The Elbert County tribune., 1917-11-02

His eyes grew brighter. and he
smiled back ut her. She suddenly re-
leased her hold upon her partner and
stretched out her arms to him. Her
body swayed backward little. She
waved her hands with a gesture in
finiteIy graceful. subtly alluring. Her
lips were parted with smile almost of
triumph as she once more rested her
hand upon her partners shoulder.
"Who is your escort this EVENING""
the latter asked her, speaking almost
for the first time.
You would not know him." she re-
piled. He is a Mr.. John Strangewey,
and he comes from Cumberland"
Just happens that do know him.
the young man remarked. "Thought
I'd seen his face somewhere. Used to
be up at the varsity with him. I'll
speak to him presently"
II expect he'll be glad to meet you
again." Sophy remarked. "He doesn't
know soul In town."
The dance was finished. They re-
turned together to where John was
sitting, and the young man held out a
weary hand.
"Amerton, you know. of Magdalen,"
he said. you're Strangewey. aren't
you?"
Lord Amerton, of course ~ John ex-
claimed. 81 thought your face was fa-
doubles together"
"And won 'em. thanks to you." Amer
ton replied. Are you up for longT
II am not quite sure" John told him.
81 only arrived last night"
Look me up some time, If you've
nothing better to do" the young man
suggested. where are you hanging
out?"
"The Milan"
81 am at the Albany. So-longl Must
get back TO my little lady"
He bowed to Sophy and departed.
She sank little breathlessly into her
chair and laid her hand on Johns arm.
Her cheeks were flushed. her bosom
was rising and falling quickly.
81 am out of BREATH" she said, her
head thrown back, perilously near to
Johns shoulder. Lord Amerton dances
well. Give me some champagne ]"
"And you-you dance divinely." he
told her, as he filled her glass.
'If we were alone" she whispered.
81 should want you to kiss mel"
The stem of the wine glass in Johns
fingers snapped suddenly. and the wine
trickled down to the floor. A passing
waiter hurried up with napkin, and a
fresh glass was brought. The affair
was scarcely noticed, but John re-
manned disturbed and a little pale.
"Have you cut your hand?" Sophy
asked anxiously.
mot at ALL" he assured her. "How
hot 1t is herel Do you mind II we GOT"
"Go?" she exclaimed dlsconsolately.
81 thought you were enjoying yourself
so much -
$50 1 am" he answered, ''but don't
quite understand"
He paused.
Understand what?" she demanded.
Myself. If you must know"
She set down the glass which she
had been in the act of raising to her
lips.
"How queer you arei" she mur-
INJURED. Listen. You haven't got a
wife or anything up In Cumberland,
have your?
"You know haven't" he answered.
you're not engaged to be married.
you have no ties, you came up here per-
fectly free, you haven't even said any
thing yet-to Loulse2"
"Of course not"
"Well, then" she began.
that they seemed to melt away. She
leaned forward to look in his face.
"Sophy," he begged, with sudden and
almost passionate earnestness, abe
kind to me, pleased am just SIM
pie, stupid countryman, who feels as
If he had lost his way. / have lived a
solitary sort of life-an unnatural one,
you would say-and I've been brought
up with some old-fashioned ideas. /
know they are old-fashIoned, but I
can't throw them overheard nll ut once.
have kept away from this sort of
thing. I didn't think it would ever at
tract mel suppose because didn't
believe 1t could be made so attractive.
1 have suddenly found out-that 1t
does I"
"what are you going to do?" she
whispered.
'"There Is only one thing for me to
do" he answered. "Until know what
have come to London to learn, I shall
fight against it."
"You mean about Louise?"
II mean about Louise" he said
gravely.
Sophy came still closer to him.
"Why are you so foollsh?" she mur-
INJURED. Louise is very wonderful. in
her place, but she is not what you want
in life. Has 1t never occurred to you
that you may be too late?"
"Whnt do you mean?" he demanded.
II believe what the world believes.