The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-09-28

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foot, in the lofty dining room of one
of the most exclusive clubs in London
The prince proved an agreeable II
somewhat retlcent companion. He in
troduced John to many well-knOwn
people, always with that little note OF
personal interest In his few words OF
presentation which gave certain sig.
nificance to the ceremony.
From the club, where the question OF
Johns proposed membership, the
prince acting as his sponsor, was ia.
vorably discussed with several mem
bers of the committee, they drove to
COvent Garden, and for the first time
in his life John entered the famous
opera house. The prince, preceded by
an attendant, led the way to IL box
upon the second tier. A woman turned
her head as they entered and stretched
out her hand, which the prince raised
to his lips.
"YOu see, l have taken you at your
word, Eugene" she remarked.
you give me double pleasure, dear
lady" the prince declared. "Not only
is it a joy to be your host, but you give
me also the opportunity of presenting
to you my friend, John Strangewey.
Strangewey, this is my very distant
relative and very dear friend, Lady
Hilda Mulloch."
Lady Hilda smiled graciOusly at
John. She was apparently Of a little
less than middle age, with dark bands
Of chestnut hair surmounted by tiara.
Her face was the face of Il clever and
still beautiful woman; her figure slen-
der and dignified; her voice low and
delightful.
"Are you paying your nightly hOm-
age to Calavera, Mr.. Strangewey, or
are you only an occasional visitOrT
she asked.
"This is my first visit of any sort
to COvent Garden" John told her.
She looked at him with as much sur
prise as good breeding permitted. John,
who had not as yet sat down, seemed
almost preternaturally tall In that
small box, with its low ceiling. He
was looking around the house with the
enthusiasm of boy. Lady Hilda
glanced away from him toward the
prince, and smiled; then she looked
back at John. There was something
like admiration in he face.
"DO you live abrOad?" she asked.
John shook his head.
Il live in Cumberland" he said.
"Many people here seem to think that
that is the same thing. My brother
and l have farm there"
but you visit London occasionally,
surely?"
81 have not been in London" John
told her, "since l passed through it on
my way home from Oxford, eight years
ago"
II have never heard anything so ex-
traordinary in my life n the woman de-
clared frankly. rs it the prince who
has induced you to break out Of your
secluslOn"
"Our young friend" the prince eX-
planned, finds himself suddenly In al
tered circumstances. He has been left
a large fortune, and has come to spend
it. Incidentally, hope, he has come
to see something more of your sex than
is possible among his mountain wilds.
He has come, in short, to look little
way into life"
Lady Hilda leaned back in her chair.
''How rOmantic"
"The prince amuses himself" John
assured her. Il don't suppose shall
stay very long in London. 1 want just
to try it for time"
She looked at him almost wistfully. !
She was woman with brains wOm-
IN notorious for the freedom of her
life, for her intellectual gifts, for her
almost brutal disregard of the conven-
tions of her class The psychological
interest of John Strangewey's situa-
ion appealed to her powerfully. Be
sides, she had a weakness for hand
some men.
"At any rate" said Lady Hilda, II
I'm glad to think that shall be able
% watch you when you see Calavera
II her dances for your first time"
The curtain rang up upon one of the
most gorgeous and sensuous of the 4
russian ballets. John, who by their
oint insistence was occupying the
ront chair in the box, leaned forward
n his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed
lpOn the stage. Both the prince and
lady Hilda, in the background, al
hough they occasionally glanced at
he performance, devoted most of their
ttentlon to watching him.
AS the story progressed and the mu-
ic grew in passion and vOluptuous-
ess, they distinctly saw his almost
Militant protest. They saw the knit
Ing of his firm mouth and the slight
of his eyebrows. The
rlnce and his friend exchanged
lances. She drew her chair little
arther back, and he followed her ex-
mple,