The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-08-09

brilliant and cosmopolitan assembly.
For some time John stood by the
princes side and was introduced TO
more people than he had ever met be-
fore in his life. Presently, however,
he was discovered by his friend Amer
ton.
Queer thing your being here, a
friend Of the prince and all that" the
young man remarked. where's Miss
SOphy this EVENING"
81 haven't seen her." John replied. Il
don't believe she is invited"
Like to be introduced to some OF
the girls, or shall we so and have
drink?'
John was heSitating when he felt a
hand upon his shoulder. The princes
voice sounded in his ear.
"Strnngewey," he said, 81 am privi-
legged to present you to Nine. Aida
Calavera. Madame, this is my friend
of whom spoke to YOU"
John turned away from the little
group of girls and young men toward
whom Amerton had been leading him.
The woman was different from any
thing he had imagined, from anything
he had ever seen. In the ballet a
writhing, sensuOus figure with every
gesture Il note in the octave of pas
sion here she seemed the very per
sOnificatiOn of a negative and striking
immObility. She was slender, not sc
tall as she had seemed upon the stage
dressed in white from head to foot
Her face was almost marblelike In Its
pallor, her smooth, black hair was
drawn tightly over her ears, and hel
eyes were of the deepest shade of blue
She raised her hand, as he bowed, with
a gesture almost royal in its condescen
sion. The prince, with quiet tact
bridged over the moment during which
John struggled in vain for something
to say.
"Mr. Strangewey," he remarked
tonight. He has seen his first ballet
as we moderns understand the term
1 cannot help envying him that delight
He naturally finds it difficult to realize
this additional good fortune. Will yol
excuse me for one mOment?"
The prince departed to welcome
some later arrivals. The noisy littl'
group standing close at hand, from
which John had been diverted, passed
on into the refreshment room, and th'
two were, for a few moments, almoS
isolated.
"You were pleased with the perform
ance, l hOpe?
Her voice was in character with he
personality. 1t was extremely low
scarcely louder than a whisper. II
his surprise, it was almost wholly fire.
from any foreign accent.
ut was very wonderful John an
swered.
"The prince tells me-" she continued
"that you are Il stranger in London
Give me your arm. We will walk t
a quieter place. In few moments W
are to be disturbed for supper. On
eats so often and so much in this cOur
try. Why do l say that, though?
is not so bad as in Russia"
They passed across the pOlishe
wood floor into a little room wit
oriental fittings, where lamp wa
swinging from the ceiling, giving out
dim but pleasant light. The place wa
empty, and the sound Of the musi
and voices seemed to come from Il di!
tance. She sank down upon q diva
back among the shadows, and mt
toned John to sit by her side.
"You have come to find out to III
derstand-is that not sO?' she inquired
"What you know OF life, the prime
tells me- you have learned from book
Now you have come to discover Wht
more there is to be learned in tn
world of men and wYmen.'
"The prince has been very kind
John said.
She turned her head slowly an
looked at him.
"A young man to whom the print
chooses to be kind is, in way, fo