The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-11-16

don't you take rooms of your own anC
furnish them? Surroundings like these
are destructive to ones individuality.
"Well, you see," John explained, as
he drew an easy chair up to the fire
for his guest, "my stay in London is
only temporary one, and it hasn't
seemed worth while to settle any
where"
She stretched out her graceful body
in front of the fire and raised her veil
She was very smartly dressed, as usual
Her white silk stockings, which she
seemed to have no objection to dis
playing, were of the latest vogue. The
chinchilla around her neck and in heI
little tOque was most becoming. She
seemed to bring with her an atmos
phere indefinable, In its way, but dis.
tinctly attractive. Brisk in her speech
a little commanding in her manner, she
was still essentially feminine.
John, at her direct invitation, had
called upon her once or twice since
their meeting at the opera, and he had
found her, from the first, more at
| IL dSllfC lndh any olhcI 6OIlCLy WOldh
of his acquaintance. None the less, he
was little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here, any
how?' she demanded. 81 feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds, but I
have forgotten it."
For one thing" John replied, II
have come because I don't want to ap-
pear prejudiced, and the fact that
never spent month in London, or even
a week, seemed a little narrow-mind-
ed"
whats the real attraction" Lady
Hilda asked. "It is woman, isn't it?"
81 am very fond of a woman who
is in London" John admitted. "Per-
haps it is true that am here on her
account"
Lady Hilda withdrew from her muff
gold cigarette case and little box of
matches.
"Order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. 81
have been shopping, and I hate tea.
don't know why 1 came to see you.
suddenly thought of it when I was
in Bond street."
SIT was very kind of you," John said.
eff 1 had known that you cared about
seeing me, would have come to you
with pleasure"
"What does it matter?" she an
swered. "You are thinking, perhaps,
that risk my reputation in coming to
young mans rooms? Those things
do not count for me. Ever since 1
was a child I have done exactly as 1
liked, and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said, 'Ah, well, it is
only Lady Hilda' I am quite con-
WINGED that If / chose to take you off
to Monte Carlo with me next week
and spend a month with you there,
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, 1T is only Lady Hilda ="
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-
what told you the first night |
we met after the opera-that it is
well to waltz"
Eyes, 1 remember" John admitted.
II meant it."
He laughed good-humoredly, yet not |
without some trace of self-conscious-
ness.
1.-THE mischief was done then," he
said.
Couldn't it be undone?" she asked
Iazily. "Or are you one of those tedi-
Dus people who are faithful forever?
she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette, sis really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois of vices.
It comes from a want of elasticity in
he emotional fibers. Nothing in life
has bored me so much as the faith
'ulness of my lovers"
"You ought to put all this into one
If your books" John suggested.
81 probably shall, when / write my
she replied. "Tell me
bout this woman. And don't stand
bout in that restless way at the other
md of the room. Bring chair close
o me-there, close to my side!'
John obeyed, and his visitor contem-
lated him thoughtfully through a
title cloud of tobacco smoke.
"Yes," she decided, there is no use
enying it. You are hatefully good
boxing, and somehow or other think
our clothes have improved you. You .
ave little more air than when you
rst came to town. Are you quite sure
hat you haven't made up your mind 9
bout this woman In hurry?" y
"Quite sure" John laughed. Il sup y
ose / am rather an idiot, but am
ddicted to the vice Of which you were
peaking." $
She nodded.
II should imagine" she said, shat b
on were not an adept In the art OF n
Irtation. Is it true that the woman n
Louise Maurel?" 4
stOuIteN frue" John replied.