The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-07
CHAPTER XIx-Continued.


which almost the whole of the English
stage and a sprinkling of society peo-
pie were present, was r. complete sue
cess. Louise made a charming host
ess, and Sir Edward more than ever
justified his reputation for saying the
right thing to the right person at the
right moment. The rooms were crowd
ed with throngs of distinguished peo-
pie, who all seemed to have plenty to
say to one another.
The only person, perhaps, who
found himself curiously i'll at ease was
John. He heard nothing but French
on all sides of him-a language which
he read with some facility, but which
he spoke like a schOolboy. He had
been wandering about for more than
an hour before Louise discovered him.
She at once left her place and crossed
the room to where he was standing by
the wall.
"Cheer up" she begged, with de-
lightful smile. 81 am afraid that you
are being bored to death. VIII you
not come and be presented to our
guests?"
"For goodness sake, moi" John i'm
plOred. 81 have never seen one of
them act, and my French is appalling.
I am all right, dear. It's quite enough
pleasure to see you looking so beauti-
full, and to think that am going to be
allowed to drive you home afterward."
Louise looked into a neighboring
mirror, and gazed critically at her
own reflected image. She had Curl
Gus feeling that at that precise mo-
nlent she had reached the zenith of
her power and her charm. Her audi
ence at the theater had been wonder
fully sympathetic, had responded with
rare appreciation to every turn of her
voice, to every movement and gesture.
The compliments, too, which she had
been receiving from the crowds who
had bent over her fingers that night
had been no idle words.
She was conscious, acutely con-
scious, of the atmosphere she had Gre
ated around her. She was glorying
in thss subtle outward signs of it. She
was u love with herself; in love, too,
with this delightful new feeling of
Iovi6g. 1t would have given her more
joy than anything else in the world,
in that moment of her triumph, to
have passed her arm through Johns,
to have led him up to them all, and to
have said:
"After all, you see, am very sim
pie sort of woman. l have done just |
the sort of simple thing that other
women do, and 1 am glad of it-very |
glad and very happy!
Her lips moved to the music of her |
thoughts. John leaned toward her.
Ibid you say anything?" he asked. |
''You dear stupid, of course did
not Or if I did, it was just one of
those little whispers to oneself which
mean nothing, yet which count for so
much. Can 1 not do anything to make
you enjoy yourself more? 1 shall have
to go back to my guests now. We
are expecting a royal parsonage, and
those two dears who keep so close to
my side do not speak word of Eng
lish"
"please go lack, DEAR" John begged
"ft was nice of you to come
at all. ARA here's Sophy at last, thank
Now am all right"
She laid her fingers upon his arm.
"fou must take me back to my
place." she said. 'Then you can go
anG talk nonsense to Sophy."
They were back in the crowd now,
and she dismissed him with a little
nod. He made his way quickly to the
spot Wore he had seen Sophy. To
his disappointment, she had disap-
peared. Graillot, however, came up
and seized him by the arm.
"Still playing the moth, my young
'riend?" he exclaimed. "Aren't the
wings sufficiently burned YETI"
II am afraid it's become a perma- /
lent role" John replied, as the two {
men shook hands. 'Where have you :
,een all these weeks, and why haven't
7oU been to see me?" II
paris, my dear young friend-Paris {
md lifel Now / am back again-I ,
IN not sure that know why. came $
,ver with these French people, to c
|
ne. have not paid my respects to our @
ostess. We shall meet again pres v
ntly." ii
He strolled off, and a few minutes C
lter John found Sophy. S
'How late you arei" he grumbled. i
81 couldn't help it," she answered. h
yhis is the only evening dress / pos Il
ess at present, and had to mend it n
efore it was decent to come out in. ii
Why are you wandering about alone? k
[asn't Louise been kind to your
"She has been charming" John de- a
Jared promptly, "but she is surround n
d with all sorts Of people I don't d
now. i can't help her. For one d
hing, my French is absurd. Then m
ley are all talking about things which n
don't understand In the least" D
Sophy remained silent for a mo- m
ent. Then she took Johns arm and II
d him to the buffet. IL
"Give me an ice and cigarette, fc
III you, please? You are dear, i'm in
prti,al person, but you are as much ia