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• -f : i THE PRINCE • OF SEYRE PUTS JOHN'S DOWNFALL THROUGH FASCINATING WOMEN, AMD v DUCES HIM TO MADAME CALAVERA, FA ; -r-'MOUS RUSSIAN DANCER 7 Synopsis.— L«»'uis,* M:u.m*l. turnons actress, »vns making a motor tour of tin* English CiuiiIm i l.unl diM-nct,: \Vhcn ,horror broke down lnl<‘ nrre evening niul'Vlic whs Com d to accept 1 tic• uvcrnigbl tajs pita! it y—ut-Nte- pfien and .lolln St raiigiewey, recluse woman haters living in. a splendid “o|«I ninn^ion on turn). Before .slurb* ft next day she had capti vated John and lie had fascinated her.’ .Three mouths later John, on a sudden impulse, went to London and looked iiji Louise. .SheWas de lighted to sci'Jiim and int.rodueed him to her friends of fhc.urtistic and dramatic world, among them Soph.v, is IlghUhejU'l'd Utile actress, and . * •• ■> 1 . i. •_ . . (IraiUot, i ( i 4»I a \ w right of remarkable mental gills. The prince of‘Key re, .a wealthy Erencli nol.de, whiuujiv aln mly kne.wy heeame his guido/mul lie entered the'guy holiemian life o’f.lhc city. Grail let warned Louise not to to*..with her two'ardent lovers, John and ihe_pi;ince, amj fold her tlie prince was dangerous foF John.' 1 •‘and please Iceep your fac^ turned toward me. Why np> you nervous? I am not very fnnptdable/’ * He t<tpk hP^wugers, very much, as the prlneeTi^nl done upon her arrival, and pressed them formally’to hifsdips. TlWItuy iVlease(^/them and rose. \ /••tou knmv.” he* confessed “I um very stupid at this sort of thi.ng.*8hall we go back to th^ reception rooms? I shad l>* the most unpopular man here v . -if Hteep you any looker}- - — — The smite-deepened slightly. Little lines appeared- at the sides of her eyes. So far, from' being npnoyedrtte could See fchut she was laughing. "Joseph.” she Jpocked, “I am not tempting you, really ! I>o sit down. I 'have. met men iti nuit^fc countries, hpt nope like you. Don’t you realize that j*otir loye for tuy* wmiiiu should make tint) lippetile.d to. her powerfully. He- you—certainly for Mr. Strangewey. I on into'the refreshment, room, and the ' you kind to nil?” > ' • " sides, she had ~H weakncs^ f(>rs.htmdr 'think I/riml! run away withhlin, 4is- two were, forw fwmoments, almost I <|on v t.”ho ■niiswerfld Tituyt]^; u- • sohieTpen. / •* 'w : gV y/.■; ^ r; J'/// ~ TT/TT/--';-' /V*'Slie -patted his blind gently,' .. “At any nit e/V said Lady Hilda, T The prtrieo shrugged his shoulders, j “You were ..'pleased wlfh the pi*fifqt(jm , ii:iii glad to think that 1 shttlLhe_uhhv. d‘Jt Is unfeurt unate.” he'sighed, "but uij.ee. I-hope’” ' ; to watch you 1 when you see Calavera we are both engaged. If you will give' Her voice was in character with her almost brutal disrega rd of the cdirYen-U supper at the Carlton. and a cigarette - sotn#Tuter arrivals. The noisy little tlons of her class. 'l'he psyijiologtdal | in my library afterward,'would have ; g'pqqp ti'UJndthg dose at hand, from til tercet‘’(if John, Strapgewey's sltua-! heeri a* greaf'deirl ; better for" both of whidh Jojm/had'been diverted, passed in .her dances for. your first titiH <, ._’’ ti^ Jjr,e opportunity sofne' other eve- The curtain rang up upon one Of (lie, tiiiig—” . ' w ■. / '•. dpost gorgeous and - sensuous of t he ‘‘I am not at aft sure-that I shall have ItUssian iiallets. John, who by. their nnytjrlhg itSore to do’ with you. Hu- joint\tttsi,steneo. ^ w l as oc.eupytug the ip»tie,” she declared. “You are not tie- front ehajr in the l*ox, leaned forward having nicely. Will you -conic aud see iii tils plae'c his eyes steadfastly fttCcd .nie while 1 CHAPTER IX—Continued. —6— “All, no. dear lady,” lie insisted., “I am not talking w ildly. I am <»rni 1 lot,. who for thirty years'Jniye written Ora-, mas on ojie siil>j , ' J 't and one