Barnwell sentinel. (Barnwell C.H., S.C.) 185?-1925, September 27, 1917, Image 2
change, and her Instinct warned her
whlflh ahe wow rowh- ’Wftli ltf 'BaTKr'Ue
“You surprise me very much,” she
said. “Louise Maurel is u very won-
derfi^l wjoman, but she seems to spend
the Whole of her time with ray cousin,
tbe . wince.” ‘ N
“They are, without doubt', yery
friendly,” John assented. “They have
W
*
JOHN HEARS MYSTERIOUS PHRASES WHICH TROUBLE
HIM WITH GRAVE DOUBTS ABOUT LOUISE-AT TIMES
"V»4ta ip
'^ S^nopsis.—Louise* Mantel, Litticai* actress* making a motor tour of
r?ir;11 T-higland. was'-obliged, wjoiii her j ar broke down, to spend the
night'at the ancestral home of Stephen HmlJoho Stnmgewcy, bachelor
wobia'ii-hateK in the rurtjherlam) distrldi;. BefottwFbe left t/ie next day
sin* hud captivated John. Three months later he webki<> London nod
Utokeil her„ttp. She introduced hlm/tn lier. friends, amougt>ep) (JrjilHurv
a playwright, nod Sopiiv G.ofanl, a light-hearted litti<* act ress/^ohn,
puritanical‘{ti hi* vie>vK, tintem/the gay; bohemian,file- of (lie city. WtlU
erifhushism.* It .w as sobq.seen.(but .Iolpi and; I lie prLu-c of Seyre were
rivals fni tip* heart arid. Land of IiOpi.*e,-/Sophy ;iUer> Tbye<rUoh!i‘, 1
seerelly. The prince fried to entice ,h>lm Into .evil nays by sending
fuM'iniii.iug "uotuen io charm and be/levij hfni.'" ...
• \ /. : ’ • —
“what makes you live lit a hotel? Why
don’t you'take rooms of your ovrn and
furnish them? Surroundings incq these
are destructive to one’s individuality!”
■ “Weil, you' John explained, ht
he drew an easy chair up lokthe fl
for his guest, “my tjitny in London is x
m.
. 0 good many Interests In cbmmon, and
the princess connected with the syn
dicate which finances the theater*/I,
do not imagine, 1 however, that the
prince wishes to marty her, or She
him.?.
Lady Hilda began 'ft> laugh, aqftiy.
hut as If genuinely amused. John sat
and .watched her in ominous silence.
Not the flicker of a smile /nrted Ills
lips.' Ills visitor, however, wae* Undis
turbed. Shed caned over urnl patted
“Oh, It lsn/t interesting,” ahe said.
is a lawyer and moderately welt off.
He bus wanted roe to marry him for
years. He ’was fa friend ,ofmy/bjrotp-
ep’s. lately he has been bothering a
little more,than usual—in fuct, I sup
pose I huve received what might be
called an ultimatum, ne came up yes
terday, and I went out With him last
ntght. He has gone back to Rath this
morning, and I,have promised to let
him know in a month. -I think that Is
why I went out to Waterloo bridge in
a 1 mackintosh and got/^et.” •
lie led her away, uud they passed
down (he room;
his seat.
“Sophy;” he demanded hoarsely, “tell
me the truth, Is tta>re anything'be
tween tfee prince and^LoulSe?”
* Sophy nCrvpusly crumbled up the
toast by her side. -
- “The prince admires Louise, and has
done so for many years,” she answered.
“No one knows anything else. Louise
never speaks'of him to me, I cannot
“But/ou must know,” he.persisted*
with a little break fn bis voice.
Iir , .... .. T * , . «.w, a little break fn bis voice. “For-
** 'I 11 * e,vn ,»0, Sophy, If I ris* ftf my-
tically.
“I like him, I suppose,” Sophy sighed.
"That’s the worst of it. Jf I didn't like
Lliii, there might hie* ponte ■ chance,, *1-
ean’t . realize'rnysClf ever doing more
CHAPTER XlV-^Continued.
