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-JZ: " I PAGE TWO tJA&KWEU. SENTINEL, BARNWELL, SOUTH CAROLINA " CHAPTER XVII—Continlied t —10—— “You silly child?’’ Louise exclaimed, “No one told me you wore here. Have yon .had a try. --, d -. r ~~ “Lone ngo,'* Sophy replied.y “I ha've been finishing your accounts/' Louise made n little grimace.' “Tell me’ t lie' Worst,’’ she begged. “You are overdrawn at your brink, your hills are heavier than ever this month, and there are five or. six Special accounts—one for sonic- electric fit tings, ijnother for the hire of’a motoi^ car—which ought to be paid." Louise was looking up at the ceiling. She sighed. ■ “It .would be. nice," she said, “to have someone to pay one's bills and look after one,, and see that one wasn't too" Extravagant.” “Well, yoti need someone badly,” So phy asserted. *“ “I' suppose you mean to make up your mind to It some day.” ‘T-wonder!’’ Louise murmured. “Did you know that that terrible man from the hills—John. Strangewey’s brother— has been here this morning? He fright ened me to death.” "Wtyit dld#he want?” Sophy asked curiously. "He was a trifle vague,” Louise re marked. "I gathered that If I don’t send John hack to Cumberland, he’s going fo strangle me." Sophy leaned across the table. "Are you going to Send him hack?” she asked. > > "I am in an uncertain frame of mind,” Louise confessed. “I really can’t decide about, anything.” "I want to tetl you this, Louise,". Sophy said firmly. j“John Is getting to know a great many people, and you know how men talk ■ at—the clubs. Aren't you sometimes afraid that he will hear things and misunderstand?” "I am expecting it tjjery day,” Lou ise admitted. ‘•Then why don’t you end it?” '* “Which way?” There was a silence between tht^ two women. The nnlffled , street noises from outside became ihc^background to a stillness which .grow -every.-lno- 4»e»t- mere oppressive. Louise returned to her former attitude.^ She looked steadfastly before her, her face sup ported by her hands. Sophy gsew^paler anil paler .as the minutes passed. -There was something strange an«L almost beautiful in Lou ise's face, something which hud come to her lately, and which shone from her eyes only at rare intervals. “You care for him, I believe!” Sophy cried at last. “You care for him!” , Louise did noppiove. “Why not?” she whispered. There was a ring at the front door. Louise, from her plate, could See the long, gray bonnet of John's car. Al most before she could speak, he was announced, * “It’s an atrocious time to come, I know—’< he began apologetically. “You’re in time for some coffee, any how,” Sophy told him cheerfully. "And I know Louise is glad to see you, be cause if you hadn’t come, I-was going to make her go through some ac counts.” "You know I am always glad to see you,” Louise murmured, pointing to a chair. “Sophy and I have been having a most interesting discussion, but we have come ft) a cul de sac.” "I really cpme," John explained, “to ask if you cared to come and see a collection of pictures. There’s an Ital ian—a futurist, of- eorjrsop-Just un- pa cked_his llttlejot and set them up over a curiosity shop in Clifford street. He is sending out cards Tor. next week, hut I could take you today—that is. if you would 'care about It. We can go somewhere fur some tea afterward.” T/Oulse made a little grimace. “What bad luck!” she excluljrned. She stopped short. She felt that by her hesitation she had. in a sontp*. com mitted herself. ’ “I have promised to go arid have lea with\the prince at Sevre House.” she said "It is mi cirgngeme?it we tmide last week.” 1 / John set doun'his/Ompty coffee cup wit h a el a fieri 'An Inexplicable but dominating fury/s(M*pred to have sud denly assailed him. . He took out a Hgafctte’ittd tried t<> light it. Sophy, after- waddling him, for a moment in astonishment, slipped Out of the room. Louise came over to Jibs side. “Are you really so much'disappoint- -he asked. ,“1 ,um so sorry ! If Z\ had known that you -Were coming for me. I would have ke|rf myself free.” “It isn’t that .exactly,” John n.n- swered. “It’s something 1 can’t alto gether explain^ If y.m. don’t triimL I "I came back to