Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1917-09-21
CHAPTER X.

CHAPTER X.
During the remainder of that after
noon and evening John was oppressed
by vague sense of the splendor of
his surroundings and his companions
mysterious capacity for achieving inn
possibilities. Their visits to the tai
lors, the shirtmakers, the hosiers and
the bootmnkers almost resembled Il
royal progress. All difficulties were
waved aside. That night he dlned,
clothed like other men from head to
foot, in the lofty dining room of one
of the most exclusive clubs in London
The prince proved an agreeable If
somewhat reticent companion. He in
troduced John to many well-known
people, always with that little note of
personal interest in his few words Of
presentation which gave certain sig
niflcance to the ceremony.
From the club, where the question of
Johns proposed membership, the
prince acting as his sponsor, was ia
vorably discussed with several men,
bers of the committee, they drove to
/ Covent Garden, and for the first time
in his life John entered the famous
/ opera house. The prince, preceded by
an attendant, led the way to box
upon the second tier. A woman turned
/ her head as they entered and stretched
out her hand, which the prince raised
/ to his lips.
'You see, have taken you at your
word, Eugene" she remarked.
you give me double pleasure, dear
lady," the prince declared. mot only
Is II n joy to be your host, but you give
me also the opportunity of presenting
to you my friend, John Strangewey
Strangewey, this is my very distant
relative and very dear friend, Lady
uilda Mulloch."
Lady Hilda smiled graciously al
John. She was apparently of Il little
less than middle age with dark bands
IF chestnut hair surmounted by tiara
Tier face was the face of clever and
still beautiful woman; her figure slen
der and dignifled; her voice low and
delightful.
Are you paying your nightly HON
age to Calavera, Mr.. Strangewey, oil
are you only an occasional visitor?'
she asked.
'This Is my first visit of any sort
to Covent Garden" John told her.
She looked at him with as much sur
prise MS good breeding permitted. John
who had not as yet sat down, seemed
almost preternaturally tall In thai
small box, with its low ceiling He
was looking around the house with the
enthusiasm of boy. Lady TIildl
glanced away from him toward the
prince, and smiled; then she looked
back at John. There was something
like admiration in her face.
'Do you live abroad?" she asked.
John shook his head.
II live in Cumberland" he said
"Many people here seem to think thai
that is the same thing. My brother
and have farm there"
''But you visit London occasionally
surely?'
II have not been in London" Johr
told her, "since l passed through it OF
my way home from Oxford, eight year,
ago"
II have never heard anything so ex
traordinary in my life! the woman de
clared frankly. rs IT the prince wht
has induced you TO break out of YOU
seclusioni'
"Our young friend" the prince ex
planned, finds himself suddenly in nj
tered circumstances. lie has been lief
a large fortune, and has come to spenC
it. incidentally, l hope, he has com,
to see something more OF your sex thar
is possible among his mountain wlds
| He las come, in short to look q lttl,
| way into life
Lady Illlda leaned back in her chair
"How romanuc!"
THE prince amuses himself" JohI
assured her u don't suppose shall
stay very long In London. | want jus
| TO try ii for Il time"
She looked at him almost wlStfuly
She was Il woman with brains WON
an notorious for the freedom of he
g life, for her intellectual gifts, for he
= almost brutal disregard of the conyen
+ lions of her class. The psychological
$ Interest of John Strangewey's situa
I tlon appealed to her powerfully BE
@ sides, she had a weakness for hand
n some men.
t "At any rate" said Indy Hild0, -
o am glad to think that l shall be nil,
= to watch YOU when you see Calaverl