’i
, «»U]y a temporary ohe, and it hasn’J
Marled worth while to settle any
where/’ / ' . I,i:
She stretched out lier graceful body
In front of the fin* nniLfnised her‘veil.
Shu was'very Smartly dressed, as usual.
Her white silk stockings, whictr-sh*
seepjed to. haw bp objection to dis
playing/ were of the latest vogue. The
chinchilla around lp*r neck and In her
little* toque-w as most becoming. She
Keetaed dpt- bring/.with lw»r an ntmos-
ph4?tte Indefinable, Jn its way. but dis-
iiuedy attractive^ Brisk in her speech,
a little commanding in lmr manner, she
Was still essentially feminine.
his hand.
“Siinple Simon!” /she murmured,
Waning a little toward him;■ fTf you
and If pe expected more, as r»f course
he would, then I should probably hate
him,He tried 4o kiss me on, the way
g<>on looking like that, I shall pat.’to the station, and I nearly scratched
your\heeks, too. You are.renlly trmvli him. That Isn’t litre mo, you know. I
rather like being- kisS?<T sometimes.”
self. First Lady Hilda, and then Cir«i!-
lot, and tindi-r-'Well, I thought. Louise
might have rung-up Jtn see whether 1 -
'Was at liome, if /shecame back sooner
tlum she, expeetod; and the prince took
the’table lost nig
“There is no secret ahbtit it, so fat
—6— • • ' ’I am concerned.’' John answered. ! •!'d*n, at her direct Invitation^ had
-Sometimes with MBs Maurel, sbme- • “If Ife Lotiise Maurel;.,. 1 thought you] Caile«d upon her eVned or tufee ,since
times with her little friend, Sophy OA-■ mUit\ ha Vo giteksed.” ' • | i lieir meeting at tl«* opera, and he had
raid, and sometime^ alone," .feint re- lc TbA two men looked at each othey. f"Uiid lp-r,- from the first, more at-
plied. “I have .bought a- in -tdlencc for some inooBfints. 'Odf on trticili.ve than any bfher society w oman
taken a taxicab by tlip day, and dmre^-tdw* 'river a Tittle tug was Udoting vjg "T his acquuintuuce.
too nido looking to wear such thnn-
der. cloudfe
"Pertiaps if we chose some other
subject of conversation—" Jojin said
’ study.
“Oli, nletir Lie !’* she Interrupted.
“Very well! Y<m really 'nre-u most,
trying person, you kumv. I put np with
a'great deni from you.” -
Jehu was silent. Her. face darkened
a little, apd air angry light flushed
in her eyes. • / -
“Well. I’ll, leave you atone If you
, She leutied. oyer and patted him on
the* hand. \ -
“DotnH worry.” she hCggcd. “If Lou
ise has to choose'sony? day between
him and you, I, don’t thipk she’ll hesi-
John buried himself-in the wine-list.
\\ ell,” he admitted, “it doesn’t
sm,n «l vt> ry hopeful. _ I’m UO sort of
judge in these" matters.' but I have
beard lots of people-bay that one gets
oniyll right nffer marriage without ear-
lug very much before. You don’t seem
to have a; very comfortable life now,
do you?’/
“Conffortalile? No, but I yni frAe,
Sophy replied (puckly. “I: can come In
and' go out when I please, cpwise my
None flie less, he
like,” she decided, tossing her cigarette A*" 11 -friends. It’s ratliei/fino to be
Info the grate. “If my friendsiup isnY here, you know to .tm/Tu the utnios-
woctlr having, let It go. It ha/[‘t even if tluyfimelight mfsseS
often been offered in Vain. « There, ure ,rTu: - ;
nh*j*e mert In London t,han I coujd count i sighecj/ and regarded /her
who would go down on their knees for i thought fullw/ ’*\ on re a queer littlf.