slilijyrt ■onh men and. women. /.It has\hee:r given to me to study many varwing. types of the human race, to watelAthe outcome of many strange situatioijsX 1 have watched tin*' 1 "■ prince draw you neither and nearer to him. What Hiei\« ’'in liis life John <*ntefed the famous opera house. The prince, preceded by jirima an attendant, led the \vay to a box upon Mie second Imm'. woman turn* ! tier head as t hey 'entered and stretched put her hand, which the prinr.t* rais^-cf- to his lips. “You see, I have taken you at your word, Lugeiie," she remiirked. “You give nle double pleasure, dear -1 estate up tlu'n lady,” tile prince declared. “Not only joint lords of is It* a joy to he your host, hut you giv* tipon tlugstajjg. Hotli the prince and I.ady .Hilda, in\Hie background, al though they oeeasKniaIly'glanced at the performance, deynK-d most of.thyir attention to watching liinh^ . - A s’ the. story progressed and the mu sic grew in pn’ssion and voluptuous ness, they distinctly saw his almost tnilitivrtl protest. They saw-Hie kfflt- tiug of his brio mouth and the slight contraction of his eyebrows. ..The .i *■ and tiis friend exchanged glances.. Stic drew her cliair a little fartlier, hack, and he followed her ex ample. r—^f — “Wliere ^lid you find anything-so Wonderl’fii as this-?” she, murmured.• “Lost among the hills of t’uniber- land," the prince replied. “I have..an —In fact, he injd I are the manor of the vilr you arc v ’ sin ill town, Mr. added, turning to NrangeWey t Jcdut. ■ "I should like to very mijeh," In* r<‘,- ptied. "1 think,” he addc.*d, a little hesitjitingly,. “that J have read one- of .your tiooks of travel. It is very in teresting to moot you.” “>So my .fillme lias really reachcnl Cumberland!”' she laughed. “You must 1 , W. 1 is or inny' he between you I do not me also the opportunity of-presenting t.o you my fric'nd, John St range wey. Strangewey, tliis Is my very distant know. It is not for me to know.' HuC If not now;, some day Kttgene of Seyre means you to lie liis, and In* is not a person to he lightly resisted. .Now from tin* skies there looms up this sudden A'hstaele.” T “T lage in which lie has lived." “And you?” she whispered, glancing tit John to be sure that she was hot overhoardj “Whore do you .cpme’Th? relatfve and very dynr frieml,..Lady As educator of tin* young? I don’t' I lililtr Molineli “ ' seem jp see you in that role !” A very rare and by no means pleas ant smile twisted the corners’ of liis Hilda Mtilloeh Lady Hilda smiled ■> graciously at John. She was apparently of a little "You do not realize," Louise' pro- -|e*ss ttmn middle* age*, with’dark tiamlsi lips for. a moment, tested, almost eagerly, “how slight is of eln*stnut hajc surmounted bjrttTiara, my nnpiaintanee w ith Mr. Strangowey: Her face was the l'ac’c of a clever and I once spent the night and a few hotirs still tieaiiiiful woman; her tigur** slen- of the next morning .at. liis lrotj.se in dor/aiid dignified ;• her voice low and she asked. Cpmberlaiid. and that is all l -lauu, delight t ill. ever see n, of him. I low can his pres ence*. here he ed any serious import to KtlgOUeV” "As to that," Cmiljot readied. “I say iiotliit.g. If w lint l have sugjkestytl does* not exist, then for ftii* lifst time in my life I have matte a mistake; hut I do tied think I have*. You may not realize* iti tint then is Indore you one* ed’ those* strugglesjtlint make* or mar feTr the* fift women of’ every ag>*. .Vs lor "Are you pitying your nigftjiy horn-- age to Calavera. Mr. Stratigew•*>.--pr are* you nntv an oe'easionai vjsitdr?" she ti.-ketl. • “’I'liis is my lirst vi it of tiny sort to Ct'iV'n't (iardeii. J'dm told \>^.x She lookt t] at hTm.wj.th as trfuele silr,- prise as good hreeeling penrdtietl. John, w ho had nofmts \ < t <town, se*etnetl aluitest -pn teniatuyfflly tall in . that small btyx, viJilKits lefw ee'ilihg. 