Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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PAGE TWO BARNWELL SENTINEL, BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA . '- v '’*• fjj An Unusual LoVe Story By E.THILLIPS OPPEN m i • H GRAILLOT, THE PLAYWRIGHT, WARNS LOUISE THAT. BOTH THE PRINCE OF SEYRE AND JOHN LOVE HER, AND THAT THE PRINCE WILL BE A DANGEROUS ,J.i. ENEMY TO HIS RIVAL Synopsis.—Louise Mutirel, famous uotress, was mnking a motor tour of the, English Cumberland district, when her car broke down late out* evening ami she was forced to accept the overnight hospitality of iJte-. [then and John Strangewey, reelu.se woman haters living In a spfeinJJU old mansion-on a great form,,* Before she left next duy she had capti vated John and lie had fascinated her. Three months later Jufm, on a sudden impulse, Went to London and locked: up Louise. Sin* was de lighted to see hiiu-and Introduced him to her friends of theartistic and dramatic world,, among them ght-hearted little actress, and- G rail lot, a playwright .of remurkuble mental gifts. The prince of Seyre,* a wealthy French noble, whom lie ulready knew, became his guide, and he entered the guy bohemian Itfe of the city. -r , She never onCe glanced at or spoke to her partner, but every time she, passed the corner where John was sitting, she looked at. him und smiled. Ills eyes grew brighter, and he smiled back at her. She suddenly re- to any living soul. I am only telling , nob need luncheon. Louise offered iter you‘What I think. I urn trying to save hand to the prince, who stepped buck, you pain—trying for my Own sake as' “it shall be the privilege of tjhe well as yours.” V ? . stranger within our gates,” he decided. He paid his bill and stooped to lu ll) Louise turned to John with a little fier with her cloak. Her heart sank, leased her hold upon her partner and her lips quivered a little. It-Seemed stretched out her arms to him. Her to her that hejiad passed to a greut body swayed backward a little. Site distance. waved her hands with a gesture in- “Very soon,” John said, “I shall ask finitely graceful, subtly qlluring. Iler LbulSe to tell me the truth. 1 think lips Were parted with a smile-almost of 1 that I shall ask her, if I^can, tomor- .44 1:1; 1 T T CHAPTER VIII—Continued. The lights Xere lowered a.,few min utes later, add John pnld the bill, ■?***■•-■ “We’ve enjoyed our supper,” Louise whispered, us they passed down the room. “The-ogbole. evening has been delightful r f L __ ; £ ? As they drove from Luigi’s to Knlghtsbrldge, Louise leaned back In her corner. Although her eyes were only half closed, there was an air of aloofness about her, an obvious lack of desire for conversation, which the oth ers found themselves Instinctively re specting. 'Even Sophy’s light-hearted chatter seemed to have deserted her, somewhat to John’s relief. * ‘ / They were In the very vortex of London’s midnight traffic. The night was warm for the time of year, and about Iveicester square jmd beyond the pavements were crowded with pedes trians, the women lightly and gayly clad, flitting, notwithstanding some sin ister note about their movements, like butterflies or brlght-hued moths along the pavements nnd across the streets. The procession of taxicabs and auto mobiles, each with its human freight of men and women In evening dress on their way home after an evening's pleasure, seemed endless. Presently Sophy began to talk, and Louise, too roused herself. “I am only Just beginning to realize,” the latter said, “that you are actually In London.” “When I lonve yon,” he replied, “I, too, shall find It hard to believe thjit we have actually met ugaln and talked. There seems to be so much that I have to say,” lie added, locking at her close ly. "and I have said nothing.” , ‘There Is plenty of time,” she told him, and once more the signs of that slight nervousness were apparent In her manner. “There are weeks md months ahead of us.” “When shall I see you uguln?" he asked. .... . :X*’~ "Whenever you like. There are no re hearsals for a day or two. Iting me up on the telephone—you