.»!I 1 lie Sights. I’ve spent weeks in tlie; .iroiisly,' Ti^mir of thn m t ,.n mv was a litfio piT*- i surh u - vlslt 11 s 1 ;H L. jtuy
National gallery, picture gazing, and ! Into. The room. /On the iuantol- eut yLsit. ' * j yott—you,” she added, ,
I've done irll those more modern shows V’f'.v ornate. Fremh clock' was ‘Tlvactly why are you 'heW\. any- ' bf nnpyi-
tip round Bond street. 1 have bought*u -ticking lightly. * , Alt these sounds ho4?” she demanded, ^fpt+^ire that “ you . ^‘ to ° bittjefidly P<>
tying .vq
you. And
racing ....car and learned to drive-It. 1
have been tq dinner parties (hat have
bored me stiff. I have liecn introduced
to crowds of people whoop! never wish
to see again, and made ohe Or two
friends,” lie added, smiling at his guest,
‘‘for whom. I hope I am properly grate
ful.
“The prince has been showing "you
round a lot, hnsn’tjie?” (Jraillot gruut-
ed.-
“The prince has been extraordinarily
kind to me,” John admitted slowly,'*
“for what reason I don’t know. Lie
lias introduced me to a great many
pleasant and interesting people, and a
gn*tt many > holu I
• ..:“LuuWn\_luL. ,^uftm-*4-’-iH4^e^-’-bta--« - attaint'd n Uttb^arri.w-mind-'.'.vLired'.-^ ns-T5?rf:Tn])V^r hrward the ''hvc Iwo wWif»tir ymi - ^ Leaned Over and Patted Him
you J breath," < - //■ ■ ed” ^ . /^‘Yoq haven’t either manners or sensi- | !° to ’ - ™tlines/ S de- j ® no , “ C * nea ^ j^nd
seemed suddenly Jieeentua.«*d. They
I'i-at t in it? to., n silence almost tragicul
In its intensity. ’ , * , .
Oraillot lor)|< olit’ ‘his 'handkerchief
and dabbed his forehead. He had writ
ten many plays, and the dramatic in
stinct was strongly developed in him.
suppose a young
breath,
’ “She Is very different, I know.” John
went on, after a moment's liesitatio’n.
“She is very clevvj-imd a great artist,
and she lives in an atiiiosphere of
which, a few months ago, I. knew noth
ing. I have come up hel*e J to try to
understand,do try to get aiittje netirer
T<» her.” X * * .
There - was another silence, tips time
almost, an awkward dire. Then (frail:
Kuftane told nie the^jp^ason which hud
‘brought you from your wilds, hut t
Jmve forgotten it.”
■'I’m* one ^tliiug,’.’- John' replied,’ “I-
have come because I don’t want to ap
pear prejudiced, and the fact that I
never spent a month in London, or even
with a little
in> her tone,
polite- and prig-,
ing the bell forAffy
girl. 8opj>y”
%
how
glsb! Come .and
lift. I am going!”
She slid gracefully to her teet/&hook
the (igarefte ash from her clpfnes, and
picked up her muff. //. T
“Yqn are r<*ally an egregious, thiek-
headed, obstinate ctarmryman.” sin* <U'-
course you don’t.” she answered,
o^qne could. As for yoq. I suppose
you AVllL marry Louise. What wilkhap-.
pen to you lifter that, I don’t ^now.
I’erhairt I sha’nT care so much 'ahmit-
Lpndaa then. You’ve made it very nice
fov me, you know.” '
“You’ve made it hearable even for
me.” .he told her: “I often think how
real attraction?” Lgfly
‘It is a woman, ismt it?’
fon*l of a vvoiufiii who
John admitted. “1*er-
“I will,respect your confidence,” lie
.promised, ^holding out. his hand.
“Have no.-fear of that*' I am due now
al the theater. Your tea Is excelicnt,
s and such little cakes I never tasted be-
fore.” ' * " ■;
"Yoti will wish-me good luck?”