11**- tIn* men. I will only say this, ami it is . was looking around tlit*: house with tlie because* of it-that I havprspoke*n at enthusinjirti ed' a. hoy. Lady HiHIa all—I am it lover of fitir play; and the* struggle* Is not e*ven. 'l’he'younger man It is ti long stetry.” “(’an I he* brought in? He nodded. ’. ■ -4 "It n-sta with you. It weutld suit nry plans." . * Sin* toyed with her fan for a mo ment,. loolpuL restlessly nl the stage and back again n't John. -Them she* r< se Troni 'her place and .Mood before* tlie* fdo| % in gg lass. Krone the gretHjr.obsettr- ity of the* box ■vh<* tuotioiH*<l t<* tin* piinei*. • Jo|m Fe*niained entirely Incdleiss of their movements. liis e*yes were stijl rive*ted upon tin* stage.*,*Tascinate*d with thn wotnlerful <*oloring. tin* reali zation <7Tit new: art. /•' "You ami I," Lady Hilda whispered. personality. - It was extremely low, scarcely louder ttiau u—w'tnspVr. To ldSv.surprise, it was almost wihoily free from any foreign accent. .* “It was. very wemelerful,” v.To Jin an- swered.. “TTte prince* tolls ine,” she eontiijue*el. “that veui are a stranger in.'Leuidom 'Hive me your arm. We wilt.walk to a epiieder plae*e. Iu # a .fe*W'moinemts we* are* to In* elisttirbeel for siljijiCr, One* esits so often and so much itr this coun try. Why <l.o I say that, though? It is not so hipl.HS in Russia.” They passed!, across tin* polislied w/iod ttoor into a . Jittlo- roeun with' oriental fittings, where a'lamp was - swinging from the eviling. giving.enit a dim but pleasant lighr. The* place was e mpty, and the sound of the music i and voices seVumel tei come from ytlis- tance. *S-tie* stndi ' elowij ujmui ji divan j hiie k among tin* shadows, and * mei-^j tiom*d John to’sit by her sidex “You have e*ohn* ; te> iiml out. to un- derstand—is that not so?" she imiuireel. ."What you know of life*, tlie prince' tells me*,* you have leanmd from books. Now you have* come 40 etise*eive*r what more rh*r** is to be learne*d in tin* world of men anel women.” "The* prince has^beert very kind." John said. She turnesl her head slowly and « — * lookeel ftChim. , “A ..young .ntan to w hom the prince choose** to tie kind is. in a way. for tunate." fcjle* said. ‘‘There*, is very tit tle* in-life*. In mem eir in wArneri, whie*ti lie* doe s not 'understand. I>t ud“ re*- turn l.o wlmt we wen* speaking about. I tiiul.it very interesting." . ■ '“You are very kind." John dedareel. “Come,” stp* said, “dei not tie afrahj of me. I will not make* love to you— seriously. You must lie kind to nie he-* <*ause*'everybody sjioils mf\'~ After sup*, yier there are* one eir two nioje epies- tions' I must ask you. ~D<i yrm kneiw tlmt T ant going to eltufce he-ft*?, ’'Nj.’Vel^..' IvCfore liaye* 1 elaneed in ti priva'te house in England. -Except upon tin* stage, I like to dance* only to,., those w hom I -love!”' /__■ .. S . • The little* Space het\ve**»n tlie cur- * tains was sudde nly daYke<fie>l. vJohn t-urfieel e/igerly atojind. and. to his iin- !mouse redie*f, recognized. tin* prince. Their heist came forward to w here they j were sitting, and held put Ids arm to •Cilia vera. ” “Dear lady,” lie iinnouticed. “supper . is served. Will you do me thi§ gre*at honor?” # She' rose* to her feet. The prince turned tei John. “This is my privilege* as heist." he I explained; "hut if yepi will 'follow us, ! you will find se ine conseilation ia stiire for you.” ^ - - “Well?’