The Irish standard., 1906-07-07
CHAPTER XVI.
THE PREVIOUS AFFAIR.

Mrs. Chadwick had completed ncr
toilet and now stood smiling in a most
friendly fashion at the reflection in
the long oval mirror. She addressed
this reflection in mclodious tones
Madam, you are really handsome:
and let no false modesty whisper in
your ear that you are not. Few women
In Washington have such clear Skin.
such firm flesh. such color. Thirty
eight? 1t is nothing. 1t is but the
halfway post: one has left youth be-
hind, but one has not reached old age.
has given you a careful selection.
There were no years of storm and
poverty, of violent passions; and il l
have truly loved, 1t has been you, only
you. You are too wise and worldly
to love any one but yourself. And yet,
once you stood on the precipice of dark
eyes, pale skin, and melancholy
wrinkles And even now, il he were
to speak F.. Z. Enough! Enough OF
this folly. have something to &C
complisll tonight" She Slided from
the bouloir into the small but luxuri-
GUS drawing-room which had often
been sraccd by the most notable men
and women in the country
Karloff threw aside the book Of
poems by De Banville, rose, and went
forward TO meet her.
Madam, "-bending and brushing
her hand with his lips. Madam, you,
grow handsomcr every day. If ] were
40, now, | should fear Tor your single
blessedncss.
''Or, if we're two-and- twenty, in
stead OF eight-and-tLirty."- beginning
to draw OH her long white gloves
There was challenge in her smile
well, yes; If you were two-and-
twenty"
''There was time not long ago.
she said, drawing his gaze as Il magnet
draws needle, "when the disparity
in years was of no matter"
The count laughed THAT was three
years ago; and il my memory serves
me, you smiled"
perhaps was first to smile; that
is all"
81 observe a mental reservation, -
owlishly.
Il will put it. plainly, then. pre-
ferred to smile over your protestations
rather than see you laugh over the
possibility and the folly of my loving
you"
"Then it was possible ?"--with inter
est.
Everything is possible and
often absurd"
"How do you know that was moi
truly in love with ?"---narrOwin
his eyes
ut Is not explanatory; IL can he
given only one name--instinct, which
In women and animals is more fully
developed than in man. Besides. at
that time you had not learned all about
Colonel Annesley, whose guests we are
to be this evening. Whoever would
have imagined a Karloff accepting the
Inequalities OF an Annesley? Count
hath not thy rose a canker?"
"Madam!" karlOff was frowning.
"Count. you look like paladin when
you scowl; but scowling never induces
anything but wrinkles That is why
We women frOwn SO seldom. We smile
But let us return TO your query Sup
posing had accepted your declarations
seriously: supposing you had offered
me marriage in that burst of gratitude:
supposing | had committed the folly
of becoming a countess, what posi-
ton I should be in to-day"
81 do not understand, "-perplexedly.
Notwithstanding. She held forth a
gloved arm. "Have you forgotten how
gallanny you used to button my
gloves?"
"a thousand pardons! My mind was
occupied with the mystery of your
long supposition" He took the arm
gracefully and proceeded to slip the
pearl buttons through their holes.
(Have you ever huttoned the gloves