with scornful emphasis. "If you come any nearer me, Chichester, I shall scream for help."

"And your reputation will be ruined if you are found here with me," mockingly. "Think it over." She remained silent. "Is it worth the risk?"

"Risk? I am not hesitating on that score," proudly.

"And no bar sinister," she said, glancing significantly at the coat-of-arms hanging above the mantel. Barnard winced, she had touched the vulnerable point in his family history; a history of which he was inordinately proud except for that single blemish. He threw out his hands imploringly.

"Think, my darling, before it is too late; can you afford to break with me?"

"I fail to understand you," she retorted hotly. "Our so-called engagement was at an end days ago; I have repeatedly returned your ring...."

"I decline to accept your refusal," with forced calmness, and his expression altered. "Marjorie, I have been mad! Forget all that I have said; remember only that I love you and you alone. Take back my ring, my darling."

Barnard stepped instantly aside. "I implore your forgiveness," he pleaded desperately. "I deserve all the harsh things you said of me, dear; but you have never truly loved"--Marjorie's face changed, ever so slightly, and she avoided his gaze--"you have never loved," he repeated stubbornly, "never known what it is to be tempted. Give me a chance to win back your good opinion; it is all that I ask--now."

"It is useless;" Marjorie walked over to the door leading to the outer hall, and from that safe haven, turned and faced him. "I never wish to see you again," she announced with passionate fervor, and opening the door, dashed into the hall.

Barnard started to follow her, then thinking better of it, returned to his seat on the sofa and gazed blankly about the room. It seemed strangely empty without Marjorie, and cursing his lack of self-control and temper which had frightened her away, he picked up a letter lying on the table which had escaped his earlier notice. It proved to be a curt note from Alvord and Alvord informing him that Rear Admiral Lawrence had brought suit to break his wife's will. For a long time Barnard sat inarticulate with rage; two stumbling blocks were in his way to winning Marjorie for his wife; one, of his own making, and the other, a law contest. With settled determination to win both he picked up the evening paper and began to read it.

Once in the street Marjorie set out in the direction of Washington but she was so unutterably exhausted by all that she had gone through, that her footsteps lagged and her progress was slow. She was not very familiar with Georgetown, but had a general idea of the direction she should take, and keeping an outlook for a passing cab, she staggered rather than walked along, her heart filled with bitter and hopeless anguish. She had kept the faith and had been loyal to her benefactress, but when the guilt of others had been fastened upon her shoulders not one friend had believed in her innocence. She had still to face Madame Yvonett. She shivered involuntarily, paused, walked on, paused again, then turned and staggered off in the direction of the Potomac River.

THE HEARING EAR

JANET, coming swiftly along the hall toward her mother's bedroom, met a white-capped nurse advancing toward her.

"How is mother?" she demanded.

"Resting more easily now, Miss Fordyce; the medicine gave her almost immediate relief."

"Thank heaven!" Janet moved forward a few steps intending to enter her mother's bedroom, but the nurse detained her.

"I beg your pardon; your brother and Dr. Potter are with Mrs. Fordyce just now. Seeing so many together might overexcite her. Could you not come in a little later?"

"I suppose so," but Janet looked troubled. "You are sure she is better, nurse?"

"Yes, indeed," with a reassuring smile.

"Then please ask my brother and Dr. Potter to stop in the Chinese room when they leave mother. I would like to talk to them privately before our guests arrive for dinner."

"I will tell them," promised the nurse, and turned to go.

"Just a moment," Janet gazed perplexedly at the pretty woman standing just under the hall light. "Haven't I seen you before?"

"I don't think so, Miss Fordyce," Kathryn Allen's smile was most engaging. "I am sure I should not have forgotten." And the subtle admiration of Janet's good looks and pretty gown conveyed by her intonation, caused the young girl to flush warmly. "Do not distress yourself on your mother's account; Dr. Potter and Dr. McLane both declare her attack comes from overexertion. Rest and absolute quiet are all that she needs to effect a complete recovery."

"Oh, thank you, nurse," and Janet, much relieved, ran down the staircase.

A disagreeable smile spoiled Kathryn Allen's good looks as she watched Janet disappear from view; then with an impatient sigh, she continued her interrupted trip down the hall toward the bedroom which had been assigned to her. As she reached the elevator shaft the door opened and a man stepped out into the hall.

"You, Joe!" Though startled out of her usual calm, Kathryn was careful to keep her voice lowered. "What are you doing here? How dare you take such a risk?"