! the prluee aske*d. as ho handed Aidii Calavera to her place at his right hand. “I think'not,” she replie*d. He-reiised his e-fe-brows slightly/For a-memieut lie* glanced down,the supjier table with llit* cart* eif a pune-tilmus host, to see that his g-uesTS \ve*iv jirop- erly seated, lie addressed n few trivialities tei the* musical-efcuued.v stnr who was sitting on his le ft. Then he leaned once moite* toward the* gre*at dancer. \ * . ‘(‘Ye hi surprise* me*." In* said. **I should Tiave* tlmuglfi that the e*nter»' prise Would have* e*eimiuj*udeel i:*>e:lf. to you. You eh' not douhl the f:i< ts?" . “The*v are* eibvious enough." stre re- “Give Me-Your Arm. We Will Walk to a Quieter Place." “W liar‘>'(1)1 vvil! '< at riTjeru," slie* went j juied. “T he young man tried to tell on. “e-b*p( tids very much upon yourself, nn* that la* was in love with anoihe*r Are* you iiiteflige »t ? 1'. .rhaps not ver.y.” I wunaVC and l feelt ^ml'ieaJv po‘ t . t . vs. .Tin* aelded. looking at him critically.*j I tiiink I mtist he*ge*ttin;g t*> that-age l ’V"U have brains, howevr. withoTtf n 1 when one* jref-es-^ to achieve'life - (on* elotihT-.. -You nave -o. vvhat place*.** you may hold e*ve*ry card in the* pack, but Eugene* eif Se*yre* has learued ItowwJfj win Ttieks without a<*e*s. I staycHi be hind tei. say this to you, Eeiufife. You ! know the young man, and/Lrlo not. It J Is you whejluust vvnrnTlfin.”- “Warn him?” lajulse repeated, with upraised eyebrows. '• "De*m* master, aren’t we Just a tittle—do you mind If/ I use that weird so hateful to you— inehielrmnatic? The* age* eif duels Is j past, alsei the ago eif hlre*d hraveis and i assassins.” "Agreed,” Gralllwt interrupte>el, “hut” tlie? weapons eif today tire* more* ehmge*r- eius. It is thy souls evf the*ir ene-mies that me*n attack, if I we*re a friend glaiin^xr away from him towareL flic “do not need-to play about w ith the* IipHrfee*, ami smUeei; then 'she looked truth. Eugene, What.are you doing inck at John. There was something this Tor?” " Ilka jnlmirafnin in he face.. “Do yeni live* abroad?” she asked. ' “ Think for a moment of his position— ldisolutely without experience,' entirely “'Die Idlest whtm.^ the prince as- siiri*el he*r tjuiedly. “Iifiok ut him. Johu Shook his he*ad "I live* in fhimherland.” he -sjjid. "Many pe'iijile here se*em tei think Unit that is the same thing. My brother and I have n farm there.’” ; ,r Riit you visit Loudon occasionally, surely?” “I have not been,in London,” John teibl he*r. "sine e I jiasse*el through It on my way home* from-Oxford, e*ight years ago." “I have never he*aret anything so ex traordinary in my life!" the wemjan de- e*lare*d -frijukly. “Is it the* prince* who conn* and Tat^< toTm* one -a ft erne i<m •juite seieui. ‘Will yeui?" . “I will Collie* with pleasure," John promised;."—*—*—“!/ r ~~- Thev stood for a fed moments is the / crovveieel vestibule until. I.Tiely Hilda Mulloch’s Car was caHe*d) The prince I stoeiel tiaek, allowing John to **se*ort her to the doeir. Sl^e detained him for a moment after she had taken her* seat, and leaned out eif the window, her fin ders still in his hand. “Be careful!’’ she whispered.' “The at <>ni ** e*n rapport with tlie cult of the moment--you are' womh rfully -good- looking.” *„• John meiveel :iJiftle*m l i.jasily In his place., lie felt that the ehimer’s'eye*s w**re* fixed upon him. and he* was fever ishly anxious not tei respond to the in vitation of tln*ir ga/.e* He was con quests with the lifting of a finger." The prince sighed. ‘ ... “J shall neve r Unde rstand your >i*x!” he declared. t “I sjioulel have* supposed that 1 la* .slight efl'ort eif resistance would have pnivided Just the necessary stimulus.” - - She turned her lie*autiful head and ignorant about women, with a fortune j, r }u c0 ’, s supper parties afe Just a lit- one only dreams of,.and probably the *- tlo _ shllM j S ay banal? There are bet- hamlsornest animal in London. What tt> r things if one wails!” Is'going to become of him?” • . . * • CHAPTER XL The reception rooms of Seyre House, “.I think I understand a little,” she. confessed. “I tliirdv you do." the prince assent ed. “He has views, this young man. It is my humor .to see them dissipated. The modern Sir Galahad always Irri tated me a little/’ ’ 1 —■ Sin* shrugged her shoulders. fascination of her near presence in the/ dimlyTlghted room. r ‘TVhut you Will learn." shg proceed- ed, “depends very muchTipon'jdur de- Sire.s. If you seek for the best, an are conteht with nothing else, you find it.