The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-03-13

Elsa's eyes and remained there untN
she went downstairs to join the consul
general and his wife. She found some
very agreeable men and women, and
some of her natural gayety returned.
At far table on the veranda she saw
Craig and Mallow in earnest conversa,
tion.
She nodded pleasantly to the colo
mel as the head boy came to announce
that dinner was served. Anglo-Indian
society had SO many twists and rami.
fications that the situation was not ex.
actly new to the old soldier. True,
none had confronted him identical to
this. But he had not disciplined men
all these years without acquiring abun.
dant self-control. The little veins in
his nose turned purple, as Else
'prophesied they would, but there was
no other indication of how distasteful
the moment was to him. He would
surely warn the consul general, who
doubtless was innocent enough.
They sat down. The colonel blinked
Fine pc ssage we had coming down."
WAS it?" returned Elsa innocently
The colonel reached for an olive and
bit into it savagely. He was no fool
She had him at the end of blind
alley. and there he must wait until she
was ready to let him go. She could
harry him or pretend to ignore him, az
suited her fancy. He was caught.
Women, all women, possessed at least
one attribute of the cat. It was dig
ging in the claw. hanging by 1t, and
boredly looking about the world to see
what was going on. At that moment
the colonel recognized the sting Of the
claw.
Elsa turned to her right and en-
gagged the French consul discursively;
indeed, she gradually became the cen
ter of interest; she drew them inten
tionally. She brought touch of home
to the Frenchman, to the German, tc
the Italian to the Spaniard; and the
British official, in whose hands the
ments rested, was charmed to learr
that Elsa had spent various week-ends
at the home of his sister in Surrey.
And when she admitted that she
was the daughter of General Chet
wood, the man to whom the Indiar
government had cause to be grateful
upon more than one occasion, for the
solidity of his structures, the colone'
realized definitely the seriousness O.
his crucifxion. He sat sitter ant
sitter in his chair, and the veins ir
his nose grew deeper and deeper IL
hue. He saw clearly that he woull
never understand American women.
He had committed an outrageous blum
der. He, instead of dominating. had
been dominated by three faultfnding
old women: and, without being aware
Of the fact, had looked at things from
their point, of view. A most inconceiv-
able blunder. He would not allow that
he was being swayed less by the admis-
sion of his objectionable rudeness on
board than by the Immediate knowl-
edge that Elsa was known to the Brit
ish officials sister, titled lady who
stood exceedingly high at court.
Miss Chetwood," he said, lowering
his voice for her ears only
Elsa turned, but with the expression
that signified that her attention was
engaged elsewhere. ,,a
Yes" ..
II am an old man. / am sixty-two;
and most of these sixty-two l haye
lived roughly; but am not too old to
realize that have made fool of my.
self"
Interest began to fill Elsa's eyes.
"It has been said," he went on, keep.
ing the key, that am man Of cour.
age. but l find that need good deal
Of that just now. have been rude to
you, and without warrant, and offer
you my humble apologies" He fun.
bled with his cravat as IL it had sud.
denly tightened. "Will you accept"
Instantly" Elsa understood the
quality of courage that had stirred the
colonel. But ruthlessly: 81 should.
however, like your point Of view in re.
gard to what you consider my con
duct"
"Is it necessary"
Il believe it would be better for my
understanding If you made a full con.
fession." She did not mean to be re.
lentless, but her curiosity was too
strong not to press her advantage.
well, then, over, here as elsewhere
In the world there are standards by
which we Judge persons who come un'
der our notice"
Agreed. Individuality Is not gen.
orally understandable" @ets.
"By the mediocre, you might have
added. That's the difficulty with indi'
viduality; 1t refuses to be harnessed
by mediocrlty and mediocrity holds
the whip-hand always. i represent
the mediocre" ,