The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-11-16

'It is Louise Maurel. I thought you
must have guessed"
The two men looked at each othel
in silence for some moments. Out OF
the river little tug was hooting Wig
orously. The roar of the Strand came
family into the room. On the mantel
| piece very ornate French clock was
| ticking lightly. ALI these sounds
| seemed suddenly accentuated. They
beat time to a silence almost tragical
| in its intensity.
Graillot took out his handkerchief
| and dabbed his forehead. He had writ
ten many plays, and the dramatic in
'Louise!" he muttered under his
breath.
"She is very different, know" John
went on, after moments hesitation.
"She is very clever and great artist,
and she lives in an atmosphere of
which, a few months ago. knew moth
ing. / have come up here to try to
understand, to try to get little nearer
to her."
There was another silence, this time
almost an awkward one. Then Grail
lot rose suddenly to his feet.
Il will respect your confidence" he
promised, holding out his hand.
''Have no fear of that. am due now
at the theater. Your tea is excellent,
and such little cakes I never tasted be-
FORE"
"You will wish me good luck?"
"NoI"
"Why not?" John demanded, a little
startled.
Because" Graillot pronounced.
"from what / have seen and know of
you both, there are no two people in
this world less suitable for each other"
"LoOk here" John expostulated, Il
You don't understand what this means
to me-"
perhaps not, my friend" Graillot
replied, "but remember that 1t is at
least my trade to understand men and
women. I have known Louise Maui
rel since she was a child"
''Then it is 1 whom you don't un-
derstand."
'That may be so," Graillot confessed.
zone makes mistakes. Let US leave
it at that. You are young man OF
undeveloped temperament. You may
be capable of much which at present
1 do not find in YOU"
"Tell me the one quality in which
you consider me most lacking" john
begged. II want you Oh my side, Grail
lot"
"And l." Graillot replied, as he shook
his friends hand and hurried off,
want only to be on the side that will
mean happiness for you both"
He left the room a little abruptly.
John walked back to the window, OPP
pressed with a sense of something
almost ominous in the Frenchman's
something which he could not
fathom, against which he struggled in
vain. Side by side with 1t, there
surged into his memory the Dispute
Jude which his present relations with
Louise had developed. She was always |
when she had any time to |
almost affectionate. |
On the other hand, he was profoundly |
conscious of her desire to keep him |
It arms length for the present.
He had accepted her decision with
tut murmur. He made but few eff
orts to see her alone, and when they
net he made no special claim upon
Ter notice. He was serving his appren-
iceship doggedly and faithfully. Yet
here were times like the present when
le found his task both hateful and diff
icult.
He walked aimlessly backward and
onward, chatting against the restraint
f the narrow walls and the low cell
ng. A sudden desire had seized him
0 fly back to the hills, wreathed In
INST though they might be; to struggle
n his way through the binding rain,
D drink down long gulps Of his own
urer less civilized atmosphere.
The telephone bell rang. He placed
he receiver to his ear almost me-
"Who is itT' he asked.
LADY Hilda Mulloch Is asking for
on, SIR the hall porter announced.
Lady Hilda peered around Johns
pom through her lorgnette, and did
OF hesitate to express her dissatisfac-
on.
my dear man." she exclaimed, I