The Washington herald., 1911-02-16
CHAPTER IX-Coninued.

sardonic smile as he put on his fresh
patent feathers and his new dinner coat
He recalled Fitzgerald's half-concealed
slances of pity the last time they had
0ined together.
In the room across the corridor Fitz-
gerald was busy with a similar occupa-
ton. The only real worry he had was
the doubt of his luggage arriving before
he left. He had neither tennis clothes
nor riding habit, and these two pastimes
were here among the regular events of
the day. The admiral both played and
rode with his daughter. She was alto
gether too charming. Had she been an
ordinary society girl, he would have
stayed his welcome threadbare perhaps.
But, he repeated, she was not ordinary.
She had evidently been brought up with
few illusions. These she possessed would
always be hers.
The world, in a kindly but mistaken
spirit, fosters all sorts of beliefs in the
head of a child. True, it makes child
hood happy, but it leaves its skin tender.
The moment A girl covers her slippers
with skirts and winds her hair about the
top of her curious young head, things
begin to jar. The men are not what she
dreamed them to be: there never was
such person as Prince Charming; and
the women embrace her-if she is pretty
and graceful-with arms bristling with
needles of envy and malice; and the
rosal tint that she saw in the approach
is nothing more or less than jaundice;
and, one day disheartened and bewil-
dered, she learns that the world Is only
a tumble of futile. ill-made things. The
admiral had weeded out most of these
illusions at the start.
so much for suppositions and analysis.
painted Fitzserald's reknotting his silk tie.
las for me, | go to the arctic; cold, but
safe. | have never fallen in love. L
have enjoyed the society of many women,
and to some I've been silly enough TO
write, but l have never been maudlln-
I'm no fool This is the place where 1t
would be most likely to happen. Let us
beat an orderly retreat. What the deVh
ails my fingers ro-night? NH! There:
will you stay tied as l want you? She
has travelled. she has studied. she is at
home with grand dukes in Nice and
scribblerS in a country village. Sne IS
wise without being solemn. she mas
courage, too, or l would not be here on
a mere fiuke Now. my boy, you have
given yourself due rOtice. Take care!
He slipped his coat over his shoulders
and passably sturdy ones they were-and
took a final look into the glass. Not
for vanity's sake; sometimes mans tie
will show above the collar of his coat.
HIN! Ill wager the trout are rising
about this time" he initiated a cast
which was supposed to land neatly in
the corner. "Ha! Struck you that time.
you beauty" All of which proved TO
himself, conclusively, that he was in nor
NAL condition. I should get wire to-
morrow about Breitmann. l hate to do
anything that looks underhand, but he
puzzles me. There was something about
the chimney to-day: l don't know what
This is no place for him-nOr for me,
either" was the shrewd supplement-
There was still some time before din
ner, so he walked about. with his hands
in his pockets. and viewed the four walls
of his room. He examined the paints and
admired the collection of bloodthirsty old
weapons over the mantel. but with the in
direct interest of a man who is thinking
of other things. At the end, he paused
before the window. which. like the one
in Breitmann's room, afforded a clear
outlook to the open waters. Night was
already mistress of the sea: and below,
the village lights twinkled from various
points
Laura tried on three gowns, to the very
great surprise of her maid. Usually her
mistress told her in the morning what to
lay out for dinner. Here there were two
fine-lookirg young men about. and yet
she was for selecting the simplest gown
of the three. The little French maid did
not understand the reason. nor at
that moment could her mistress have
readily explained. 1t was easy to
dress for the critical eyes of rich young
men, officers, gentlemen with titles: all
that was required was a fresh Partisan
model, some jewels. and bundle OF
orchids or expensive roses. But these
two men belonged to a class she knew
little of; gentlemen adventures. who had
been in strange, unfrequented places, who
had helped to make history. who received
decorations and never wore them. who
to the world at large obscure
and unknown.
So, with that keen insight which is a
part of well-bred. intelligent woman
and also rather inexplicable to the male
chose the simplest
gown. She was hazily conscious that
they would notice this dress, where's
the cleaning satin would have passed as
a matter of fact. Round her graceful
throat she placed an Indian turquoise
necklace: nothing in her hair, nothing
on her fingers. She went downstairs per-
fectly content.
AS she came into the hall. she heard
soft music. Some one was in the music
room, which was just off the library. She
stopped to listen Chopin, with light
touch and tender feeling. Which of the
moved along to the door. Breitmann; she
rather expected to find him. Nearly all
Germans played. The music
stopped for a moment then resumed. An
other melody followed, a melody she had
heard from one end of France to the
other. She frowned, not with displeasure,
but with puzzlement. For what purpose
did a soldier of the German empire play
the battle hymn OF the French republic?
The MarseiIlaisei She entered the music
room. and the low but vibrant chords
ceased instantly. Breitmann had been
playing thesd melodies standing. He
turned quickly
ct beg your pardon" he said, but per-
fectly free from embarrassment
81 am very fond of music myself Please
play whenever the mood comes TO you,
The Marsellaise-
"Ahr" he interrupted, laughing There
was a bit of traitor in my fingers just
then. But music should have no country;
i should be universal.
PERHAPS generally speaking; but ev-
srv land should have an anthem of its
own. Inc greatest composition of Beet
noven or Wagner will never touch the
heart as the ripple of battle SONG"
And when Fitzgerald joined them they
were seriously discussing Wagner and his
lll-treatment in Munich, and of the mad
King of Bavaria
AS she had planned. both men noticed
the simplicity of her dress
cit is because she doesn't care"
thought Breitmann.
'It is because she knows we don't
care" thought Fitzgerald And he was
nearer the truth than Breitmann.
The dinner was pleasant, and there was