The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-08-03


promptly. ut was nice Of you to come
at all. And here's Sophy at last, thank
goodness! Now 1 am all right"
She laid her fingers upon his arm.
"You must take me back to my
place. she said. '"rhen you can go
and talk nonsense to Sophy.'
They were back in the crowd now,
and she dismissed him with little
nod. He made his way quickly to the,
spot where he had seen Sophy,o TO
his disappointment, N she, had disap-
peared. Graillot,, Aowever, came up
and seized him blythe arm.
"Still playing the moth, my young
friend?" he exclaimed. "Aren't the
wings sufficiently burned YETI"
II am afraid it's become a per1na-
nent role," John replied, as the two
men shook hands. "Where have you
been all these weeks, and why haven't
you been to see ,me?" As
"Paris, my dear young tfriend-Paris
and life! Now 1 am back again-I
am not sure that I Know why. I came
over with these French people, TO
see them start their thedter. Forgive
me, have not paid my respects to our
hostess. We shall meet again pres
, entity"
He strOlled off, and few minutes
later John found Sophy.
"HOw late you are!" he grumbled.
81 couldn't help it," she answered.
| ''This is the only evening dress I pos
sess at present, and l had to mend it
before it was decent to come out in.
Why are you wandering about alone3
Hasn't Louise been kind to your
"She has been charming" John de-
clared promptly, "but she is surround
ed with all sorts of people I don't
know. I can't felp her. For one
thing, my French is absurd. Then
they are all talking about things which
I don't understand in the least"
Sophy remained silent for mo-
ment. Then she took Johns arm ana
led him to the buffet.
"Give me an ice and cigarette,
will you, please? You are dear, i'm
practical person, but you are as much
out Of this world as human being
well could bel"
John waited upon her without any
further remark. The prince of Seyre,
{hrr,,rh hnyv11 TO I,,h
looked after his retreating figure. An
irresistible impulse seized him.
"Sophy," he asked, sitting down by
her side, "tell me, why have the prince
and Louise always been such great
friends?"
Sophy looked steadfastly at her ice.
II suppose because the prince is a
| very clever and cultivated person"
| she said. Gle has been Of great as.
| sistance to Louise several times. It
was he who financed Miles Faraday
when he put on this play Of Graillot's
GraillOt hasn't a penny, you know,
and poor Miles was almost broke after
three failures"
'That was just an investment"
John remarked irritably. "He will get
his money back again."
"Of course" Sophy agreed. II think
| the prince generally manages to get
value for what he does in life"
'YOu don't think Louise ever
thought of caring for him, do your
John persisted.
SOphy paused until she had lit
cigarette. The expression in her face,
when she looked up at John, irritated
him vaguely. 1t was as if she were
talking to a child.
II think" she said, you had better
ask Louise that question yourself,
don't your
He asked it an hour or so later
when at last the party of guests had
| taken their leave, and, somewhat to
the well-bred surprise of the one or
| two friends who fingered, Louise had
| beckoned to John to take her ont tn
her car. Her hand had sought his ot
once, her head rested little weariIv
but very contentedly upon his shoul-
| der