The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1906-11-16

Claudia knocked three times light.
ly on the study door, making a Slight
pause after the first tap. then hardly
waiting for the low.yOiccd Come.
from within, she pushed open the
| door.
oh, it's YOU" said Pauline, glanc.
ing over her shoulder from her seat
in trent of the open FIRE; then she
smiled and added: Il ought to know
your knock by this time, but some
how | never fail to look inqui.ingly
when the door opens"
AS If anyone but mo is ever ad.
mittcd into ths--I should say-un
holy OF mhulies," cycling Paulincs
cigarette with some severity Paul
| inc laughed and moved the chair be
side her fraction OF an inch.
Have one" she asked, extending
a case from the taborcttc ut her other
side.
Thanks. believe | will" said
Claudia, promptly. taking the chair
and the god.tipped cigarette at the
same time She unlOoscncd her furs.
stretched out two small feet to the
fire and for few moments there
was silence Then Claudia after a
glance around the room, said. gloom.
lily: q don't see how you take all
this so calmly
Pauline came out of her rcycric
suddenly. "All this what" she asked,
quietly. "Oh. don't pretend" Claudia
was inclined to be cross, These
er--Hcsh pots, you know" with cir.
cuitous sweep of her hand around the
room
Pauline turned slowly in her chair,
and followed with her eyes the wave
OF Claudias hand. taking in for the
first time critically. as 1t were,
the rooms luxurious appointments;
its velvet rugs and costly drapcres,
it's pictures and brunzes, and books.
She became conscious suddenly of the
languorous Odor of roses that On.
comuasscd her Then having made
the circuit her eyes rested for mo.
mcnt on herself as revealed by the
long panel mirror at one side of the
Fireplace. She studied, half curiously,
that face that looked back at her
the grave. sweet lips, the violet eyes
and brown hair; her eye followed the
lines OF her slim figure in its loose
negligee, and rested moment on
the patriclan fingers of the hand that
held her cigarette. Then. after flick
ing carefully the ashes from the Gig
arctic. she turned squarely and faced
Claudia. looking earnestly at the
fresh, lovely young face, now half
mockingly revealed against the rich
furs.
Tell me. are you happy, Claudia"
she asked, abruptly.
Claudia stared moment. then
caught her meaning. why, yes" she
said. slowly. Il have a good hus
band. dear little child coy home,
and all that sort Of thing, If that's
nor even disconnected, but she
sighed little. Sometimes ! won
der why 1t has been given to you to
be what you are-Courtcd, admired.
anvicd loved" Pauline raised Il
protesting hand.
Don't interrupt" said Claudia, in
sudden vchemoucc, why were you
chosen to be- one Of the elect? ! al.
ways knew you liked to write and
all that--8o did |. You and | were
girls together. with the same az
pirations, but | never dreamed you
H.
Why, actually I've obtained a sud
den astonishing prestige because |
know you intimately. I'm not the
rose, but live near it. and all that,
and Claudia made a face.
Now, why cant ! write when | de.
sire to as intensely as you do? |
couldn't put any feeling into any.
thing"-half bittcrly-"to save my
life. And why, | want to know, can
you? In short. why are you the
traveller, the distinguished author
the only Pauline Courtney Trevor
the celebrity
Pauline was silent awhile, then
with sudden Irrccvance:
How long have we been separated,
Claudia?"
It's ten years since you went
abroad" said Claudia, and you've
been hack--lct me see-two years
Pauline stared mcditatiycly at her
self in the long mirror. and Claudia
lit another cigarette, then turned to
look ut Pauline half curiously. Her
long silence seemed pregnant with
meaning Presently Pauline began to
speak with low-toncd passion.
Did you ever stop to think,
Claudia, that these" She paused,
and as she sent another swift glance
around the room, half smiled these
flesh pots were bought with price,"
Claudia drew back the least bit
lncasily.
What do you mean. Paulne?'
THAT they were Bought with my
hearts blood" in sudden WEAKNESS.
and leaning her head back against
the chair.
eft costs something to be-a celeb.