wllj find my number in the book—or come and lunch with me tomorrow, if you like." . “Thank you," he auswered-; “that Is Just what I should like. At what time?" “Half pust oue. J will not ask either Just have something to drink. We needn’t have any more supper.” The*cab stopped a few minutes later J iufmde what seemed to be a private mjWk*' The door w«s opened at once. Sophy wrote John’s name in a book, 'und they Were ushered by the manager, who had come forward to greet them. Into a long room, brilliantly lit, and'X'j filled, except In the center, with sup- ‘ per tables. John looked around him wonderlngly. The popping of cham pagne ebrks was almost Incessant. A slightly voluptuous atmosphere^ of cigarette smoke, mingled with the per fumes shaken from the clothes and hair of the women, several more of whom were'now dancing, hung about the place. A girl in fancy dress was passing a great basket of flowers from table to tuble. | - Sophy snt wtth her. head resting upon her hands and her face very close to her companion’s, keeping time with her feet to the musle. “Isn’t this rather nice?” she whis pered. “Ho you like being here with me, Mr. John Strangewey?” “Of course I do,” h^' answered heart ily. “Is this a restaurant?" She shook her head. "No, it's .a club. We can sit here all night, if you like.” ^ “Can I join?” he asked. She "laughed as'she sent for a form and made him fill inn. “Tell me," he begged, ns he looked around him, “who are these girls? They look so pretty and well-dressed, and yet so amazingly young to be out at this time of night.” .^Mostly actresses,” she replied, “nnd musical-comedy girls. I was lu musi cal comedy myself before Louise res cued me.” “Did you,like it?” “L liked It all right,"-she admitted, ‘tl*ut I left it because I wasn’t doing any good. I can dance pretty well, but I have no voice, sp .there didn’t seem to be-any chance of my getting but of the chorus; and one can’t even pretend to live on the salary^ they pay you, un less one has a part.” "But these girls who are here to- n it"'* 1 "They are with their friends, of course,’’ she told him. “I suppose, if it hadnjLbeen for Louise, I should have triumph., as she once more rest»*d her hand upon her partner’s shoulder. “Who is your escort this evening?" the latter asked her, speaking almost for the first time. “You would not know him,” she re plied. “He is A Mr. John Strangewey, and he comes from Cumberland;” "Just happens' that I do know him," the young man remarked. “Thought I’d seen his face somewhere. Used to he up at the varsity with hitn. I’ll speak to him presently.” "I expect he’ll be glad to meet you again,” Sophy remarked. "He doesn’t know, a soul in -town." ^ 4^ The darice^wns finished. They re turned together to where John was sitting, and the young man held out u weary hand. Amerton^you know, of Magdalen,” You’re Strangewey, aren’t you ?" /"Lord Amerton,- of course !” John ex claimed. “I thought your face was fa miliar. Why, we played In the rackets douldes together!” “And won ’em, thanks to you,” Amer ton replied. “Are you up for long?” “I am not quite sure," John told him. “I only arrived last night.” “Look me up some time. If you’ve nothjng better to do.” the young man s^gge^ted. “Where are you hanging outr 1 "The Milan.” “I nm at the Albany. So-long! Must get back to my little lady.” He bowed to Sophy and departed. She sank a little breathlessly Into her 'chair and laid her hand on John’s arm. Her cheeks were flushed, her bosom was rising und falling quickly. “I am out of breath,” she said, her head thrown hack, perilously near to John’s shoulder; “Lord Amerton dunces ' *** well. Give.me some champagne!” “And you—you dance divinely,” he told her, as he filled her glass. “If we were alone,” she whispered, “I should want you to kiss me!” The stem of the wine glass In John’s row I” CHAPTER IX. John’s first cajlpr at the Milan was. in a way, a surprise to him. He was sitting smoking an after-breakfast pipe on tiie following morning, nnd gazing at the telephone directory, when his bell rang. He opened the door, to smile. ’ “Let me show, you, then, the