The Washington herald., 1914-08-16

| OF marigoloS. MIS-. foynton Tose "
her feet, and there was as much ex-
citement in her manner as well-bred
woman permits herself to entertain.
"The princess is coming" she an
nouaced.
Only her unwelcome visitor sat still.
Every one else stood up to catch a
glimpse of the victoria. now plainly
visible. Mrs. Poynton glanced at this
man, whom nobody liked, almost with
aversion. He represented the one alien
note in the little party of Immediately
fanneled men, and women in all the
glory of muslin gowns and fower-gar-
landed hats. He ought to have the
good sense to go before the arrival of
the princess. He must understand that
his appearance and strange humors were
in i'll accord with a gathering such as
this. But Mr.. Lyndham did not move.
His arms were folded, his eyes were
fixed on vacancy. He seemed to have
passed into a world of his own crea-
tion-obviously a very rude thing to
do. Apparently he was not even con-
templating an early departure.
He had manners enough to rise, how
ever, when the princess, seeing them all
gathered under the cedar tree, stopped
the carriage and came smiling across
the lawn to them A trihe grave-eyed,
perhaps, and a little weary, she still
justified easily the extravagant praises
of a too personal press. In her white
lace dress and parasol, without YES
tige of color, her paIlor semed to speak
of a fatigue not wholly physical. Yet
it was impossible to deny her beauty.
In the midst of little buzz of intro
ductions, she found herself suddenly face
to face with Lyndham, whom Mrs.
Poynton had no idea at all of men
tioning In those few seconds of breath
less silence which intervened before she
held out her hand, there flashed back
ward and forward between the two
Inameless things. Shelf possible, was
a little paler, and her admirable self
possession faltered. He, too, seemed to
be struggling for self-centrol.
81 may be permitted to recall myself
to your memory, princess" he said, look
ing at her steadily. my name is Lynd-
ham-Richard Lyndham. May I hope
that I am not quite forgotten:"
She held out her hand.
"One does not forget ones oldest
friends" she said softly. "I am very
glad to see you again, Mr.. Lyndham."
Her hostess led her away. The Prin-
cess of Berlitz was a parsonage, even
if her husbands estates had lain far
away in a corner of Austria; and the
suite of rooms into which Mrs. Poyn-
ton herself conducted her had once been
occupied by royalty. Tea and fruit were
ready on a tiny table in the sitting
room. Beyond in the bedroom a couple
of maids were already busy unpacLing
Mrs. Poynton looked around, and the
stream of idle words which had been
passing between the two stopped.
4 wonder" she said, "if there is any
thing else I can do for you?"
The princess hesitated.
"Yes," she said, there is something
else. I should be so glad if I could
speak for few minutes with Mr. Lynd-
ham up here"
Mrs. Poynton was taken aback. She
stared blankly at her guest.
With Mr.. Lyndham?" she repeated.
vaguely.
The princess bowed.
YES"
Mrs. Poynton recovered herself,
though she was still steeped in amaze
ment.
"By all means" she said slowly. 'I
will send him up to you"
Mrs. Poynton returned to the garden.
Mr.. Lyndham was still there, sitting a
little apart from the others. She went
up to him.
"Mr. Lyndham," she said, and uncon-
sciously her voice took a new tone in
addressing him, the princess desires to
speak to you in her room. If you will
come this way, I will show you where
she is" .sl
Mr.. Lyndham rose slowly to his feet