The Washington times., 1913-06-28
CHAPTER XXXII.
A Supper At the Milan, and Meeting.

REXLEY, a travelled man of
fastid;ous tastes, and with am
pie means to crafty them,
proved a delightful host. In his
| earlier days he had been a constant
diner-out; he understood the ordering
of impromptu meals, and he had that
decision and air which inspires respect
even in a head waiter. He marshaled
| his little party to the table reserved for
them, waved away the table d'hote card
I and ordered his dishes and wine with
| excellent judgment and consideration
\ for the tastes of his guests.
1t was all most elightful-delight-
| fully novel to Cicely and her friend,
| delightful to Drexley, who was amazed
| remained with him. The soft strains of
| music rose and fell from a small but
| perfectly chosen Hungarian band out
| on the balcony. the hum of converse
\ ton grew louder and merrier at every
| moment. the champagne flashed in their
glasses, and a younger Drexley occupied
the place of their kindly but taciturn
host
Douglas. to whom fell the entertaining
| of Cicelv's friend, was honestly de-
! lighted at the change. But in the midst
Of II came crushing blow. Emily de
Reuss walked into the room.
As usual, she was marvelously
dressed, a stately glittering figure In a
gown of shimmering black which
seemed at every moment on fire. Her
beautiful neck and shoulder were un-
covered and undecorated: she walked
between gray-headed man, who wore
/ the orders of an ambassador and blue
sash on hts evening clothes, and his
wife Every ore turned to look at her,
! every one was watching her when she
! stopped for a moment before DrexIey's
table, but every one did not see the
nash IN her eyes and the sudden tight
1 ening OF her lips as she recognized the
little party.
them. and Douglas was the only one
who noticed that first impulse Of dis
pleasure. She rested her fingers almost
, anectionately on Drexley's shoulder
and the new flush of color in his cheeks
faaaa .e INTO sallowness at her touch.
who have proved faithless." she said
4 lshtiy. Il have been abroad for-ah.
now long II seems-one. two, three
! months, and neither Of you has hidden
city" ' tu'
! we are not magicians." Douglas an
I swered. "and as yet I am sure there is
! no paper which has chronicled your re-
turn Only Yesterday I was told that
1 you were at Vienna"
| Never" she said, smiling into his
face, under any circumstances believe
anything anybody ever SAYS about me
! I have TO tell that to my friends in or
der that ! may keep them. Tell me.
| for Mr.. Anderson?''
Il send my first one away on Thurs
! day" Douglas answered
You will send me proof?"
IF / may. with pleasure"
She turned to Drexley
And you, my friend she said 'how
have things gone with you? The Ibex
is as good as ever. bought this
months at a kiosk in Buda- You must
| get Mr.. Jesson to write you more
stories as good as No Mans Land "
Drexley looked UP at her with a grim
smile twitching at the corners of his
! lips.
good story. although am sfrasd we
rather humbugged lesson about it.
I'm not at all sure that he'll trust US
| with another"
She returned DrexIey's look with a
stare of non-comprehensioa. It was
| the first sign of revolt from one in
| whom she had thought all along such
| thing dead. Then, with a pleasant
nod to Douglas. she passed on. thread
| ing her way slowly aIcong the tables
| TO where her friends were waiting. II
| the two men realized how utterly she
| had ignored their two companions.
They took up the thread of their
conversation-and II was the unex-
u-
| relaEed still further: there was a
quiet humor in everything he said: he
| took uron his shoulders the whole
entertainment of the little party. The
! coming of Emily de- Reuss might well
| have been q matter of Indifference
( to bin with Douglas II was strange
" different. To him she had never
! seemed more BEAUTIFUL: the fascina- =
! tion of her near nresence. her voice.
| her exquisite toilet. crept into his
| blood. He was silent at first: a
bright light cleaned In his eyes: he
watched her continually. sense OF
| aloofness crent over him. He spoke
| and ate mcchanicallv. scarcely no
| ticinR that he was drinking q good
! deal more vine than usual.
Once he glanced ouicklv at CiceIv;
| her checks wcre flushed, and she
( was lOokin~ hnr best--he saw only
| Der imperfect!ons. Her prett!ness
after all was ordinary: her simple
evening gown, even 10 his inexperi-
enced eyes, suggested the home
dressmaker: that slight tenderness
! for her which only a few days ago
| had seemed such a nleasant thing
seemed suddenly swept away in the
| broad flood of a passion against
| which unconsciously he had long
I been struggling.
share in their conversation: he Join
| Drexley's stories, but all tho time
| WITH a sense II inward excitement
which he found 81 hard TO conceal.
Coffee and cigarettes were served at
Drexlcv's suggestion out in the naIm