way to my dining room. I ought to npolo- gize for not asking some women to meet you. .1 tried two on the tele phone, hut-they were engaged.” “I will restore the balance,” the prince promised,’Ttrrhthg from the con templation of one of the prints hang ing in the hail. ' “I am giving - a supper party tonight for Mr. Strangewey, und I will promise, him a preponderance of your charming’sex.” “Am I invited?”Xouise inquired. ■; The prince shbofe his head. “Alas, no!” They passed Jnto a small dining re- of you to come in now. You cltfi coin* mam here, too—with a friend.” the * 1 T 'i i. IV r If i ir do\Vu tornorcpjv morning and get books, Sophj\? I think I am tlrOd— tired,” she added, with a curioUs little note of self-pity ip her tone. “I am very glad to have seen you again, Mr. Strangewey,” she ^uid, lifting her eyes' to his. “Good night!” He helped her out, rang the bell, and watched her vanish through the swift ly opened door. Then he stepped hack Into the taxicab. Sophy retreated into the corner to make room for him. ' “You are going to take me home, are you not?” she asked. “Of course,” he replied, his eyes still •fixed with u shude of regret upon the closed door of Louise’s' little house. “No. 10 Southampton street,” he told the driver. - , They turned round und spun once/ ropre into the network of moving ve hicles und streaming pedestrians. John was silent, and lifs companlmr, for p little while, humored him. St>on, how-' eVer, she .touched him on the arm. A queer gravity had come into her dainty ■little fhce. “Are you realljc in love with Lou ise?" she inquired, with something of his own directness. ■ He answered her with perfect seri ousness. “I believe so.’’ he admitted, “but I should not like to'say that I am abso lutely certain. I have come here to find out.” \ Sophy suddenly rocked with laugh** ter. ..v. “You are the dearest, queerest mao-; man I have ever met If’ she exelalmed, holding tightly to his arm. “You sit there with a face as long as a fiddle. wandering whether yQn_jare in lpve with a girl or not! Well, I am not go^ log to ask you anything more. Tell me, are you tired?” "Not a bit,” he declaimed. “I never had such a ripping evening in my life.” She heM his arm a little tighter. She “I should like to see you dance," he remarked, in a hurry to change the conversation. “I’ll dance to you some day in yopr rooms., If you.like,” she promised. “Or would yrai like me to dance Here? There Is n man opposite who vyants me at»4 ^ty*ty. *%•♦.*« gi to tbe Aldwych,” she rag was scarcely noticed, but John mained disturbed and a little pale. "Have you cut your hand?” $ophy' asked anxiously. t “Not at all.” he assured her. "How hot It is here! Do you mind if we go?” 1 "Go?” she exclaimed disconsolately. . “I thought you were enjoying yourself | so much!” “So I am.” he answered, “bht I,don’t j quite understand—” — IIo [mused. • “Understnnd/tvhat?” she demanded. “Myself, if you must know.” She set-id own the glass which she j had been in the act of raising to her lips. >*- : * •' “4low queer you are!” she"*mur mured. “Listen. Y’ou haven’t got a wife or anything up In Cumberland, have you?” - “You know I haven’t,” he ansyvbred. “You’re not engaged to he'rnarried,. you have no ties, you cnutPuv here per fectly free, you hnvprCt even said any thing yet—tf> Lpulse?" •"(tf COUrsji4K>t.” ‘.‘WelL^tm*n—’’ she began. ' IIpTwords were so swiftly spoken ft they seeiqed to mplt away. She leaned forward to look in his face. “Sophy,” he begged, with sudden and •! almost passionate earnestness,' “be kind to me, please!* I am Just a sim ple, stupid counTryfnan, who. feels as if he hpd lost his way, I have lived a solitary sort of life -an unnatural-one,' you would say—and I’ve J>een brought. 4ip with some oLd-fasliionf**L-Ideas. I ■IrnoW they are old-fashioned,'Iwj.t I can’t throw them overboard all at I have kept-away from this sort of thing. I didn’t think it would ever at tract me-rl suppose because I didn’t believe it could be made so attractive. I have suddenly found out—that it does!” “What are you going to'do?" she whispered. .*.