have a Word "with"}said. you. prince." ' - y Tim prince laid dovvrf iho- review, keeping his finger in the-plnce, A*' ^ '--•t-——--- “Not long ago,” John went orf, “in .tills room, someone—I think it was Ma jor Charters—tasked you what you were doing this afternoon. You replied that you were engaged. There ipere several others present, and they began l.o chuff you. Perhaps I Joined in—I don’t remember. I think that If was Major Charters who asked you, to use his'own words, whether your appoint ment was with a lady. You replied in the. affirmative. There was a loud *nl- -ley of-chaff. You listened without .con tradiction to many references coneejpn- ir.g the lady and the afternoon’s en gagement.” v -V- The prince nodded slightly. His face remained quite expressionless. “AS^matter of fact," John conclud- ed, “I have, discovered by the purest accident that Miss Maurel is,to We'y&ur guest this afternoon at Seyre House.’’ 1 The prince Inclined his head gently. He remained monosyllabic. “Well?” i John frowned heavily. “Can’t you see,” he went on bluntly, “that If any—one of. those men who were present, and heard What was said about your guest, found opt.afterward that it was Miss Maurel who came to see you—well, I need not go on. need I? I am sure you understand-.*.The things which were hinted at could not. possibly apply to her. Would you have brought you here that I may say it .In my own Way and in mjr own atmosphere.” " ' “This -is like you!”> Louise mur mured.' "You bad To bring me out to a hilltop, on the dreariest hat|ir of a wet March afternoon, to tell me—» what?” . - ; “First of nil,” John begnn, “I will an swer n quest ion-which you have asked me three times since wo started out Ibis afternoon. You wanted to know how I found out that ypu/were riot go- Ihg to tea with the prlpce.. Well, here Is the .truth: I asked the prince, to ejinnge the day ofyou'r visit to him,” Her fine, sllky^yebrows came a little closer together. _ “You asked him that?” she repeated. John nodded. “And he consented?” will explain,” John continued. “It was p most unfortunate circumstance, but in the club, after lunch, the subject of spending- the afternoon came up. The prLnee spoke of an engagement. He was tied at home, he" said, from four to six. Some of the men began to chaff him, and suggested that he was entertaining some lady friend, his latest favorite—well, I dare say you can Imagine the reAt,” John broke ofT. Her fingers played nervously for a moment with the edge of the rug. She drew. It higher up. - / "Well, when I left your house the first time this afternoon, I went straight hack to the prince. I pointed out to him that afte.r what had been said, as it might/beeome known that you were his guest of tqday, it would be better for "him to postpone your visit. He ugreed to do so.” ;* "Was that ail that passed between yftu?” " /x. ' “Not quite,” John replied. “He the early part of.that rifternobn in n manner.wholly strange to him. in pur suance of an order given to his major- domo immediately on his return from his club'"after lunch, the great recep tion rooms of Seyre House, the picture gallery and the ballroom were - pre pared as if for n reception. Dust-shdets were swept aside, masterpieces of painting and sculpture were uncovered, the soft brilliance of concealed electric lights lit up many dark corners. He Avijs forty-one years old that day, and the few.words which John Had spoken'to him barely an hour ago had made him realize that there was only one thing in life that he desired. The sight of his treasures merely ■soothed his vanity. It 1 left empty and unsatisfied his fuller and deeper de sire of living. He told himself that hisTime had come. Others of Ids race had paid a great price for the things they had coveted in life. He, too, must follow their example. lie was in Louise's drawing-room when she returned I.onise, with hair and cheeks a little damp, hut witil a wonderful light in Iter eyes ami with footsteps that seethed to fall upon.air. “Some .tea and a hath this mo ment, Aline!" site called out. as she 'ntv lightly tip the stairs. "Never mind about dinner. 