* But ,so few men are content to wait !” • . , “I intend to," John said^buply "Look at me, please/j^she ordered. Once more lie wusX*onipelled to look id that young man's, I would say to [ has induced you to; break out of your him: Ttewnre, not of the Vumity of seclusion?” Eugene of Seyre... but of his fri\*nd- "Our young friend,” tin* firince ex- .s11 i11!’ And now, dear lady, I have fin- j plaiiieiL.“finds himself smhleidy in jl- , r l lu* prill ('cause the ; tcred circumstances. He has been left LnilyTLiTd; more people than he had ever met lie- -4- fore in his life. . “They’ll never give him n chance, these wonien,” she said. “Much better hand him over to me, - lie was discovered by his -friend The prince smiled enigmatically, and twI1> ^ _ s • i returned to her seat. John “Queer • thing your being into her deep-blue eyes. The inconi- hy some people considered the finest in prohensible was still upon her London, wece-opowded that night by* a jj " brilliant and-cosmopolitan assemblyt *Tou luK T e Loved? For some titne John stood by the **\ ^ prince’s side and was introduced to rresCfit ly, however,. At ished. I lingered behind heciiuse me ; tereu eircuinstauces, lie nas neen lert i«-i U *in-«i«.» «e» "Queer • thing your, heingyjftere, a world holds no more sineeiv"atl!iur(*r of j u lar'g»* fortune, jifid.ha's come to spend " MS st '" leaning forward with his eyes |- c j ( . P( | n f prince and alE'that!” the it. Ineiih-ntidiy, I hope, he has come yourself.and your genius than 1. fcloh’t ring. May I not let myself out?” He looked steadfastly into her eyes His plain, Jieyrued face wtis Inuivy browed, lined, tired a littleWRli the coming of.age. ' “You an* not”going?” site aski*(Mdm “Dear Louise,” he said,'“I am going, becalise the time when I can help is hot yet. ListenT—More harm, has been done in this world by advice than In any other way, 1 have no advice to give you. You have one sure and cer tain guide, and that Is'your own heart, your own instincts, yuhr own sweet consciousness of w lmt Is best. I leave you to that. If trouble comes, J am Always ready!” , ’ , CHAPTER X. * . I ' \ During the remainder of th'nt after noon and evening John was oppressed by a. vague sense of the splendor of his surroundings and his Tompnnlon’s mysterious capacity for achieving im possibilities. Their, visits to the tai lor^, the, shirt makers, tlie hosiers and /fne bootmakers almost resembled a royal progress. All ditliculties were waved aside. That night he dined, clothed like other men* from bend fo foot, in the nafty diuiug wkiih of one -ofr-the most exclusive clubs In London. The prince proved an ngfecable' if/ somewhat reticent companion, lie in troduced John to many. well-kfioWn' people, always with that, little note of personal interest in his few/ words of presentation which gave fl certain sitr- nlflcanP'e to the ceremony. ‘ >- Frorirthe club, where the question of John’s proposed membership, the try It for a time prioce acting as his sponsor, was fa vorably discussed with several mem- bera of The committee-, -they drove to Covent Garden, and for the first time !ix(*d upon Calavera, who was dancing young mail remarked. TtYhcre’s Miss iilon, now. Til, 1.nH..< ivns clrnvvjni.