The Washington herald., 1914-09-20
(CopyriEht, nlAl
A S full of human weaknesses as
~ his fellows, notwithstanding
. = his nifts Of nercentinr the

of the two roulette tables in the Sport
ing Club at Monte Carlo.
Arrived, after an hour or so of play,
at the end of his nightly limit, he
watched the disappearance of his last
louis and, with a sigh, vacated his chair
and seated himself on one of the divans
which fringed the wall.
Here for some time he INDUCED IN the
occupation which, on the whole, he
found more attractive even than the
gambling. He watched the people as
they went by.
There were some whom he recog-
nized, few with whom he exchanged
greetings. many of class hard to place,
difficult even to guess at
He leaned back among his cushions,
mildly amused by it all And then the
first note of real drama!
A woman came slowly down the room
at whom most people turned their heads
to glance. She was even more beauti-
full, more exquisitely dressed, more gor-
geously bejeweled than those others.
Her carriage was almost imperious. She
looked around her with the insolent air
of one accustomed to command.
Then, when within a few PAGES of
Brooke, she paused, and he alone, per-
haps, in the room, saw the change in
her face, which was in itself an epi-
tome of all the passions of life She
seemed suddenly to become rigid, her
face chalklike, her eyes set and staring.
Brooke glanced across the room. Her
eyes were fixed upon the face of mid
dle-aged man who was looking over at
the opposite table, craning his neck to
watch the result of the turning wheel
and quite unconscious of the woman's
gaze. She stepped out of the throng
and seated herself on the divan.
The little white ball had fallen into its
place, the croupier's monotonous voice
was heard announcing the number.
"Vingt, noir, pair ct passe!"
A little buzz of voices arose from the
crowd. The woman turned her head
and glanced at Brooke.
Il had the honor of meeting you last
night at the Due de Mendosa's supper,
he reminded her with a bow.
She inclined her head.
Il remember you perfectly" she ad-
mitted. You are English, are you not, |
Mr.. Brooke?"
'T am English, princess" he replied.
She looked at him for a moment sp-
praisingly.
Listen" she said. 81 will tell you
something. Come little nearer to me,
please"
He obeyed her at once. Her eyes
Travelled around the few people in their
immediate vicinity. Her fingers played
for a moment with the wonderful !
pearls which shimmered upon her white /
bosom.
"You know my history" she con-
tinued. Every one who comes to
Monte Carlo knows it. What was it
they told me about you?-that you were !
novelist or an essayist, or that you
were interested in people for some rea-
son or other-I forget what. Listen"
Brooke remained silent. He did not
specify the particular nature of his in
terest in his fellow creatures
Look across the room," she directed.
There is man standing there watch
ing the tables-a fairly good-looking,
harmless, middIe-aged Englishman."
Brooke nodded.
Il see the person you mean" he as
sented.
His name is Godfrey Hsrdways,"
she went on. well, l will tell you
something which may suggest a prob
lem. Everything l possess and am in
life l owe to that man."
He looked at her a little ptEzIed.
Once more she played with her pearls.
Il am" she continued, without a
doubt the best-dressed woman in this
room. l have certain indefinite right
to the title which | bear. There are no
jewels in Monte Carlo to compare with
mine. This tell you without conceit or
false shame. and 1 repeat that every
thing l possess and everything l am !
owe to that man."
She paused, as though expecting a
question, but Brooke remained inper-
turbably silent. He had, however, the
air of one who waits. I
You do not choose to commit YOUR
self she said quietly. at is good. {
Therefore, 1 must put before YOU the I
problem which surely is not without {
its interest What do you SUPPOSE are I
my feelings for him? Am l grateful9 I
l have cause, have not? Or do I {
wish that he had let me remain the very
ill-treated and miserable governess otlI
the lady in whose service 1 was when :
he found me?" r
Princess" Brooke replied, you ask '
me very hard question Supremacy c
in any walk of life brings with it its :
own peculiar satisfaction" t