4»V. Hi -a * *
ed
“What’s tii*
Hilda asked.
“I’um very
is itr London,'
hups it is ti'+ft* that I ani here on, her
account.’^ - . ' •
Lady Hilda withdrew from her muff
a gold cigarette case bud a little box of
matches. ^ ; -
“Order some mixed vermouth with
“Yoi| haven’t eitho
hi 1 ity. I am a perfect idiot to. waste
mv time upon you. J. .wouldn’t have
done it/’.she added, as lie followed her
'dumbly down the corridor,-"if I hadn’t
rather liked you!”
“I am very sorry.” lie declared. "I
don’t know quite what I have done. I
do appreciate your friendship. LYou
have -been very kind to mo indeed.”
She hesitatted as his tinger touched
Jj gilt fully companionable;
enough to! turn line’s libad.
( have been shopping
I. don’t know
“No:" , . t . .
“Why not?”>jphp demanded,’ a little
startled,
“rte<
“from
you both, there hre*n<i two peitpli
this woiTd less Miltalrfefiir eaph other.”
/’’Look here,” John expostulated. “I
and I hate -tenCTttwr^vatch on Irer wrist. She sighed.
wJiy 1 came to see .Vqu. j and watched the top of the lift, as it
came up. Then she dropped, her veil.
I suddenly thought >of it when j was
in Bond street.”
-4- “It was very kind of you,” John-said.
Sf I had known, that you cared iflmut
seeing me,‘I would have cotue'.to-you
with pleasurin’” .
CHAPTER XV.
“What
swered.
tines it .matter?”' she f \
an-
You are thinking, jier^nrps.
ause." (JrailloB propotuiced. -j tbatj risk my r»*putatioh in coming to U|V, ‘ M - e v ‘''y ntiie t
whni I -have seen'and- know of 11 .V’bTing man’s rooms? ; Tltme. things/ ;n ^ v ft great^. deal to
til, there hre*iji> two people Iti ,‘i° count Tor. mo. Ljyer sin«u» I—lil'-^ffl—
“Tliis is very nearly’ iny idea'of per
fect happiness," Sophy murmured, as
she leaned across J,he table and listened
iiTTv. while John ordgttl-d the dinnec.
“(live me very little to eat. Jdhn, and
me. I am de-
df am| worried
T Scarcely understand her; everything
we sav to one. another iseems wrong.
I come away and leave her simply lo
calise I feel that there Is a' wall bc-
Tween us that I can’t get over."
“There isn't really," Sophy sighed.
“Louise- is a dear. - Considering every
thing, I think she is-wonderful. But
you are utterfy diTTeri-nt. /She is.,?ver.v
complex, very emotional, and she has
her oyi‘n stoVidards of life. You, on the
othjpr hrtml, are very simple, very faith
ful und honest, and you accept the
Standard^ which Jiav^*-been made for
you—very, very rigidly,'John. What
are you looking at ?" v
John’s whole expressi/ii) had stidden-
ly qlufnged. His-eyes \Vc|e lixed UJion -
the door, his fiiee wa*j stern as ii griui-
j'ite block. Sophy ‘turned quickly.
| around.-** The maitre d tiotel. .with An
other satellite ijj his rear, was’welcom-
nnd kindj
Other days tafe very long
i)ont look so stem.
please. KpH look very vtntuesqt^- and
perfect, hut I don’t \yupt to dine with
u piece of seulptmv. • HememTTer that
I am. finding you too attnsotivo. f.,r
my peace of mind. TheruVyour text/’
He poured n glass of.wine and drank
it off. • . . ' , ' 4
-• “I'll do my hesf,” lie agreed. “If it
lieve that I apj»reei.ale everything
yon'ye told me. You' are pretty, am.1 1
am.lucky to have you here. Now I'll
-try to make you believe- that I think
so." . V ‘ - •
She 4e*Hfe*l over, so that her head al
most touched* Lis.
“(Jo on, please!" sbe .murmured.