-*' “There Is only one thing for me to do,” he .answered. “Until I Know what I have clane to London to learn, I shall fight against it.” “if We Were Alone,” She Whispered, | “ You n, ^ nn nbout Louise?” M \ Should Want You to Kiss Mel" 1 mean ® bout Louise,” he said V • ‘ j gravely. =■ ' ’ to. Would you rather I didn’t? I want j Soplry came -stHH closer to him* to do Just which would please you "Why ure you so foolish?" she mur- roost.” - • .s- . cv , mur^J. “Louise Is very wonderful., in her pi pice, but she-ls not what you want In life. "Has"Iir.never occurred to you fingers snapped Suddenly, nnd the wine trickled down to the floor. A pussing disposal. At half pust one I believe waiter hurried up with a napkin, and a we are both junking with Miss Mau- fresh glass was brought. The affair’ 1 re j/> ^ohn was conscious of a momentary gense of annoyance. Ilis tete-a-tete with Louise seemed farther off than ever. At the prince’s suggestion, how ever, he fetched his haf and gloves and entered the former’s automobile,, which ! was waiting below. . They spent the morning in the neigh borhood of Bond street, and John ha the foundations of a wardrobe ipote find the prince of Seyre standing Put-, room and here again John noticed that side. au absolute simplicity was paramount. “I pay you a very early visit, I fear,” the latter begun. “Not at all,” John replied, taking the pipe from his mouth nnd throwing opoft the door. “It is very good of you to come and see me.” ’ --The. prince followed John into the little sitting room. _IJe was dressed, as usual, with scrupulous care. His tie was fastened with a wonderful pearl,- and his fingers were perhaps a trifle qvermanicured. He wore a hunch of l'arma violets in his buttonhole, und he carried with him a very faint but un usual perfume, which seemed to John like the odor of- delicate' green ten! It was just these details, and the slow ness of his Speech, which alone ac centuated his foreign origin.- “It occurred to me,” he- said, as be seated himself in an easy chair, “that iLyou are really intending to make this experiment in town life of which Miss Muurel spoke, I might be of some as sistance to you. There are certain matters, quite unimportant in them selves, concerning which a little ad vice In the beginning^ piny save you trouble.” ~ - “Very good of you, T am sure,” John repeated. “To tell you the truth. I was just looking through, the telephone directory to see if I could come across the name of a tailor I used to. have some things from.” “If it pleases you to place yourself in my hands,” the prince suggested, "I will introduce you ■ to*'l?iy own trades people. I hnve made the selection with some care., I have, fortunately, an idle morning, and it is entirely at your “I Want to See You Alone,” Ho Said. "When Can I?” The round table,, covered with an ex quisitely fine cloth,, was very simply laid. There was a little glass of the finest quality, und a very little silver. • For flowers there was only one bowl, a briiljuut patch of some scarlet exotic, in the center. “A supper party to which I am not invited,” said Louise, us she took her place at the table and motioned to. a seat by her side, “fills me euHosify. Who are to be y prince?” ^ "Calavera and heix^prltes,” the prince announced. , Lotiise pau^tKfor n moment in the act of helmng herself to hors d’oeuvres. She giftalvd toward the prince. For a their eyes met Louise’s lips faintly curled. It was almost us if a challenge had passed between them. Louise devoted her attention to extensive, than any he had' ever dreamed of possessing. A^haVf past her gyest. one they were shown^fnto Louise’s; I’irst of all. she asked, tell me little drawing roornJ'-'^fhere were three bow ^ ou b ^e my little friend? “I think she is charming,” John un- -swered without hesitation. “We went to a supper club last night and stayed there till about half past three.” “Really,” said Louise, “I nm not sure that I approve of this! A supper club with Sophy until half past three in the morning!” He looked at her quickly. - “You don’t Edlntrr “ ” "My dear man, why should I mind?” she returned. “It