The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-11-02

some later arrivals. The noisy little
group standing close at hand, from
which John had been diverted, passed
on into the refreshment room, and the
two were, for a few moments, almost
isolated.
'You were pleased with the perform
ance, hopper"
Her voice was in character with her
personality. 1t was extremely low,
| scarcely louder than a whisper. To
his surprise, it was almost wholly free
from any foreign accent.
cit was very wonderful" John an
swered
"The prince tells me-" she continued,
shat you are a stranger in London.
Give me your arm. We will walk to
a quieter place. In a few moments we
are to be disturbed for supper. One
eats SO often and so much in this coun-
try. Why do 1 say that, though? 1t
is not SO bad as in Russia"
| They passed across the polished
wood floor into a little room with
oriental fittings, where a lamp was
swinging from the ceiling, giving out
dim but pleasant light. The place was
empty, and the sound of the music
and voices seemed to come from dis
lance. She sank down upon a divan
back among the shadows, and mo-
toned John to sit by her side.
"You have come to find out, to I'M
derstand-is that not SOP" she inquired.
"What you know of life, the prince
tells me, you have learned from books.
Now you have come to discover what
more there is to be learned in the
world of men and women"
"The prince has been very kind"
John said.
She turned her head slowly and
looked at him.
ga young man to whom the prince
chooses to be kind is, in a way, for
tunate," she said. "There is very lit
tie in life, in men or in women, which
he does not understand. Let us re-
turn to what we were speaking about.
find it very interesting"
"You are very kind" John declared.
"What you will learn here" she went
on, depends very much upon yourself.
Are you intelligent? Perhaps not very"
she added, looking at him critically.
"You have brains, however, without a
doubt. You have also what places you
at once en- rapport with the cult of the
moment-you are wonderfully good |
looking"
John moved a little uneasily in his |
place. He felt that the dancers eyes |
were fixed upon him, and he was fever |
ishly anxious not to respond to the in
of their gaze. He was con-
scious, too, of the queer, indefnable |
of her near presence in the |
room.
"What you will learn" she proceed
ed, depends very much upon your de-
sires. If you seek for the best, and
are content with nothing else, you will
find it. But so few men are content
to waltz
II intend to-" John said simply.
Look at me, please" she ordered.
Once more he was compelled to look
INTO her deep-blue eyes. The incom-
smile was still upon her
fps.
you have 1oved?"
"No," he answered, taken a little
lback by the abruptness of the Ques-
ion.
you grow more wonderful You
ire free from any distracting thoughts
hor |
nents?"
81 have nothing of the Sort" John :
declared, almost irritably. "There is j.,
me person who has made wonder :
ul change in my life. believe could
ay that I am absolutely certain of my
ceilings for her, but so far she has not !;
iven me much encouragement. Tell j.
ne, madame, why do you ask me these >
uestions"
Because it interests me-" she re-
lied. "Why do you not insist that :
his lady should tell you the TRUTH :
81 have come to London to insist" =
e told her, "but have been here only
hours. / am waiting" 9
$50 many people spend their lives b
ding that" she went on presently. sit
oes not appeal to me. The moment 1 :,
lake up my mind that want thing, :
take it. The moment I make up my :
lind to give, / give"
John was suddenly conscious of the :,
oseness of the atmosphere. The fin !
ers of his hands were clenched tight
together. He Swore to himself that :,
: would not look into this woman's
zee. He listened to the band which ;,
as playing in the balcony of the great
Ill, to the murmur of the voices, the >.
louts of laughter. He told himself ;,
at Nine. Calavera was amusing her. :,
If with him.
1.-THE princes party" she continued, IF