- s , 1hls ,. v ,• tnVnrii th, nml. Tit, . k»<! .. f ■ {, kv( . nl . !u . r -j„j m r ^,i,. d , -I reached its climax of wild and passion- ate sensmnrsncss. (Jominatcd and in spired by the woman- whose eviTy movement and cvi'ry glance seemed part <>f some occult,, dimly understood language. . . * When the curtain rang down, John, like many others, was yon fused/ Nev ertheless;, after that first breathless • pause, he stood qp and Joined inithe tumultuous applause. “Well?” tip* prince asked. * ... ohn shook his head, ’ . ' - “IJiopT knftw,” he answered. “Neithetvdoes anyone else.” Lady HJlda_saId. tnipressious Strangewey. don’t believe, she is Invited. “Like to he introduced to some of feelings for-her.^'hut so far she has not the girls, or shall we go and’have a |-giv^d nie much encouragement^TdlT - drink?” - , me, ma'dnnTiv'why ‘do you ask m^Tbese Rition, and I have' been h(*rtN4i dozen times. Even to us hardened men add , women of the world, this.Russian mu- i sic came as a surprise.. TpCre ‘were' j parts of It you did not /ike. though, weren’t there?” / “There were parts of it I hated,” ‘John agreed. . “There were passages i tlint seemed to/aim at discord in everj* Beware^dW of the Enmity of Eugene,* : ii ^ ; ‘‘-of"tJp i ^wo r d. of Seyre, but of Hit Friendship." *-Slu‘^iodded sympath(*tical!y. ^q>*y ' ' \vvrjy on ; tbfir W*ny do\V,n the 1 tyKsee something more (»f your sex than"sRtirease. " is pnssLbJe among liis mduntfjitu wilds^ “I wonder,” die murmured, “whether. He has come, in short, to look a 4jKk* I nm going to he asked Out To syp- wny into life.” ; . ’per?” v > J/idy IlUda leanedMtk iqdier chair. “Alas. noL tonight, dear lady” the -TTIoMPTomanttc’!” • , x . . ; prince regretted. “1‘anr htrvittg a few /. “The prince amuses himself/’ John ; friends at Seyre House,” “ assured’her^. “I don’t suppose I ShajJ She -shot a glance n’t him nnd, stay very long in Lond,dm .I waftL just." shrugged her shoulders. She was eyl- to try it for a time.” . ' deritly displeased. *• She looked at him almost wistfully.; “How mtrttoobad!" she ejclalroed. She was a woman wilh bratns pa^woni- “J am not at nil sure thajt it 'is right an Bohortous for The freedom of~her •Tyf'you TbTh'yTRT.MLTStfhnge'wey'ToTcine life, for her intellectual gifts, for her of your orgies. ▲ respectable little JOlin was hesitating when he felt a hand upon his shoulder. The prince’s voice sounded in his ear. “Strangewey,” he said, “I am privl-,, leged to present you to Mme. "Aida Calavera. Mddanie, this is my friend of whom I spoke, to yoy.” John turned away from the little group of girls ttful young men toward whom Amerton had been leading him. t try to analyze vour ! ’ ril ° woinun ' vn » different from any-., for "Tmr benefit, Mr. j things he had imagined, from anything .j Ke^/had ever seen.- In the* ballet a writhing, sensuous figure with every gesture a note in the octave of pas sion, here she seemed the very per sonification of n negative apd striking, immobility.- She was slender, not SO tall ns s^e had seemed.upon the stage, dressed in white from head to foot. Her face was almost nmrhlellke iy its I am exa t ! in your po : I looked at the pr-itie^ through narrowed scroll toj>." of the queer, indefinable “After all," she asked, “what'should I gain? The young man is. In his way, a splendid work of art. Why should I v vandal errough to destroy it? I shall nkk you another question'." The prince slowly sipped the wine from the'glass that he was-holding te his lips. Theu Ire set it dowq dellb-* erately. ' - * v .’/ “Why not?/’ “What Ur'your interest? Is It’a bet, a whim, or—enmity?”. “You may count it the latter," the prince replied deliberately. Calavera laughed softly to herself. “Now, for the first time,” she con fessed, "I feel interest. This is where one realizes that we live in the. inoat Impossible age. of all history. The great noble who seeks to destroy the poor young nmfl from the country ia powerless to wreu£ harm upon him. You am neither make him a pauper nor,have In in beaten to death. Why art*’ ther? princes any longer. 