The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-08-16
CHAPTER XII.

Spyre House was one of the few man
siOnS In London which boasted ban
quoting hall as we'll as u picture gal
lery. Although the long table was laid
for forty guests, it still seemed, with
its shaded lights and its profusiOn OF
flowers, like an oasis of color in the
middle of the huge, sOmberly lighted
apartment. Some of the faces of the
guests were well-known to John
through their published photographs
to others he had been presented by
the prince upon their arrival. He was
seated between young American star
of musical comedy and lady who had
only recently dropped from the So
Cial armament through the medium OF
the divorce court, to return to the the
ater of her earlier fame. Both showed
every desire to converse with him be-
tween the intervals of eating and
drinking, but were constantly brought
to a pause by Johns lack of knowledge
of current topics. After her third
glass of champagne, the lady who had
recently been countess announced
her intention of taking him under her
wing.
Someone must tell you all about
things" she insisted. "What you need
is Il guide and chaperon. Won't I
dO?"
"Perfectly" he agreed.
Fair play" protested the young
lady on his left, whose name was Rosie
Sharon. 81 spoke to him first"
Jolly bad luck!' Lord Amerton
drawlcd from the other side of the
table. Neither of you have an earth
ly. He's booked. Saw him out with
her the other evening"
Il sha'n't eat any more supper"
Rosie Sharon pouted, pushing away
her plate.
"You ought to have told us about
her at once" the lady who had been Il
countess declared severely.
John preserved his equanimity.
at is to be presumed he murmured,
that you ladies are both free from
any present attachments"
"Got you there" Amerton chuCkled.
"What about Billy?"
Rosie Sharon sighed
eve don't come to the princes sup
per parties to remember our ties" she
declared. Lets all go on talking non
SENSE please. Even if my heart is
broken, could never resist the princes
pate!"
Apparently everyone was of the
same mind. The hum of laughter stead
lily grew. Under shelter of the fire
of conversation, the prince leaned to-
ward his companion and reopened their
previous discussion.
"DO you know" he began. II am in
Clined to be somewhat disappointed by
your lack of enthusiasm in Il certain
directi0nw
81 have disappointed many men in
my power, now that l have promised
to exercise it?"
"Who could?" he replied cOurteOusly.
"Yet this young man poses, l believe,
may give you trouble"
"He is then, what you call a prig?"
"a most complete and perfect specl-
men, even in this nation of pricsw
"AIl that you tell me-" she sighed
makes the enterprise seem easier. II
Is, after all, rather like the loncss and
the mouse, isn't it?"
The prince made no reply, but upon
his lips there fingered a family incred-
ulOus smile. The woman by his side
leaned back in her place. She had
the air Of accepting the challenge.
After supper" she said, I'VE will
see!"
a single chord of music in a IninOl
key tloated across the room, sort al
first, swelling later into volume OF
sound, then dying away and ceasing
altogether Every light in the pace
was suddenly eXtinguished. There re
manned only the shaded lamps over
hanging the pictures.
Not whisper was heard in the
room. John, looking around him ir
astOnishment, was conscious only O1
the half-suppressed breathing Of tht
men and women who lined the walls, OF
were still standing in little groups a
the end of the long hall. Again there
came the music, this time merged il
low but inSistent ClamOr of other in
struments. Then, suddenly, through
the door at the farther end of tn,
room came dimly seen figure in white
The place seemed wrapped in mys
ticaI twilight, with long black rays o
deeper shadow lying across the floor
There was a little murmur of tens,
vGces and then again silence
For a few moments the figure il
white was motionless. Then, withou
any visible commencement she SCENE,
suddenly to blend into the waves O
low, passionate music. The dance II
self was without form OF definite move
ment. She seemed at first like som
white, llmbless spirit, floating here an
there across the dark bars of shadOV