“Kveu if-it l.iults afterward,:it will be
heavenly to listen'"to!” . - - •
“There
No Secret .About
Louise Maural.”
Jt is
I"
of
iiii<n fn my posijluji should he glad
know. He lias sj+o\Vn me one sqh
London life prett> iherouglily.”
"And what a.liotit it all?" <Jraillot
demanded-. * "You tunl '-yourself .some-
thing more of a citizen «>f the’ world.
don’t want jou to go away thinking so.
You don’t umloK*taml what this-means
to tne." .
‘TVrhaps not. aiv- friend/’ (Jraillot
replied, “bur remember that it is at
least uiy trade to understand men mid
women. I lii«*v
iyl. since she was : a cliiJd." ,
“Then it* is^J tvlfhfn you doi/t ’ un
derstand.”
"That may 1m* so,” (Jraillot confessed.
‘‘(»iit* makes mistakes.. Let us ‘leave
it til that. You are.a young man of
undeveloped temperament. You .may
Ire capable of much which at present
I do not find in you-." - .. '
"Te’N Tne the one ,qualtty in whic h
.vm.ii consider life* in os t lacking.” Jcihp
tceggech
’■*/■-...
And f. ’ (Jraillot replied, ys he* sh<
was a child I huve jhme exjtctly as I .
J.lked, and people have shrugged their j. Ami I,
sltcmhlers tmcl said, ‘All,, well, it | s 1 n * n K L* lH*ejitlu
only Lacly IlUchi!’ I am quite cou-
vincetf that if I chose to take you .off
tc) .Monte. Carlo with ihe next week
and .spend a month with you there, I
should, ge t toy .pass to the royal, indo-
ktieivvu—Lcuiikw, Mau4LUiT. nt Aseot wtu*h I returned,* and my
invitation to the next*court bail, even
i'n this era of starch. Yog see, they
would say, ‘It is only Lady Hilda!”’
The Waiter brought the vermouth,
wlth/i hi-- visitor sipped contentedly.
- “Sp.flrerc is a woman, is the.re?" she
went oil, looking across the room at her
c ompanion. “Have--'you committed
[yourself already, then? Ljon’t you re
lic* declared, “fuii just begin-
again. I don’t think. I-
umlorstniid women, Sophy.”
“Wasp’t yohr weekend party a suc
cess?”'she asked.
“Not altogether,", lie-confessed ; “but
don’t let’s talk about it. Tell me what
is depressing you. // “
The next night Sophy acted us sht»w
tug wtttl tutfe'h Ceb lnony two lutely a<l- i man at the liisfpi^ducrmtrrff the piny;
guests. Sophy clutched at the
lot.
k
eh?”
' “Not a bit,” Jolm answered simply, : ids friend's band and hurried . off,
A The more I See ol" the lift- .up ji.-iv. . “want only to l.o-on .tlic*;_siih* thai.will
the smaller It seems (t».me. 1 mean, of , moah happiness for you both."
niemher w hat* I told you tlie’flrst night
we met after the opc*ra—ihat jt is
I want yi»u on my side, 6ra,ii-j to yvart ?” . * -
“Yes, I retiiember,” John admitted!
“I meant it.”
lb* laughed good-humoredly, yet not
without sonic, trace of sclfrcnusclmi*.-.
ness,..
'nrrtTrrrrrv bre of ]it'e;TMine '-
tie* lived i<\ a vouiig tiian •!
11 e, 1 c-ft—Hte
like myself, who hasn’t; any profession! p.r**ssc'd. with a.
or work upon wL.icli he cau cvuicen-
trate his thought
Then why do you stay?
folvn made no iunmaliafc
i c
aily. In
stead. he w alked t/i Hie wimioAr fit fns-t stHge+f tttfo.-iris memory th«x- disquic.-
rorim ?i lit !/>■• ;vtiTTiT>Tty:
.To.hu walked l»yck t<» Hie window, op
•cl w ith a. sense . «>L„ soiij»*thiiig
aliUost onmuiqs~''ia tla' 1’ivUihirmn’s
manner, soniethTtTg^w lib h lie couici- rad
f-atlicijn;. ag.ainst“w'Tiif*l_i^lre st mfgglyd in
\ a in. Side Try side with'it. there
“About myself, OY Thihgs'igeneriiTly?”