1 won der? Y'ou irre only asNjther men.” "It Is an unhappy reflection, hot it Is the truth,” the prince admitted. **My ancestors would have disposed of this young man as I should a trouble some fly, aud it would have cost them no more than a few silver pieces and a sack of wine. Today, alas,-condi tions are diffeTttat. It wllf cost me more.” - ' She trifled for, a, moment with the saldd upon her plate, which as yet ahe had scarcely tasted. "Yarn feeling,” she remarked, “mag nificently oriental—like Cleopatra. The sensation pleases me. AVe are bar* gaining, are we not-—” W ^ “We shall not bargain,” the prince Interrupted softly: "It Is you whe shall name your price.” Sh^ raised her. eyes and dropped them i "The prince^hQs" spoken,” she mar- mured. lie answered, tuken a little abtycfc by the abruptness of the ques- n. ' —- * “Y'ou grow iimre wonderful! Y'ou are free from, any distracting thoughts about women? You have no entangle ments?” -" . “I liaVte nothing of* the sort,” John .doc-Lured, alniust TrritalHy. “There is- niie person who has made a wonder ful change- in nly life. 1 believe I could say that I am ulvsoluiely'eertaln of my questions?” ; “ “Because it Interests me,” she re plied. “Why do you not insist'that this lady should tell you the truth?’ “I have come to London to insist," lie’told her, “but I have been here only forty-eight hours; I nm waiting." \ "So many people spend, their lives doing that," she went on presently. “It does not appeal to me. The moment I mnke up my mind that 4 want a thing, Oake it. The moment I mind to give, I give/’ John wtis suddenly conscious of claseness'of the utmospher'e. The fin gers of his hands Were clenched tight ly together. He swore to himself Jhat he Would not look into this woman’s face. He listened to the hand which was playing in the balcony pf the great (- He t0U( , h<;(1 her fll>] hall, to the murmur of the voices, the ke up my drawn tightly over her ears, and her eyes were of the deepest shade of blue. She raised her hand, as-he bowed, with- c {gesture almost royal in its eopdescen- sionfis. The prince/ with quiet tact, firiilged/bvtr the moment during which. Joh/ii struggftsl in vniu for something To-aay. Straiij-eweg^^Jie remarked, his first visit to Covent Garden fmight. lie has seen his. first ballet, is wjp^rhodorns understand the tefm. pallor; her , smooth, black hair was shouts of. laughter* He tpld himself that Mme. Caluvera was amusing her self with hi nr." ■ “The prince’s party,”, she continued, after u long phuse. “seems to be a great success, to judge, by the noise they are making. So many people shout nndJaugh when'they, are happy. I myself find a myre perfect express sion of happiness in silence.”- * w She was leanings little back in her place.. One arm was resting upon a pile of cushions, the 4dl»er hung loose- over the* side of the divan. John He naturally finds R difficult to realize fel? a sudden desire to rise to his feet, this additional good fortune. Will you and a simultaneous consciousness that ‘rctn^meTorofre isoment?” his feet seemed to he'?5Siie pr lead. The prince departed to welcome “You may hold my fingers," she said; for a mo ment with his, as if to senl thelr pact; then he turned once nu the lady upon his left. Do you betifeve that Strange, wey will , be able to withstand the magnificent fascin voluptuous effc dancer to enrfnare him? ^ Iscinations and is eff^ts of the Russian errSnan (TO 1BE CONTINUED.) • Economy Note. By reversing, the handle on a dost brush whlph has been worn, near t^o point addftionai wear may T -V " / .V