"The risk is small," he answered cautiously. "I pushed the wrong button and never discovered my mistake until the lift stopped at this floor," a satisfied smile completed the short explanation. "I had to see you, Kathryn. Why did you come here?"

"I gave up my other case yesterday, as you know," tartly. "I can't afford to be idle. At the hospital I found Dr. McLane's call for a nurse to take a light case, and came here. Money is money, dear boy." She did not think it necessary to add that she had considered the opportunity of becoming an inmate of the Fordyce household a God-given chance.

"You should have consulted me first," fumed Joe, displeased at the lightness of her manner. "I only found out by chance from McLane that you were here. Have you seen the evening paper?"

The urgency of his tone impressed her. From above came the sound of advancing footsteps.

"Quick, this way," she muttered, and pulled him into the deep shadows afforded by a bow window and its curtains.

Downstairs in the Chinese room Janet waited for her brother and Paul Potter with ever growing impatience. The thick soft carpet deadened the sound of her restless trampling back and forth. She could not keep still. She fingered the rich oriental hangings, scanned the valuable jade and carved ivory ornaments in the glass cabinets; then turned her attention to the collection of Chinese armor occupying its allotted space, and traced with curious fingers the beautiful handiwork on the scabbards and daggers and carefully inspected the naked blades themselves. The atmosphere of the room was heavy with the incense of the East. Mrs. Fordyce had selected the room as her own private sanctum in preference to the larger library, and spent all her evenings there in the absence of Janet and Duncan. Her fondness for things oriental had been indulged by her husband, who had spent a small fortune collecting costly furniture, curios, paintings, and silks from China to gratify her whim.

Tired of contemplating the armor Janet stepped over to the inlaid teakwood desk, and seating herself before it, idly opened one of the numerous magazines which her mother had left there. Suddenly her attention was arrested by a photograph of Tom Nichols, and she turned eagerly to the printed page, to find that the article was descriptive of Fort Myer and other army posts. She took a second look at Tom's picture. It was a good likeness. Janet's eyes grew very tender, and impulsively she stooped and kissed the picture. She jerked herself erect as the hall door opened, and a hot blush dyed her cheeks, but the question on her lips remained unspoken. Marjorie Langdon was confronting her.

Shutting the door softly behind her, Marjorie advanced into the room and quietly seated herself opposite Janet. The contrast between the two girls was noticeable in the extreme. Janet made a dainty picture of fresh young beauty in her perfectly fitting, expensive low-neck evening dress, while Marjorie, her white cr?pe de chine waist and walking skirt covered by a heavy driving coat and minus her hat, looked spent and weary. She had aged in the last few tortured hours, and the hands she rested on the flat-top desk were trembling from fatigue and nervousness.

"You?" Janet's agitation was perceptible in her voice and manner. "What--what do you want? What are you doing here?"

"I came, Janet, hoping that you had thought better of your extraordinary behavior to me this morning," answered Marjorie looking quietly at her, but Janet did not flinch before her direct gaze.

"Don't make things harder for me, Marjorie," she said sadly. "I was--we all were--very fond of you; why did you abuse our trust? Mother would gladly have helped you out of any pressing money difficulties."

Marjorie's incredulous stare deepened suddenly into horror.

"Janet! Janet!" she gasped. "Does your moral obliquity blind you to all sense of honor?"

Janet stiffened and her manner hardened. "You forget yourself."

Marjorie's hardly tried self-control snapped, and leaning back in her chair she gave way to wild laughter which ended in sobs. Janet regarded her in increasing alarm.

"Go! Go at once!" she ordered.

The sharp command restored Marjorie to some semblance of composure. "No, I shall not go," she said more quietly. "You are right, Janet, I have forgotten myself--to an absurd extent; but I'll do so no longer. Your father shall learn the truth tonight."

"He will turn you out of the house as a common adventuress."

Marjorie leaned across the desk and contemplated Janet in silence.

"Janet," she began at length. "I have never shown you anything but kindness; I have tried in every way to see that you had a good time and were enjoying yourself. In Heaven's name, what has aroused your animosity? Why should you hound me in this manner?"

"My what?" a dangerous light in her eyes.

"Quite right, they will," but the significant emphasis passed completely over Janet's head. "I have no objection to confronting Pauline again, and particularly do I wish to see Tom Nichols."

"Ah, indeed; and what do you wish to see him about?"

"And so decided to come here yourself," Janet laughed recklessly. "Your motives are not so pure as you would lead me to suppose."

"Stop!" Marjorie's imperious tone made even the jealous girl pause. "I think you have taken leave of your senses."

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