1 am so late. I will have some.toast. Be quick!" “Madame—” Aline began. “Don't bother me about anything now," Louise interrupted. “I -will throw my things off whilp you get-the bath ready.” - t She stepped into her little room, throwing “off iter ejoak as she entered. Then she. stopped short, almost upon the threshold. The prince had risen to his feolt. Z “Eugene!” asked me Avlmt concern it Avas of mlmv—He came toward her. - Even as’in “The Things That Were Hinted Could Not Possibly Apply to Her.” mind sending a note to Miss Maurel and asking her to have tea with you some other afternoon?” * , “And why the deuce should Pdo that?” the prince asked, a trifle paler, 1 but entirely self-possessed. “To oblige me,” John replied. The prince wiped his eyeglass care fully upon his handkerchief, “Mr. SjJtrangewey, • you. are a very amiable young man," he said equably, “to whom I have tried fo show some kindness Tor Miss Maurel’s saky^ I really do not see, however—pardon my putting it plainly—whnt business this is .of yours.” _ v “It is my business,” John declared, “because 1 have asked Miss Maurel to be my wife, and because I am hoping that some day, before very long,” she will conseri.t/’. fhe prince sat quite still in his chair, hiss-eyes-fixed upon a certain spot in tTKvcar'pId. He had not even tin* ap pearance of being engaged in thought. He seemed only steeped In a sort of passivity.. Finally, with a sigh, he rose to his. feet. ' 4 My y^*ung friend.," he decided, “your sbiVi'Nient alters the situation. I di<l not credit you with nmtrinuHwhl inten tions. I must see avhut can bp done!” His' lips relaxed ever so slightly—So slightly that' they ’ showed only a Tftimi)se‘ i*f his teeth in one straight. hardHipe. lie looked-at John mildly, and his \vmds seemed destitute of all offense; yet John felt the lightnings theta; .A note ip Miss Mau- rei.” the prince promised, as he made his way toward the writing tahleT^and ask her'to visit me upon some other afternoon.” and Ij told ’him I hoped that some day you Avould be my wife.” She sat quite still, looking doAvn upon the flaring lights. She was tilled, Avith a restless desire to escape, to start the motor herself, and “rush through the wet air into London and safety. And side by side with that desire -ghe knew that there avus noth ing in^the world she Avanted so much as to stay just where she Avas, and to hear just the words she was going to hear. / “So much for that!” Jolm proceeded. And now please listen. T have brought you put here because under these con ditions I feel more master of myself mid my thoughts, and of things'I want to say to you. Something tukes me by the throat in your little drawing-room, with its" shaded lights, its perfume of' flowers, and its ntmosphere of perfec- -tlom^You sit enthroned there like the qdoen of u world I kribw nothing of, and till the time letters and flowers and flatteririg Invitations are showered upon you from the greatest men. in London. The atmosphere there stifles me, Louise. Out here you are a woman and I u man, and those other things fall away. I have tried my best to come a little vvny into, sympathy with your life. I want you.pQW. to make up your mind, to come down a little way into mine!” She felt the sudden snapping of ev- ^■ery nerve in her body, the passing nway of all sense of will or resistance. She was conscious only ofJjtfie little movement to\v«rd him,The Involuntary yielding of herself. She lay back in his arins^vnd the kisses which closed her eyes arid lips seemed to be work ing sjamo strange mlrade. She was in some grEnT empty space, breathing wonderful tl)irigs. ^She was on the-hilltops, and from- the heights she looked down at herself as she had bcetir—a poor little white-faced puppet, strutting about an overheated stage, itr a fetid atiriosphere of adulation,'with a brain artificially stimulated, and a heart growing oold With selfishness. She pitied herself as she had been, i lieri sh v oiiened her .eyes with a start of Joy, 1, ^ When he turned around, Louisb=Uad j “It plight have been worse,” he (]?