Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-11-13
THE HILLMAN
By E. PHILLIPS OPPENHEIM

shoulders and said, 'Ah, well, 1t is
only Lady Hildap 1 am quite con-
WINGED that If chose to take you Off
to Monte Carlo with me next week
and spend month with you there, l
should get my pass to the royal inclo-
sure at Ascot when returned, and my
invitation to the next court ball, even
in this era of starch. You see, they
would~say, Tt is only Lady Hilda 7"
The waiter brought the vermouth,
which his visitor slipped contentedly.
$50 there is woman, is there?" she
went on, looking across the room at her
companion. Have you committed
yourself already, then? Don't you re-
member what told you the first night
we met after the opera-that it is
well to waltz"
Eyes, remember" John admitted.
81 meant It."
He laughed good-humoredly, yet not
without some trace Of self-conscious-
ness.
1.-THE mischief was done them" he
said.
Couldn't it be undone?" she asked
lazily. "Or are you one of those tedi-
GUS people who are faithful forever?
Fidelity" she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette, 'is really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois of vices.
the emotional fibers. Nothing in life
has bored me so much as the faith
fulness Of my lovers"
'You ought to put all this into one
of your books" John suggested.
Il probably shall, when 1 write my
"reminiscences" she replied. "Tell me
about this woman. And don't stand
about in that restless way at the other
end of the room. Bring chair close
to me-there, close to my side!'
John obeyed, and his visitor contem-
plated him thoughtfully through a
little cloud of tobacco smoke.
EYES," she decided, there is no use
denying it. You are hatefully good
looking, and somehow or other I think
your clothes have improved you. You
have little more air than when you
first came to town. Are you quite sure
that you haven't made up your mind
about this woman in a hurry?"
"Qulte sure" John laughed. 81 sup
pose 1 am rather an idiot but I am
addicted to the vice of which you were
speaking"
She nodded.
II should imagine" she said, "that
you were not an adept In the art of
Irritation. Is it true that the woman
is Louise MaurelT
"Quite true" John replied.
"But don't you know"
She broke off abruptly. She saw the
face of the man by her side suddenly
change, and her instinct warned her
of the danger into which she was rush
ing.
You surprise me very much" she
said. Louise Maurel is a very won
derful woman, but >she seems to spend
the whole Of her time with my cousin,
the prince"
"They are, without doubt, very
friendly" John assented. "They have
a good many interests in common, and
the prince Is connected with the syn
dictate which finances the theater. 1
do not imagine, however, that the
prince wishes to marry her, or she
him."
Lady Hilda began to laugh, softly,
but as If genuinely amused. John sat
and watched her IN omlnous silence.
Not the flicker Of smile parted his
lips. His visitor, however, was undis-
turbed. She leaned over and patted
his hand.
Simple Simonl" she murmured,
leaning little toward him. "If you
go on, looking like that, / shall pat
your cheeks, too. You are really much
too nice looking to wear such thun-
der clouds %
perhaps II we chose some other
subject of conversation" John said
stiff1y.
"Oh, dear mew she interrupted.
every WE'LL You really are a most
trying person, you know. 1 put up with
great deal from you"
John was silent. Her face darkened
little, and an angry light flashed
in her eyes.
"Well, I'll leave you alone If you
like" she decided, tossing her cigarette
into the CRATE. "If my friendship isn't
worth having, let it go. 1t hasn't
often been offered In vain. There are
more men in London than could count
who would go down on their knees for
such visit as l am paying you. And
you-you," she added, with a little
tremble Of real anger In her tone,
you're too hatefully polite and prig-
gishl Come and ring the bell for the
lift. am going"
She slid gracefully to her feet, shook
the cigarette ash from her clothes, and
picked up her muff.
you are really an egregious, thick
headed, obstinate countryman," she de-
clared, as she moved toward the door.
"You haven't either manners or sensi-
bility. 1 am perfect idiot to waste
my time upon you. 1 wouldn't have
done it," she added. as he followed her
dumbly down the corridor, ''if hadn't
rather liked you"
II am very sorry" he declared. II
don't know quite what l have done. l
do appreciate your friendship. You
have been very kind to me indeed"
She hesitated as his finger touched
the bell of the lift, and glanced at
the watch on her wrist. She sighed,
and watched the top Of the lift as 1t
came up. Then she dropped her veil.