..“Yourself first.”
“Well,, the most -respectable young
man you ever* knew iti your Ilf**, who
lives Iff Bath, wants me to marry him.
I don’t think I could. I don’t think I
con hi live in Bath, und I, don’t think
f could marry anyone. And I’ve Just
thirteen- shillings and fourpehce left,
I haven't paid nascent, and my dress
maker ...is calling for something on
.account on Monday morning.”
' 1 "TIfere’s only one thing to answer
- jto that,” John insisted chberfully. ~“I
sitting" room and stoo'd looking-■■ across,
-the Thames .with.a discontented tnqwti
upon his face. Bc twemi him apd the.
.Frenchman ic curious frieluUlviiWubl
sprung up'daring tlie Ifist fcrspnioti
'I gather,” (Jraillot eoUHfpied. “tltu.f.
tilde* whic-li liiv. pfo-sent relations with
Louise. Find ch ve|np.-d. She was always
ebnrml.rig when she had'any time to
span,*—sometimes almost affectichiate.
* >n the other hand, la* wits profoundly
•nscious oC her desiae to k«*eji him
to put il coindsely apfAVutlifulfy. yott a,tderm’s tengtii, for tin* present,
ate the most 1 >c>p<m1 man m Lon dot*! j lie luyd. uenqiLtul. hyr .cU'Clsion with-
There is sfitujefmiig" Iceliiml all (Ida ef-»odt.a niurtfiur.. lfe made* lujt few c*f-
l’ort of ^oLrs. my friend. t*i lit yohr* forts Jn sc*c ,x bcr alone. iincKyvhen tligy
ve round human being, into lYic-Tuct lb* turnTc
s«juure placA> Speak the truth, now!
Treat'me as a fulLer Confessor.",
John sw ung roumPtipou ltis lu-*el. In
the clear light it \yas olrvious that hv
was u little .thinner in Tlie'iuce aud
that some of the tan hacj gone frol
complexion. % , *
"I am staying up here, and going on,
with It,” he announced doggedly,- “be-
special
cllaiiH ‘i;
Upon
her:notice. He wasYseiw ing his appren
ticeship' doggedly and 'faithfully. Yet
there wvre'tiincks like* t.lM*,*prt*serir when
lie found his task both liatefuKand dif-
lieuit, - - - - - \---
Hv walked nUalvssJy backward an^l
onvnrd, chilling'against the* restraint
jte narrow walls and the low ee
said,
"(ouldii’t it be /undone?” she asked
lazily. .‘.‘Hr arc you one of those tesli-.
-bus people*whe/«n* faithful forever?
Fidelity," she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette,, "is really, to
my mind, tin* most bourgeois of vices.
It comes from a want u&elasi.Hdty in
the emotional fibers, ^’btlilng-in life
inis bored me so ni\l£h...,as Hie fallh-
fuJm*ss of-m^ LttvArs." t
“Ycui ought' to put till this -into one
of yotir books,"-JbhH/uggesfvd.^/ ,
“I probitldy shall, .when I write my
renfUusceiices,” she replji'cj. "Tell no*
mbem^cthis wmnai). Am) don’t stand
aliout in llmt restless way at tin* other
end of the room. Bring a Chair close
to me—Alien*, bins**, to mv side!” ’
: - • • * ►.
John obeyed, and hi\visitor contem
plated him t hought fully through a
little cloud oft-Ywhacco smoke.