<• at least nerved herself to meet what, dared. “Stephen wasn’t pleased, of S He liM-tes. Women likb’lpoisqn. course and h4 always wlil. That is beeyusc iiJ will insist upon dwelling upon cer tain unhappy incidents of our family history.” "I shall never forget the morning he canle to call on me,” Louise sighed. "He threatened all sorts of terrible tilings if I did not give you up.” “Why didn’t" you tell me about it?” John asked. > “1 thought it might Avorry you.” d+e replied, “and it couldn’t do any good. stopped to kiss her fingers, his eyes ■spetned to take in her disheveled cbn : dinoq/^The little patches of color in her chocks, the radiant happiness Avhich slaabvin her eyes. -Lane not iTn^umvdcome intruder. I h<>pe.” 1m* said. ^XBut how wet you are! 5 '’ - The lingers which lie reTpased fell nervelessly to her side. ■ Slriv^tood looking at ldliV as if confronted Avjth a sudden nigiitmare. It was as if t_hi> new-found life were being slowly drained from her veins. . “You ar<* dvertireU.!’ ha launnured. she felt was iniininent- Z, l b" prince - approached lier deliber- nteiy. She knew, AA'hat lie Avas goiug to. say. • • “Louisi\” h£ iiegau, drawing a chair to her -side, “I have found myself thinking a great deal about you dur ing -the hist few* Aveeks.” Sbq" did -not yfflermpt—bim. She -simply waited anti watched. “I ha\e pome to a certain detepnin- jifieri,” he proceeded; “one xVltich, if you will grace It with your approval, will give me'great happiness. I ask you to forget certain things ’Avhlch have passed b dween us. I have cone to you today to beg you to do me tht honor .of-diecominghiy wife.”. She turned her head very-•slowly until she was looking him full in the face. Her lips were a little parted, her eyes-a little strained. The prinee was 1 leaning toward her in a conven tional-attitude; his words bad been * < spoken simply- arid in Ids usual con versational manner. There was some thing about him, hoAvever, profoundly convincing. “Yonrjyife!” Louise repeated^ “If you-Will do nuvthat great hon or.” It seemed at tjfst as if her nerves were strained to tin* breaking-point: The situation Avas one with which her brain seemed unable-Jo grappl^y Slit* set l.er teeth tightly. Then she had a sudden interlude of- wonderful clear sightedness., She was almost cool. “You 'must forgivemy surprise,* Eu gene.” she begged. “We have known .each either ,ribw for some twelve years, have Ave riot?—aud I believe-that this is the first, time you have ever hinted at anything of tin* sort!.’’ “On?* gathers Avlsdom, perhaps, with the years,” lie replied. “I am forty- one years old today. I have spent the early hours of this nfterpoon Tn rofiec- tiori, and behold the result!’’ “You have spoken to me before,” she j said slowly, °f different things. ^ nU p,-d,> and. fragile, her eyes larger and have offered me a great deal in life, dejiqj^r.' than usual, and her mouth but never your name. I no not under-.! stand this sudden elinngd!” Her Lips Sought His and -Clung to — Them. lie believed lie was doing his duty. John, you are sure about yourself, aren't you?” He Was a little startled tij* the earn-, estness* of. her words. She . sepn'ied V lending her with solicitude tinvard an easy chair. “One Avoifid imriglne^ from your nppear.uice. tiiat I was tlie^bear- e.r of somd terrible tidings. Let me assure you that it is not so.” . -- He spoke witli his' usual delihern- j^on- but ^-jie seemed powerless to r»*- cotE? "herself... She avus still dazed and white. She\ sank into the chair and lookrti at him. “Nothing. I trust. - went on. “has hapjiened to disturb you?” “Nothing at aiL’. she jleclared-|-hast- liy- haps not told me that there was anyone j here.” _ ! “I had a fancy to see you this after noon,” tlie prince explained, “and. finding you OUt, I took the liberty of waiting. If you Avould rather I went away and came for you-later, ph ase do not .hesitate to say so.” “Of course not!*’ she exclaimed. “I do not kno.w why I should have been so silly. Alirte, take my coat and veil,” she directed, turning to tin* maid, who was lingering at the other end of the-room. “I am not we?. Serve some tea in here. I will have “Louise,” in* declared, “if I do not t|dl you the truth now, you will prob ably guess it. Besides, this i-. flit* one into in tlieir lives, >vln*n a man and wmHmn should speak nothing hut the truilmXJt is for fear of losing you is wd etoulous. She-, was like a cjiilil with’ e/shadow of some fear.hanging over Her setrcohbnd suddenly gave way. Slio threw lierseTf^baek in lier chair. She began to latigiiHiii(T stopped 'at>- ruptly. 