The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-12-22

as I am concerned" John answered.
1T is Louise Maurel. thought you
must have guessed"
The two men looked at each other
in silence for some moments. Out on
the river a little tug was hOoting Wig
orouSly. The roar Of the Strand came
family into the room. On the mantel-
piece Il very ornate French clock was
ticking lightly. All these sounds
seemed suddenly accentuated. They
beat time to silence almost tragiCal
in its intensity.
Graillot took out his handkerchief
and dabbed his forehead. lie had writ
ten many plays, and the dramatic IN
stinct was strongly developed in him
"Louise!' he muttered under his
breath.
"She is very different, / know" John
went on, after a moments hesitation
"She is very clever and great artist
and she lives in an atmosphere OF
which, few months ago, knew noth
| ing. / have come up here to try t
| understand, to try to get little nearer
to her"
There was another silence, this tim
almost an awkward one. Then Grail
lot rose suddenly to his feet.
II will respect your confidence" n
promised, holding out his hanc
"Have no fear of that. / am due nov
at the theater. Your tea is excellent
and such little cakes never tasted be
FORE"
'You will wish me good luck?"
''No!"
"Why not?' John demanded. littl
startled.
Because" Graillot pronounce
sfrom what I have seen and know
you both, there are no two people
this world less suitable for each other
| "Look here" John expostulated,
| don't want you to 60 away thinking S
| You don't understand what this meal
| to me-"
perhaps not, my friend Grail
| replied, "but remember that it is
least my trade to understand men al
| women. have known Louise Ma
| rel since she was a child"
/ "Then it is I whom you don't u
derstand."
/ "That may be So" Graillot confesse
"One makes mistakes. Let US lea
10 it at that. You are young man
undeveloped temperament. You m
. be capable of much which at prese
4 do not find in YOU
"Tell me the one quality in viii
4 YOU consider me most lacking" 10
q. begged. II want you on my side, Ora
4. lot"
"And l." Graillot replied, as he sho
= his friends hand and hurried
o want only to be on the side that "
If mean happiness for you both"
. He left the room little abrupt
~ John walked back to the window,
n pressed with a sense of somethl
n almost ominous in the Frenchma
manner, something which he could
fathom, against which he struggled
vain. Side by side with it, tn
,;s surged into his memory the dlsq'
&c tude which his present relations W
m Louise had developed. She was alW
no charming when she had any time
"a snare-kometimeS almost affection;
q on the other hand, he was profoun
a. conscious of her desire to keep
~, at arms length for the present.
- He had accepted her decision W
o. out a murmur. He made but Re"
mr. forts to see her alone, and When I
no met he made no special claim u
-, her notice. He was serving his app
ticeship doggedly and faithfully.
there were times like the present W
ba he found his task both hateful ana
md ficult.
IT, He walked aimlessly backward
forward, chatting against he restr
:, Of the narrow walls aid the low
NJ ing. A sudden desire had seized
70 f1v back to the hills, wreathet
.he mist though they might be; to stru
b;s on his way through the binding
10 TO drink down long gulps OF his
Nv purer. less civilized atmosphere.
,ar- The telephone bell rang. He pl'
fory the receiver to his ear almost
hat chanically.
tito "Who is it?" he asked.
mol Lady Hilda Mulloch is asking
ION YOU. sir" the hall porter announce
vas Lady Hilda peered around JIG
bod room through her lorgnette, ana
not hesitate to express her dissati
ked ton.
..A1u dear man" she eXclai