Is exactly what I hoped for. You have come up to Lon don with a purpose. Yftu have un ex-' or fo,ur men alpemly present, standing- around thei^duistess and sipping some • faint ypHw cordial from long-Yene- tiu n^-gtasses. .ouise came forward to meet them, and made a little grimace as she re marked the change in' John’s appear- “Honestly, I don’t know you, and I don’t believe I like you at all!” she ex claimed. “How "dare you transform yourself Into a tuilor’s dummy in this fashion?” "It was done ,entirely put of respect for you,” John said. - “In fact,” the prince added, “we con sidered that we had achieved rather a success.” “I suppose I must look upon your ef fort as a compliment,” Louise sighed, j “but It seems queer to lose^even so much of you, Shall you take up our manners and our habits, Mr. Strange- wey, ns easily as you wear our j clothes?” . X • /; “That I cannot promise,” he replied. [ “The brain should udapt itself at lensL/n? readily as the body,” the prince Si! GrnillotXhq was one of the three men present, turneiUpround. - , ' “Who is talking pliitthitjes?” he de- njandfd. ,‘T^write plays, and^that Is my monopoly.- Ah, it is the prmce, I periment to mukcj an experiment in living.” "The greater part of my experi ment,” he pointed out, “neetJk the help of only one person, und thut person is you.” ^ She moved a litilp uneasily In her chulr. It might have been his fancy, but he imagined that she glanced un der her eyelids toward tbe prince of Seyre. I’he prince, however, had turned almost 'ostentatiously away from her. He yvas leaning across the table, talking to Faraday. “You have not lost your gift of, plain speech.” she observed. “So de lightful in Cumberland and Utopia, so impracticable here!” “Then .^ince we can’t find Utopia, come back to Cumberland,” he sug- “I waut to see you alone,” he said under his ^reath. “When can I?" c - She hesitated. “I anr so busy!” she murmured. “Next wjeek there are rehearsals nearly every minute of the day.”, “Tomorrow,” John said insistently. “You have no rehearsals then.. I must see you. 1 must talk* to you without- tliis crowd.”—. / It wai his moment. Her half- formed resolutions fell away before the compelling ring in his voice und the earnest pleading in .his eyes. “I will be in,” she promised, "tomor row at six o'clock.” 1 After the departure of her guests, Louise stood before the window of her drawing rpom, looking down Into the street, Shejsaw the prince courteously motiop John to precede him into his waiting automobile. She watched un til the car took Its place in the stream of traffic and disappeared. • .The. sense, of uneasiness which had brought her to the window, was unaccountable, hut it seemed in some way deepened by, thelt* departure together. Then a voice from just behind startled her. It was Gralllot. who had ’returned noiselessly Into the room. XXX, ■ “I returned?* he explained. “An im pulse - brought me back, A thought oamejnto my mind. I wanted to share it with you as a proof of the sentiment which I feel exists between us. It is my firm belief that the same thought, in a different guise, was traveling through your mind, as you watched the departure of your guests.” 4 , She motioned him to a place upon the couch, close to where she had already seated herself. "Come," she invited, “prove to me •that you are a thought reader!” He sank back in his corner. His hands, with their short, stubby fingers, were clasped in front of him. His byes, wide open and alert, seemed fixed upon her with the ingenuous inquisitiveness of a child. “To begin, then, I find our friend, the prince of Seyre, a most interesting, I might almost say fascinating, study.” Louise did not reply. After a mo- -ment’s pause, he continued. “Among the whole aristocracy France there was no family so loathed and detested as the svigneupr'of Seyre at the time of the revolution. Those ut the chateau in Qrfeuns and others who were arrested in Baris. nk*t their death with1singular contenifitand calm. Eugene^of! Seyre, whose character in mvefbair way I have studied, is of e same breed.” Louise took up a fan which lay on