'the tears sireamH^^from her eyesr - The prince leaned forWqrd. He took lW*r-hands iu ills, but shexdrew them away. “You too lute, Eugene.!’’ sht said. “1 almost Toyed you. I w as al- j mo>t yours’ .to do whatever you liked with. But somehow, somewhere, not withstanding all vour worldly knowb j edge and mine, wo missed It. We do ‘I am .tired. 1 ran upstairs per- j. fl ot krioAv the truth about life, you and 1 a little too quickly. Aline had j—least, you do not v and I did not." He rose very slowly to. bis feet.. I There was no visible change In his I Tare save a slight whitening of the 1 cheeks. . ' “And the sequel to thisjf.” lie asked. "I have promised to uiftrry John Straiigcwev,” she told him. _• cy “That." he replied. “Is linpossihle! I have a prior claim.”” . ' The light of battle flamed suddenly in her eyys. Her nervousness had gone. She was a strong woman, face to fate with him now. taller than he. seeming, indeed, to tower owr him in the splendor of her anger. She Avas trer| I the I *1 her. Ih* laughed and held her tightly ' to him. „ Her lips sought his and clung to them;. A queer, little wave of passion seemed to have, seized her. Half ■cry* ling. ■'half laughing, she pressed her j •face against his. “I .do not want to | act tonight. I do not. want to play, even to-the most wonderful audience: : in the whrld. I do not want-’to shake hands with many hundreds of penpje at that hateful deception. , 1 lliink F want -nothing else in the world .but you!" Jlie lay, for a moment, passive in bis ainns. He smoothed her hair «n,i, ’kissed her tenderly. y-Then ! hack to her plncjF upon Her emotional mood, while It flattered him in a sense," did nothing to quiet the little demons of unrest that pulled, every pow; and then, at his heart strings. \ ‘•Wbnt is this reception?"-he asked. .She made a little'grimace.-- "If is a formal welcome from the English stage to the French company that has come over to pin writ the new French theater.-’.’ she, told him". "Sil er hair un<l i he led h^r the coqjfh- my hath later, when-1 change to gn to n'ke a lioness tht^atened with the loss the theater^” She spoke bravely, but fear Avas in of the one dear thing: 3 .. "Assert it. then.” six* cried defiant- her heart. She tried to teH'Trersclf t lv. jj’Dou.what you will. Ho-to him were phtA ing qrou “I shall Avrlte a Ttitik I AVitrtie .going.' Tlb'Tbls srrrue- ihing T must put right.” He left without another wytrdr Sht r watched him'step iuto his new motor car and drive away a little recklessly, ■v. considering the crowded stato of the streets. He,drew up. a few minutes ' lgtftr. outside the club in Pall Mall, .Where, isTTT flianced. he Tmd luriched that day w ith the.prince of Seyre, He fqumL.tUe i »rinof* still *jittiug Ip the smoking room, reading a review, . over the top of which he glanced up ~ as John approached, mid nodded non- dhalantly. \. , "Back again?” he uiurmtiretL CHAPTER Xyill. Bncjv agatn-fo his ¥rynus. and, later j-ou, ouce more" to Louise’s little'house in Kensington; a few minutes’ master- nil plead big. arid-then success. Louise wrapped herself up and descended to euqreet by his side. for an hour or more John*.drove steadily wvsfwrird, scarcely, speaking more than tt chance word. It Was twh light' when he brought the ear to. a standstill.! Louise raised tier veil and lookc^ up.. “Weii?” she asked .inquiringly. \ He pushed back the throttle on his steering w heel and stopped the en gine. Then he turned toward her. “I have something to spy to you," he “How wonderful it all is!" she mur : mured. “You brought me here to tell n»e. this?" ' ~ "* “Arid to bear something 1'Hio insist ed. * - "I have tried not to,-Johri!”.she con- fesved, amazed at tlri* tremble r*f her sweet, low- voice.... Her. words seemed like the confession, of a Aveeping child. “I rvuinot help It. I do love you! 1 have fried not to "So hard, but now—- iioav I siihiLnot. try arty iirore!” 