The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1914-04-24
cHAPTER u.
Fhere Is a woman2

Anger, curiosity, interest; these SEN
sations blanketed one another quickly,
leaving only interest, which was
Courtlandt's state of mind when he
saw a pretty woman. 1t did not re-
quire very keen scrutiny on his part
to arrive swiftly at the conclusion that
this one was not quite in the picture.
Her cheeks were not red withGthat
redness which has a permanency of
tone, neither waxing nor waning,
abashed in daylight. Nor had her lips
found their scarlet moisture from out
the depths of certain little porcelain
boxes. Decidedly she was out of place
here, yet she evinced no embarrass-
ment; she was cool, at ease. Court
landt's interest strengthened,
Why do you think am lonely,
mademoiselle3" hA asked. without
smiling.
"Oh. when one talks to ons'A sass.
strikes the table, wastes good wine,
the inference is but natural. So, mon
sieur is lonely"
Her lips and eyes, as grave, and
smileless as his own, puzzled him. An
adventure? He looked at some of the
other women. Those he could under
stand. but this one, no. At all times
he was willing to smile, yet to draw
her out he realized that he must pre-
serve his gravity unbroken. The stu
alton was not usual. His gaze came
back to her.
lis the comparison favorable to
me?" she asked.
1T is. What is loneliness 2, he de-
manded cynically.,
"Ah, could tell you" she answered.
1T is the longing to be with the one.
we love; 1t is the hate Of the wicked
things we have done; 1t is remorse."
THAT echoes Of the Ambigu-Com-
ique."
Would you spare me a glass Of
wine? / am thirsty"
He struck his hands together, bit
of orientalism he had brought back
with him. The observant waiter in
stantly came forward with a glass.
The young woman slipped the wine,
gazing into the glass as she did so.
q
But repeat, monsieur is lonely"
$50 lonely that am almost tempted
to put you into a taxicab and run
away with you
She set down the glass.
But. l sha'n't," he added.
The spark of eagerness in her eyes
was instantly curtained. There Is q
woman?" tentatively.
Is there not always woman?"
"And she has disappointed mon
sieur?" There was no marked sym
pathy in the tone.
Since Eve, has that not been wom-
ans part in the human comedy?" He
was almost certain that her lips be-
came firmer. Smile. if you wish. 1t
is not prohibitory here"
She lifted the wine-glass again, and
then he noticed her hand. It was
large, white and strong; it was not
the hand of woman who dallied, who
idled in primrose paths
Tell me, what is 1t you wish? You
interest me, at moment, too, when l
do not want to be interested. Are you
really in trouble? Is there anything
can do barring the taxicab ?"
She twirled the glass, uneasily. "I
am not in actual need of assistance"
"But you spoke peculiarly regarding
loneliness"
Perhaps like the melodrama. You
spoke of the Ambigu-C omique."
"You are on the stage?''
Perhaps"
"The opera?'
again perhaps"
He laughed once more, and drew his
chair closer to the table.
You followed me here. From
where?"
Followed your" The effort to give
mocking accent to her voice was a
failure.
Yes. The idea Just occurred to me.
There were other vacant chairs, and
there was nothing inviting in my facial
expression. Come. let me have the
truth"
81 have friend who knows Flora
Desimone."
"Ah!" AS If this information was q
direct visitation of kindness from the
gods. "Then you know where the
Calabrian lives? Give me her ad-
dress"
CTo BE CoNTINUED)