“Yes,” Khy*deeided. “there is no use
'denying it. You are hatefully good-
ooking, and somehow or other I think
yc>Air clothe^ luixie-dmpnvvbd you. You
ing. A^stjddc'ii .dc'sin* had seized him- havlittle more air than.when you
to fly bac-kHn ttbVldlls, -wividhed in first cahuvto tow ii. A re« you quite sure
seconds a
^^75Tt
cause of u woman/ r . ' y
Graillot stpiqced eating, fdaced the ' tuLst though they might he; to struggle thut you hityfUi’t made up your mind
remains of his cake lift lie saucer of hlsh-on his yeay through i lie’Idlndiug .ruin, uboutthls; wouhtp in a hurry?”
rived
tablecloth. The newcomers were Lou-
ii»e and the* prince of Sevre.
“I don't understand this!” John mut
tered. his lips twitc hing, i •
Sojdiy Gerard said, noHiing. Her
Cheeks were pink with excitement.
Suddenly Ianjise s'lpv Jobn and So-
JtLy- : _-Sha_ sU«al quite still for u JtlcA
m**nit: then she' ctfme toward them,
slowly and ft little languidly, llu*
prince* was still studying through his
eyeglass the various tables which tin*
head waiter was-offering for his con-' 1
shieriificih. . ’
“What an astonishing ’meeting’/’
Louise remarked, us she laid her hand 1
for u moment on Sophy’s shoulder i
"What is gcyjng rtir,behind my hack?” j
John rose very slpwly to his fc*(*t. He
seethed taller than ever, and Louise’s
smile remained unanswered.
“The rain broke up my- week-end
so long delayed bVeimse of (Jjalllot’s
insistence on a scene that protnlsod
to he startling to English playgoers.^
Her part was over at the end of the
first act, and a Few minutes later she
slipped into a semt by John’o oivie be-,
hind the curtain. • * ’
-“What do you Hu irk of It so far?”
\
she asked ft little anxiously.
“It seems quite good/* John replied
cheerfully. “Some very clever line*,
and ail that sort of thing; but I can’t .
quite-See what It’s all leading to.”
party?” he explained, “and I’met'Sophy
f Soptyy peered aroUnd the* house from
behind the curtain.
“There isn’t standing room any
where,” slit.* declared;.' "I don’t sup
pose thef'e ever was a play in London^
that- was more talked about; and then
putting it off for more tlurn three
months—why:,.there have beep ail sorts
of rumors about. Do you' want So
know* who the people in the audience
_ iice?" - - , —.
in-ilie Strand. In any case, I intended j “Not particularly/’ John answered,
returning Tonight, /.understood that “I shouhln,’t- know them, if you told my.
few
L jUtKlerstoocl
you-won Id n<H ]«• herA until tomorrow
nj U)
mt
about eleven’b'clbck. !.
“Those* were lay plans.” Louise re
plied; “But, us/vcui Sec*. ,other ’ things
have intcryenefl. Our little house
party, too, was broken up by this ahoin-
inable weather, and we-all motored up
to to,wn. /The Faradays have gone
home*. The prince* heard ffom Miles
that* I wits, at home, and telephoned
ute to dim*. Me void !”
iLethn wine struggling-with a'crowd-of
hateful‘thoughts. Louise was wearing-.
a wonderful gowjn; he>r hair w as, beau
tifully arranged ;• s)u r had, tjie air of
a Woman whose toilet* was complete*
and perfect-.down to the* slightest de>-
“You Really Are an Egregious, Thick-
Headed, Obstinate Country Man/*
atn-going to lend you fifty pounds w;hlle
tall. The prince's slow* drawl reached
them distinctly. v . . ?
“It was my servant’s fault, I sup
pose,” he said.' “I fold him to ring up
laat night and order (he table* for two?}
In that corner. However, we will tpke
the* vacant one near your de*sk.’’
He looked artrnfld and,ns if for the
first time, missed Louise. He canoe
toward them’ at opee. <
■^‘The prince sceuns, to have ordered
his table last night,” John remarked,
his toffe, even to himself, sounding
Tfu*r;e* are just a few’ familiar faces.
