The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-12-22

"What makes you live IN noleI! why
don't YOU take rooms Of your own ana
furnish them? Surroundings like these
are destructive to ones individuality.
well, you see" John explained as
he drew an easy chair up TO the 1re
for his guest, my stay in London is
only a temporary one, and 1t hasn
seemed worth while to settle any
| where"
| She stretched out her graceful body
| in front Of the fire and raised her veil.
| She was very Smartly dressed, as usual.
Her white silk stockings, which she |
seemed to have no objection to dlS-
playing. were of the latest vogue. The |
chinchilla around her neck and in her
little toque was most becoming. she /
seemed to bring with her an atmos-
phere indefnable, in its way, but dis |
tinctly attractive. Brisk in her speech,
a little commanding in her manner: she
was still essentially feminine.
John, at her direct invitation, had
called unon her once or twice since
their meeting at the opera, and he had
found her, from the first, more at
tractiye than any other society woman
Of his acquaintance. None the less, he
was little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here, any
!, how?" she demanded. II feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds, but
have forgotten IT,"
: For one thing" John replied, u
have come because | don't want to ap-
pear preiudiced, and the fact that l
never spent a month in london, or even
: Il week, seemed a little narrow-mlnd-
ed"
, whats the real attraction" Lady
Hilda asked. sit is woman, isn't IT.
Il am very fond of q woman who
2 is in London" John admitted. per
haps it is true that I am here on her
n account"
= Lady Hilda withdrew from her muf
a gold cigarette case and little box or
o matches.
J. "Order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. Il
9 have been shopping, and I hate tea.
| don't know why I came to see you
:, I suddenly thought of it when l was
: In Bond street"
" 1T was very kind of you," John said
IF | had known that you cared about
seeing me, would have come to you
with pleasure"
10 "What does it matters? she an
swered. "You are thinking, perhaps
= that / risk my reputation in coming t
If a young mans rooms? Those things
n do not count for me. Ever since
- was child l have done exactly as
az liked, and people have shrugged thel
"a shoulders and said, 'Ah, well, 1t i
r only Lady Hildar I am quite con
WINGED that If chose to take you OF
~ to Monte Carlo with me next wee
at and spend a month with you there,
nd should get my pass to the royal inclc
~ sure at Ascot when returned, and m
invitation to the next court ball, eve
in this era of starch. You see, the
would say, 1T Is only Lady Hilda !
~ The waiter brought the yermoutl
ra which his visitor slipped contentedly.
of $50 there is q woman, Is there!' sh
ov went on, looking across the room at he
~ Communion. "Have you cOmmitte
yourself already, then? Don't you r
;ob member what told you the first nigl
IN we met after the Opera-that 1t
nil we'll to waltz?
Eyes. I remember" John admitted.
,ok ~ meant it."
~ He laughed spontaneously, yet n
iii without some trace of self-conSclou
ness.
t,v 1.-THE mischief was done then" ]
on said.
Couldn't it be undone?" she ask
nc lazily. COR are you one of those tee
not Gus people who are faithful foreVe
IN Fidelity" she continued, knocking L
oro ash from her cigarette, ''is really,
,;o- nv mind the most bourgeois of vict
rith It comes from a want of elasticity
o,s the emotional fibers. Nothing IN II
- has bored me so much as the fat
o+e fitness of my lovers"
,dlv "You ought to put all this into
him of your books" John suggested.
81 probably shall, when l write l
18th "reminiscences" she replied. "Tell
Of about this woman. And don't sta
-bev about in that restless way at the otf
mon end of the room. Bring chair GIG
rom to me-there, close to my side'
Vet John obeyed, and his visitor conte
hen plated him thoughtfully through
diff little cloud of tobacco smoke.
Eyes" she decided, "there is no
and denying it. You are hatefully go
.o;nt looking. and somehow or other L tn
coil YOUR clothes have improved you. J
him have a little more air than when
4 in first came to town. Are yo@ quite s
prle that you haven't made up your IN
rain about this woman in hurrIE
own "Ouite sure" John laughed. i S
nose I am rather an idiot, but L
aced addicted to the vice Of which you W
me- speaking"
She nodded.
ST should imagine" she said, 1T
for YOU were not an adept in the art
cd. Irritation. Is it true that the WOE
Dhn's is Louise Maurel?'
did "Ouite true" John replied.
won G-nnw-o