the table by her side, and waved it carelessly in front of her face. “One does so love,” she murmured, “to hear one's friends, discussed in a friendly spirit!” “It is because Eugene of Seyre is a friend of yours that I am talking to you in this fashion,” Gralllot contin ued. “You have also another friend— this young man from Cumberland.” "Well?” “In him,” Gralllot went on, ‘one per ceives all the primitive qualities which go to the making of splendid manhood. Bhysically he is almost perfect, fur which alone we owe him a debt of ^gratitude. He has, if I judge him rightly, all the qualities-possessed by men Who have been brought up free from the taint of cities, from the smear of our spurious overclvilizatlon. He Is chivalrou^ and unsuspicious. He is also, unfortunately for him.Mhe enemy of‘the prince.” Louise laid down her fun. She no longer tried to conceal her agitation. “Why are you so melodramatic?" she demanded. “They have scarcely spo ken. This is, I think, their third meet ing." “When two friends,” Grulllot de clared, “desire the same woman, then all of friendship that there may have been between them is burled. When two others, who are so far 1 from being friends that they possess opposite qualities, opposite characters, opposite characteristics, ulso desire the same woman—’’ “Don’t!" Louise Interrupted, with a - sudden little screara. “Don’t! You are talking wildly. '* You must not say such things 1” [/^Gralllot leaned forward. He shook •his head very slowly; his heavy hand rested upon her shoulder. r ' -c 4 see! And our young friend who Intersgested. l “Donee; by Rll means,” be insisted. "I should like to watch you." " ~£ha noddedr- and a mfrrote -or two fthat you may be too late? later she had joined the small crowd in the center of the room, clasped in tbe arms of a very immaculate young* man wgi tb* old Sophy again, full of lifef-who had risen and bowed to he^ from a table opposite. John leaned back In hU place and watched her admiringly. gt§*cC, “md see the dancing. We can Her feet scarcely touched the ground. xc- , ' . T " ‘What do you mean?” he demandedT rupted us at rehearsal yesterday.” r ‘ Gralllot held .out his left hand to the prince and his right to John. ■^‘Mr. Strangewey,” he said, “I con gratulate you! Any person who has! the good fortune to interest Miss Mau- rel Is to be congratulated. Yet must I look at you and feel^myself puzzled. You are not an ar1ist*-no? You do- not paint or^me?” John^ shook hie head. Strapgewey’s claim to distlne- that I am here.^ tlon Is that he is just an ordinary I Jhflleve what the world bffieve*. [ man,” Louise observed. “Such a relief, you know, after all you clever people !” John fehook hands with everybody and sipped; the Contents of the^lnss she will admit cares for the what some day I think to herself—that she*^ prlnce-of Seyri.’V. - “Has she ever told you so?” “Louise never Speaks of these things a butler opened the door and an- w* - -^lACremlnlscent smile played for a momenuilbout her lips. “I wonderXshe murmured, “whether I shall ever aguim-see that dear, won derful old house of yotres, and the mist on the hills, and the starshhlping her and there through It, and coming up in the distance! 1 “All these things you will see again,” he assured her confidently. “It is be cause I Want you to see them again Do you think that Louise has been too close a friend to the prince? And is John Strange wey, with his old-fashioned ideas of rectitude, a fool,to be letting himself fall head over heels In love with her? “Just now, at this minute,’ t feel a longing for them,” she whispered, look ing across the table, out of the win dow, to the softly waving trees. At the doae of the luncheon for a Rough 8tough. To Indicate some of the Ylhirt Olir !&R'?^hte presefiftXo CEO BE CONTINUED.) era. a subscriber sends us, this:' “I sat on the bough of a tree and began to cough, having some dough in my mouth and my feet In a trough. J was ut- Owwiw tired, though roughly which had been handed to him, Tbenj moment she and John were detached used. Wasn’t that toughr*—Youth*! A Companion. N from the others. i