The Press., 1916-12-28
CHAPTER VII. . .s NAI AAl

 perhaps even after. I do not know, but am sure that I shall always keep the memory of the night upon which Mfr. Robert Carruthers of Greg and Bye was introduced to the friends of his ancestGts It is my jewel that seems a drop of hearts blood that will wear forever hid in my breast. At dinner I sat beside the Gouver- neur Williamson Faulkner, and tears came into my eyes as he rose from be- side me at the head of the table and said:
 Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to drink to the homecoming of Robert Carruthers. my friend, your friend and everybody his friends"
 And now what have you to say to me. boy, the oldest friend you've got in America who hasn't seen you for days that have been too long?" said that Madam Whitworth, who was seat ed at my side, and as she spoke she turned one lovely bare shoulder in the direction of my uncle, the General Rob- ert. and the beautiful Mile. Sue and also Buzz, as if to shut them away from her and me in little space of world just for two people.
 'I can say with truth, madam, that your loveliness tonight is but the flow ering of my suspicious of it that morn ing upon the railroad train,"I answer ed her in words that were a very nice translation of what that fine young Cossack had once said to me at the Chateau de Greg of my own Towering into rose chiffon after an afternoons hunting with him in corduroys. And in truth I spoke no falsehood to that Madam Whitworth, for she was of a very great beauty of body, very much of which was In view from a scanti- ness of bodice that had never seen excelled in any ballroom in France. 'I knew you for a poet from that adorable black mop which l see you have very nicely plastered in an exact imitation of Buzz Clendennings red one," she answered me, with a laugh. Follow me from the ballroom just after supper at midnight for a half hours chat alone in a place I know, and don't let either the general or the
 
 undertone as the Gouverneur Faulkner bent forward and began a laughing conversation with her.
 T will" I answered her under my breath, and leaned back in my chair so that the Gouverneur Faulkner could more conveniently converse with her. And to that end he placed his arm across the back of my chair, and thus sat in his embrace with my shoulder pressed into his.
 At midnight" I whispered, while I bent for a second to kiss the hand of the beautiful Madam Whitworth as she left the room. As l raised my head eyes Of the Gouverneur Faulkner, which looked into mine with an expres- sion of calm question. And for a mo- ment let the woman rise superior to the raven attire, and looked back into those eyes, in which I saw the mys- tery of the dawn star, as would have gazed Roberta, marquise of Greg and Bye had she been attired in the white tulle and lace abandoned in that New York. Then beat her back down into my heart and gave him the smile of fealty that was his due from Robert Carruthers, his friend. -
 The hours that followed my entry into the ballroom in the mansion of the exalted Gouverneur Faulkner were like minutes of time that dropped from golden clock of joy. I danced on feet that were strong wings to glide over a floor that was a many colored cloud from the reflection of the soft lights and the silken skirts which ruff fled over 1t. And, what was most en- joyable to me in this case, I glided in whatever direction pleased me and took with me the armful of cloud. which was the girl with whom l was dancing, on long swoops of my oT:E will instead of being led im my !.i' ht by another, as had always before bee
 lie case with my dancing. It r'ls til, most of a joy that he'd ever cNperi enced. and as l so enjoyed th:.t free dom l did not know how 1t Was that I should have such feeling of dissat- isfaction when I beheld that beautiful Madam Whitworth dancing within the arms of the Gouverneur Williamson Faulkner I blushed that I should be so unworthy, with such an unreasOn- able fury in my heart. and l looked away so that I seemed not to see the smile that he sent to me over the head of the very sweet Belle girl in blue ruffies and silver slippers l was guid- ing past him in the trot of fox. It is with burning of countenance that arises from hot shame, which do not even to this moment exactly understand, that 1 recall to my mind that half hour which Mir. Robert Car ruthers of Greg and Bye spent with the beautiful Madam Patricia Whit worth in one of the deep windows that looked from the private study of his excellency of the state of Harpeth over into the great hills that surround the city. Things happened in this wise: That Madam Whitworth made the commencement of our duel of in- telligences by assuming that I was a simple French infant before whom she could dangle the very sweet bonbon of AuecLlOn hnu Idke away IrOm IL treasure that 1t held in the hollow of It's hand as sacred trust: that Mad am Whitworth did not realize that in- stead of, a very small young boy from gay Paris, whose eyes were closed like those of very young cat, she was dealing with the very wicked girl who placed the word devil" behind the word dare
 was that girl.
 "I suppose It is absurd for staid old matron like myself to be Jealous, really jealous, at seeing a child like you being consumed alive by lot of simpering misses in pink and blue chif- ion pinafores, who ought to be in their nursery cots asleep. but I have been
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