3^They drvwu quietly down the long hilPaud thrjmgK the dripping streets. Not* abbther av(»M. passed between tlp'in till tjtoy^litoAA » oujside her door. She felt {3ttjbv timidity,as he iuLudiHi ber-mit, an-it+Tm(yie.e gFatiluib* forTtis firm tone and intuitfeetact.. ‘‘No, - ! Avon’t- come in, thanks^Ttode- dared. “You have so little time to rest and get ready for the theater/' * “You Avill be there tonight?” she asked. ^ ;He laughed as if there Avere humqr .in the suggestion of his absence. ■•*’ **f)f course !’h~. - - Hie slipped in his’clutch and drove off through the rain-gleaming streets with the smile and air of a'conqueror. Lokise passed into her little house to find a visitor waiting h>r her there. • *- • ■ • ■■ • . Eugene, prince of Seyre, had spent •• v- cm. • ..iviia iUI(*. (hiS minifte. if you ha vp courage enough, if it seems to you well. Claim, indeed! Bight! I have the otto right every Woman in the world possesses— to give 1 torsol,f. body arid - soul., to the mnri shtijovos; That is the only claim and. the only right I recognise, and I am giving- inysolf to him, where he wants me. , forever !” ^ • Site stopped suddenly. Neither of Edward and I are to receive them. You will coiner.AviM you not? I am the hostess of the evening.” “Then I am not likely to refuse,‘am I?” he ‘asked, smiling. “Shall I come. to the theater?" , “Cot.ne. straight to the reception- at■ the WhitehaU’rowius," she-begged. "£ir Edward is ntllitvg for me, and (JraiMot wllL-go -down-with us. Later, if you care to, you can drive me home:" "Don’t yon think,” he suggested, "that- ii Avould be.rather a good opi»or.- tunity to announce onr engagement?” ’“Not toniglit!” she pleaded. “Yon know. I cannot-seetn to belieye it my self except when I am with you and Aye. are alone. It seems too wonderful after ali these years. Do yrm know, John, that I am nearly.thirty?” — He laughed. “How pathetic! All the more r**a- theiii had L( a rd • 1L diS(T(‘(‘tv. knock !lt . tt '.W, -Aliim l».5«.l.'?SnwillrtlwTt**KT *I»«M W. "-hy W st.mil.1 ,.;t fSbirn-winr rtimmiw- it. ns “•I’uf i.t down here by iriy, side. Abnc," her. mistress ordered, “and 7 -ter showHIk- prince Aline .held tin of Seyre out. door 1 open. For a sinvbK moment, the prince -hesitated. ! Then lie picked up his hat and bowed. • ".IVrhapsXhe said, “this may riot lie ,:b'* last word!”. a CHAPTER XIX. slide." K 'Z ;* Vl'liere is no partictiltu’ hurry." -she sajo. -a liCtb* nervously.- “Let nu* get used, to it Triyself. T don’J think you 1.will ’have to wait long; ’ Everything I r haV(* been used to doing arid ihink- 1 Ing seems to bo crumbling, rip around me. Last night I even hated Toy work, or at least part of it," s’. His eyes lit tip wit!) genuine pleas ure. - "I eriri’t tell 'Nioii how glad I a.m to ay fUat.” In declared. ,4 t Becoming My Wife/ that this visit. Was. a cbincidi^ice. that John lante hack to town from ,his < "umb* rhuid home, telling iiiius**lf that. “'f nil i„„i p,.„. «.11 Ss 1.0 |m.i <•*»«*• ! <’;*■>♦ •>« •• co ' tr, T-C .... II.. I.S Ouiy. He. Imd , M- 1 . „,,k 1 ..... r- • Cl '... .1 S,..,.hen tils .nines. 'Wl Ib. y hnC It. ...Im..v (.n.m.. . .....1 hw plily .s ^<* ivtoteri frlemli** - Yet all the time ito SYopderful. But I think, rtnd I alwax.s ' as consHoUsOf an undercurrent of shall think, that the denouement in inning tiWURhM. ; :.. -. tbettl.M n.tls.,1*..,nimble!- V. tori, “I anf beginning fo realize how you **1 Beg You to Do Me the Honor of • ul tocoTri^rtjng 1 Louise met liim at tlfe station it im-arit nothing, hut aiT the lime she knew otherwise. ^ The door closed belliifh Aline, ami They were alone, , The. pripce, if anxious to give her time to recover herself, walked to the window -ami . 8tood for some moments looking o»L-> ,Jobu made a little- grimace. he faneked tlmt^her expression. ultlfough she wdgptncd hitn euougli.- was a,little afrxious. ~“\Vp11?'* she’ asked, lis sh«xjQt»k hiS arm and led him ; to where her~ ,s\ne was waiting. "WharTflTtl-rrrrif rihle brother of yours stty? gaily [THUst feel/’ she confessed.. . “We won’t talk abblit it' any mhre riow\ *•' Drive me-to thriTheater, wiI1 -VriU? I. want to-lto t herb eindj tonight, just to get verythlng ready^f^ changing after- tef WU1 A