I see the* prince' In the box opjioslte.”
^Tt.Hd you telephone to Louise to-
,day?’^ Soppy asked. /
John shook his head.
“No. 1 thought it better to leave her
alone* until after tonight.” •
"You are going to the supper, of
eourse?”* / V"
“f have been asked/’ John replied,
a little doubt f til ly. “I don’t quite know,
whether. I .want to. Is It hepig givon
by the.prince or hy the management?”
^ “The manageme*nt.”" Sophy assure
hiirp “J)o y6ji'jpi)iue irnd take me!/hs
going to be rather’furc."
The curtain went up upoj/the sec
ond act. .John, from 11le/liadows <>f
the box. listened attamKely. The
subje?ct was n«>t a ^particularly new^
one, but the wridtvgwas, brilliant.
ie> T tlrrnk down long gulps of bis own
teacup, ami laid i/down. .Then he
opened his lips'te speak aitel''abruptly' purer, hYss civilized atmosphere,
closed-them.fata* suddenly tinder- The telephone bell'cnng. He placed
went an «*xtraordlnury change*. A few, the* receiver to Mbs ear almost me-
i^de TjbMU’m iliiLL,
"Quite, sure,” John laughed, “I sup
pose 1 am rather aiKidhtt, 'but I am
addicted to the-vke of whfch-yoU were
siM*aking.'-'
Site nodded.
you make your mind up about flte - queer and. strained.
object of study; now a more personal "Lady Hilda Mulloeh is' asking for
note had liurtianized hi expression, you. sir/' the* had, portfr announced.
WhateverTttfftight or reflection it w^s [' Lady Hilda peere d around John’s
that had come iptq his mind, it had , room through ler lorgnette, and /did
‘plainly startled him. [-not hesitate to express her dissatlsfac-
“Who is the/ vroBtiknY’ ha asked
mthu tiling] rr, sue -sain
you were not an ueh*pt in the urt of
tiination. (Is it true* thut the woman
is Louise Mahrel?” ' *
"Ouite true^” John replied. / .
‘Rut don’t you-know-f^" > -!».
She broke off abruptly. She jOtw the
V
ycaving man.
She made a face at him. .' ,
“I couldn’t borrow money from
struqge gentleman,” she protested.
“Bubhishl* ha. exclaimed. /‘II
nev^er mind!
nger—uut there,
We’ll see ubout that din
ner. Tell me. more about your love af-
fair,-Sk)phy.” • \
"itrlfift-’Fu love affair at all!” she ex
claimed, almost, indignantly. ,
“Why, I am sorry. Year prospective
Louise made no reply. The firince
Vas already shaking hands with Sophy,
"I thought yon \yere spending- the
weekend with cousin, Strange-
aTdfi
hreuthlessly. >
/dear
|he exclaimed^ . face ot the maif by bet* aide suddenly alliance, then, shall I call ltr
spend parF of It together,"
John replfcd. ’‘The weather dJCflyfLiia
back this afternoon” . ^
“I congratulate -you both -on your
good taste, H JMdd the prince. 'There Is
nothing more abominable than a river-
retreat ont of season. We are tak-
the table on the left, Louise. M .
There wits tin* old “Marquis de Guy,”
a roue, a degenerate, hut still over
bearing and full of personality, front
whose lips -caine some of Gralllot’s
mo^t brilliant sayings; Louise, his
wife; and Faraday, a frieTid of the old
marquis, aud obviously the intemh'ei
lover of his wife.
“I don’t aee nuything so terrible in
this,’-’-John- remarked, an the crutaln
went down once more and thunders
of appluuse greeted some wonderful
lines of GraiHot’s.,
?*.-»in■
-*—«-
, The myatory about th» life of
Louise further trouble* John
and he sets forth to gat the ex
act truth, no matter how tragic
for him it may be.
-
. tTO BE CONTINUEJJ.)
*
mupibw. "ty' -rp^i