Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-19

/ you both, there are no two people 4
, this world less suitable for each other.
"Look here" John expostulated,
: don't want you to go away thinking SC
You don't understand what this mean
: to me-"
"Pcrhaps not, my friend" Gralllo
replied "but remember that 1t Is a
least my trade to understand men ant
women. | have known Louise Mau
rel since she was child"
"Tl en- 1t is l whom you don't I'm
derstHnd."
"Tl ut may be So" Graillot confessed
some makes mistakes. Let us leave
Il at that. You are young man OF
unde' eloped temperament. You may
be ca 2able of much which at present
| do ,ot find In you"
az Il me the one quality In which
you tonsider me most lacking Johr
beggt !. II want you on my side, Grail
lot"
"Ar IT," Graillot replied, as he SHOOK
his riend's hand and hurried off
"Nanl 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 sense Of something
almost omInous in the Frenchman's
manner, something which he could not
fathOm, against which he struggled In
vain. side by side with 1t, there
surged into his memory the Dispute
tude which his present relations with
Louise had developed. She was always
charming when she had any time to
spare sometimes almost affectonate.
ON the other hand, he was profoundly
conscious of her desire to keep him
at arms length for the present.
He had accepted her decision with
out murmur. He made but few eff
forts to see her alone, and when they
met he made no special claim upon
her notice. He was serving his appren-
ticeship doggedly and faithfully. Yet
there were times like the present when
he found his task both hateful and diff
flcult
He walked almlessly backward and
forward, chatting against the restraint
of the narrow walls and the low cell
ing. A sudden desire had seized him
to fly back to the hills, wreathed in
mist though they might be; to struggle
on his way through the binding rain,
to drink down long gulps of his own
purer. less civilized atmosphere.
The telephone bell rang. He placed
the receiver to his ear almost me-
chemically.
"Who is it?' he asked.
LADY Hllda Mulloch Is asking for
you, sir" the hall porter announced.
Lady Hilda peered around Johns
room through her lorgnette, and did
not hesitate to express her dissatlsfac-
ton.
my dear man." she exclaimed,
what makes you live In hotel? Why
don't you take rooms of your own and
furnish them? Surroundings like these
are destructive to ones individuality"
"Well, you see" John explained, as
he drew an easy chair up to the fire
for his guest, my stay In London is
only temporary one, and 1t hasn't
seemed worth while to settle any.
where"
She stretched out her graceful body
In front Of the fire and raised her veil.
She was very smartly dressed, as usual.
Her white silk stockings, which she
seemed to have no objection to dis
playing were of the latest vogue. The
ehlnchilla around her neck and In her
little toque was most becoming. She
seemed to bring with her an atmos-
phere indefnable, In its way, but dis
tinctly attractive. Brisk In her speech,
n little commanding In her manner, she
was still essentially feminine.
John, at her direct invitation, had
called upon her once or twice since
their meeting at the opera, and he had
found her, from the first, more at.
tractiye than any other society woman
of his acquaintance. None the less, he
was little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here, any
howY' she demanded. IL feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds, but !
have forgotten It."
For one thing" John replied, ~
have come because I don't want to ap-
pear prejudlced, and the fact that
never spent month In London, or even
week, seemed little narrow-mlnd-
ed"
What's the real attractlon?" Lady
Hilda asked. ut is a woman, isn't itY'
Il am very fond of a woman who
$ In London" John admitted. "Per.
haps 1t Is true that l am here on her
account"
Lady Hilda withdrew from her nun
gold cigarette case and little box of
order some mixed vermouth with
emon for me, please" she begged. II
have been shopping, and l hate tea
don't know why I came to see you.
suddenly thought of it when I was
N Bond street"