New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-09-28

foot, in the lofty dining room of one
of the most exclusive clubs in London
The prince proved an agreeable il
somewhat reticent companion. He in
trodlccd John to many well-knOWI
people, always with that little note OF
personal interest in his few words OF
presentation which gave Il certain sig.
niiicunce to the ceremony.
From the club, where the question OF
Johns proposed membership, the
prince acting as his sponsor, was fa,
vorAbly discussed with several mem
hcrs of the commlttee, they drove to
Covcnt 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 n box
upon the second tier. A woman turned
her head as they entered and stretched
ont 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 n joy to be your host, but you give
me also the opportunity of presenting
10 you my friend, John Strangewey.
SUangewcy, this is my very distant
relative and very dear friend, Lady
llilda Mulloch."
Lady IIilda smiled graciously at
John. She was apparently of a little
less than middle age, with dark bands
Of chestnut hair s~urmOunted by Il 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 C~ulaveru, Mr.. Strungewey, or
are you only an occasional visitor?"
she asked.
"This IS my first visit of any sort
to Covcnt Garden" John told her.
She looked ut him with as much sur
prise rs good breeding permitted. John.
who had not as yet sat down, seemed
almost prcternaturally tall in that
small box, with its low ceiling. He
a llE tiI'tll'l NV lIpuN' ! nv
enthusiasm of n 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.
II live in Cumberland" he said.
MANY people here seem to think that
that is the same thing. My brother
and | have n farm there"
'Hut you visit London occasionally,
surely?"
Il have not been in London" John
told her, 'nincc | passed through it on
my way home from oxford, eight years
ago
81 have heard anything so ex-
traordinnry in my life" the woman de-
clarcd frankly. as it the prince who
has induced you to break out of your
SccluSion?'
"Our young friend" the prince ex-
piained, finds himself suddenly in al
tered circumstances. He has been left
II large fortune. and has come to spend
il. Incidentally, | hope, he has come
to see something more Of your sex than
Is possible among his mountain wilds.
lie has come, IN short, To look Il little
way into life"
Lady IIilda leaned back in her chair.
How romantic."
THE prince uImuses himself" John
assured her. II don't suppose | shall
stay very long in London. | want just
TO try it for a time"
She looked at him almost wistfully.
She was Il woman with brains; Il wOm-
an notorious for the freedom of her
life, for her intellectual gifts, for her
almost brutal disregard of the conven-
lions of her class. The psychological
interest of John Strangewey's s.tua- |
ton appealed to her powerfully. Be
sides, she had a weakness for hand
some men.
AT any rate" said Lady Hilda, 81
am glad to think that / shall be able
to watch you when you see Calavera
in her dances for your first time"
The curtain rang up upon M of the
most gorgeous and sensuOus of the
Russian ballets. John, who by their
joint insistence was occupying the
front chair in the box, leaned forward
i'm his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed
upon the stage. Both the prince and
Lady Hilda, in the background, al
though they occasionally glanced at
the performance. devoted most of their
attention to watching him.
AS the story progressed and the mu-
sic grew in passion and voluptuous-
ness, they distinctly saw his almost
militant protest. They saw the knit
ting of his firm mouth and the slight
contraction of his eyebrows. The
prince and his friend exchanged
She drew her chair a little