New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-26
CHAPTER xvII-Continued.

"1ou silly child Louise exclaimed.
"No one told me you were here. Have
you had any lunchf"
Long ago" Sophy replied. Il have
been finishing your accounts
Louise made n little grimuce.
Tell me the worst" she begged.
"iou are ovcrdrawn at your bank,
your bills are heavier than ever this
month, and there are five or six special
uccOunts--one for some electric MT
tings, another for the hire of ii motor
car-which ought to be paid"
Louise was looking up at the ceiling.
She sighed.
at would be nice" she said, "to
have someone to pny ones bills and
look after one, and see that one wasn't
too extravaganza"
We'll. you need someone badly So
ply asserted. II suppose you mean
TO make up your mind to it some day
II wonder I" Louise murmured. Did
you know that that terrible man from
the ~hills-John S~trangewey's brother
has been here this morning? He fright
ened mt to DEATH
"What did he want?" Sophy asked
curiously.
"IIc wa a triile vague" Louise re-
marked. 81 gathered that if | don't
send John back to Cumberland, he's
going to strange me"
Sophy leaned across the table.
Are YOU going 10 send him hack?'
she asked.
II am in an uncertain fralnc OF
mind" Louise confessed. 81 really
can't decide about anything
81 want to tell yoA this, Louise
Sophy said firmly. "John is getting to
know Il great many people, and you
know how men talk ut the clubs.
Aren't you sometimes afraid that he
will hear things and MISUNDERSTANDING
~ am expecting it every day" Lou
Use admitted.
"Then why don't you end it?'
(which way"
There was n silence between the two
women. The muflled street noises
from outside became the background
to n stiffness which grew every mo-
ment more oppressive. Louise returned
to her former attitude. She looked
Steudfastly before her, her face sup
ported by her hands.
Sophy grew paler and paler as the
minutes passed. There was something
strange and almost beautiful in Lou
iSe'S face, something which had come
to her lately, and which shonc from
her yes only at rare intervals.
"You care for him, | believe Sophy
cried ut last. "You care for him."
Louise did not move.
"Why no;f" she whispered.
There wnS Il ring al the front door,
Louise, from her place. could see III"
long. gray bonnet Of Johns ear. Al
most before she could speak, h" was
announced.
ITS an ntrocious time TO come, !
know" he began apologctically.
"You'rc in time for some coffee, ny
how" Sophy told him ch"crfully. and
! know Louise is glad to see you, be
cause if you hadn't cOnr, | was going
to make her 90 through som" ac-
counts"
~ hl''N 4 ~ @''' ~ ~
you,' Louise murlnurcd, pointing 10 II
chair. "Sopliy and ! have been having
II most interesting discussion, but we
have come to II cul lie sac
81 really came" John explained, ito
ask if you cared to come and see Il
collection of pictures. There's an ltal-
ana futuriSt. of courSe-just I'M
,,,aI-,J I;c EttI, Lot aud cnt than, rn |
over Il curiosity shop in Clifford street.
He is sending ont cards for next week.
but | could take you today-that is.
If you would care about il. We can
60 somewhere for some tea a~fterward."
Louise made Il little grimace.
what bad luck ~ she exclaimed.
She stopped short. She felt that by
her hesitation she had, in a sense, com
mitted herself.
81 have promised to 20 and have tea
With the prince nj Sryre House." she
said. at is an engagement we made
last week.
John set down his empty coffee cup
with a chatter. An incXplicahlc but
dominating fury seemed to have sud
denly assaulted him. He took out n
cigarette and tried to light it,. Suphy,
after watching him for Il moment in
astonishmont. slipped out of the room.
Louise came over to his side.
Are you really so much diSappoint-
ed?" she asked. II am 50 sorry, If
/ had known that you were coming for
me, I would have kept myself free"
at isn't that exactly" John an
swcrcd. IT'S something I can't alto
gother explain. If YOU don't mind,
think I will be going. There is some-
thing | must put right"
lie left without another word. She
watched him step into his new motor
car and drive away a little recklcssly.
considering the crowded state OF the
streets. He drew up, Il few minutes
lister, outside the club in Pail Mall,
xhere. as it CHARGED. he had lunched
that day with the prince Of Seyre.
He found the prince still sitting in
the smoking room, reading a review,
over the top of which he glanced up
as John approached, and nodded non
chnlantly.
"Back again?" he murmured.
Il came back to have a word with
you. prince
The prince laid down the review,
keeping his finger in the place.
Delighted
Not long ago." John went on. 'fn
this room, someone think ii was Ma !
e. -ncIyoI rrhot rnr1