The Washington times., 1913-06-12
CHAPTER K.
A Woman of Whims.

~ REXLEY had found his way to
her side at last As usual,
her rooms were full, and to-
night Of people among whom
he felt to some extent an alien. For
Drexley was not Of the fashionable
world-not even Of the fashionable liter
ary world. At heart he was bohemian
Of the old type. He loved to spend his
days at work. and his evenings at a
certain well-known club. where evening
dress was abhorred. and a man might
sit, IL he would, in his shirt sleeves.
Illimitable though her tact, even EN-
lily de Reuss. the queen Of London host
esses, never succeeded in making him
feel altogether at home in her magnifi-
cent rooms. Tonight he felt more at
sea even than usual Generally she had
hidden him come to her when she en-
tertained the great cosmopolitan world
of art-toilers. Tonight she was at home
to another world-the strictly exclusive
world Of rank and fashion. Drexley,
wandering about seeing never a face he
knew, felt i'll at ease, conscious Of his
own deficiency in dress and department,
in a world where form was the one ma
terial thing, and a studhole shirt or an
ill-cut waistcoat were easy means Of
acquiring notoriety.
He wandered from room to room.
finding nowhere anyone TO speak to.
conscious Of a good deal Of Indifferent
scrutiny, hating himself haa Tor ,,eS coming bsG
made him glad to come. Then sudden
ly he came face to face with his hostess.
and with a few graceful words of apol-
ogy she had left her escort and taken
his arm. 50
Il am afraid you are being bored" she
said. quietly. II am sorry. / only re-
membered that people were coming to-
night Jeanette was out. and l had
quite forgotten who had had cards.
wanted to see you, too"
II am a little out Of place here he
answered. That is all. Now that
have seen you, you can explain your
note, and l can go away"
She seemed in no hurry.
II know" she said. that you are
dying for your smoky little club. your
Scotch whisky. and your pipe. Never
mind: it is we'll for you sometimes to De
disciplined"
AT the present moment" he said, Il
long for nothing beyond what have"
She turned to look at him with an
amused smile. The lights flashed on
the diamonds around her throat and
the glittering spangles upon her black
dress. Truly a wonderfully beautiful
woman-a divine figure and a dress
which scarcely a woman who had
looked at It had not envied.
You are getting wonderfully apt. my
grim friend" she said, lat those
speeches which once you affected to de-
spise."
1T was never the speeches / de-
spised," he answered. blunuy. 1T was
the insincerity.'
And you, / suppose. are the only sin
cere man who makes them. Ny friend.
that little speech errs on the other side.
does IL not?''
He frowned inpatiently.
You have many guests he said.
who will be looking for you. Let me
know why you made me treat that
young man so badly and then go away"
Have you treated him badly. them"
she asked.
VERY. / recalled my acceptance of
his story and / declined to discuss fu-
ture work with him. ! have deprived
the hex of a contributor who might
possibly have become a very valuable
one. and / have gone back upon my
worI. l want to know why"
Il am afraid" she said softly, that II
was for me-"
For YOU" he answered, "of course.
But your letter limited at an explana-
ton
Explanations" she yawned. ARE SO
tedious.
Tell me. at least" he said, "how the
poor young idiot offended you"
"Offended mel Scarcely that
You are not a woman" he said, ito
interfere in anything without a cause. '''
~ am a woman Of whim." she said.
You have told me so many times"
You are a very wonderful woman"
he said softly, "and you know very we'll
that your will is quite sufficient for me-
Yet you are also generous woman.
have many a time had to stand god
father to your literary foundlings. You
have never yet exercised the contrary
privilege. have done a mean thing
and an ungenerous thing. and though /
would do 1t again at your bidding, again
and gain. 1 should like an excuse-if
there is any excuse"
II am so sorry" she said. There
will be no excuse for you. /. too, have
been mean and ungenerous-but / should
be the same again. / took some inter-
est In that young man and ] offered
him my help. He coolly declined it
talked of succeeding by his own exer-
tions. So priggish. you now, and selt