Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-12-27
p x,x-cen.,.v.d,

~hien almost the whole OF the English
stage and q sprinkling of society peO-
pie were present. was a complete sue.
Cess. Louise made q charming host
ess. and Sir Edward more than ever
Justified his reputation for saying the
Eteht thing to the right person at the
tight moment. The rooms were crowd
ed with throngs Of distinguished peO-
pie. who all seemed to have plenty to
NY to n another
The only person, perhaps, who
found himself curiously i'll Mt ease was
John. He heard nothing but French
on all sides Of nina language which
he read with some facility. but which
he spoke like q schoolboy. He had
been wandering about for more than
Nh hour before Louise discovered him.
She ut once left her place and crossed
the. o to where he was standing by
the wall.
"Chcer up!" she begged, with a de-
ughtful smile. II am afraid that you
are being bored to death. VIII you
not come and be presented to our
gucstsr"
"For goodness sake, mol" John i'm
plored. Il have never seen one of
them act, and my French is appalling.
! an all right, dear. It's qtite enough
pleasure to see You looking SO beautl-
tul. and to think that I am going to be
allowed to drive you home afterward."
Louise looked into a %helghborins
mirror, and gazed critically at her
W reflected image. She had n curl
feeling that Mt that precise mo-
ment she had reached the zenith Of
her power and her charm. Her audi
ence ut the theater had been wonder
fully sympathetic, had responded with
rare appreciation to every turn of her
voice, to every movement end gesture.
The compliments, too, Which she had
been receiving from the crowds who
had bent over her fingers that night
had been no idle words.
She was conscious, acutely CON
BCious, Of the atmosphere she had ere
ated around her. She was glorylng
In the subtle outward signs Of it. She
Il In love with herself; in love, too,
with this delightful new feeling of
loving. 1t would have given her more
Joy than anything else In the world,
In that moment of her triumph. to
have passed her arm through Johns,
to have led Kim up to them ali, and to
hive snid:
after all, you see, I am II very simH,
pie sort Of woman. l have done just
the sort Of simple thing that other
women do. and I am glad of livery
glad and very happy"
Her lips moved to the m.isic Of her
thoughts. John leaned toward her.
"Did you shy anything" he asked.
"You dear. stupid, Of course did
not! Or II I did. It was Just one OF
those little whispers to oneself which
mean nothing, yet which count for so
much. Can not do anything to make
you enjoy yourself more? I shall have
10 so buck to my guests now. We
arc expecting Il royal parsonage, md
those two dears who keep so close to
my side do not speak q word of Eng
4tsh." =
4 "plense go back. dear" John begged
Promptly. ut was nice of you to come
1t all. And here's Sophy at last. thank
goodnessi Now I am all right"
She laid her fingers upon his arm.
"You must take me back to my
place." she said. "Then you can go
and talk nonsense to Sophy."
They were back in the crowd now,
and she dismissed him with Il little
nod. He made his way quickly to the
spot where he had seen Sophy. To
his disappointment, she had dlsap.
peared. Graillot, however. came up
and seized him by the arm.
"Still playing the moth, my young
eiendy" he, exclaimed. Aren't the
wings sufficiently burned yet|
" am afraid It's become n perma.
uent role" John replied, as the two
lneu shook hands. where have you
been all these weeks, and why haven't,
vou been to see ne?"
"Pnris, my dear young friend--Parls
and life! Now I am back again--I
am not sure that I know why. I came
over with these French people, to
zee them start their theater. Forgive
me, I have not paid my respects to our
hostess. We shall meet again pres
entity"
He strolled of. and a few minutes
later John found Sophy.
"Iow late yen are" he grumbled.
II couldn't help It." she answered.
sThls Ia the only evening dress / DOS.
Sess at present, and I had to mend II
before It was decent to rome out In,
Why r you wandering about nlonel
Hasn't Louise been kind to you2"
"She Inns been charming" John de
elared promptly, 'but she is surround
cd with all sorts Of people I DOM
know. I can't help her. For ont
thing, my French Is absurd Their
they arc all talking about things which
don't understand in the least"
Sophy remained silent for q mo
ncnt. Then she took Johns arm an,
led him to the buffet.
"Givc me an Ice and a cigarette
will you, please1 You are q dear, I'm
practical person. but you r as mucl
out Of this world US a human beinI
we'll could ber
John waited upon her without on,
further remark. Tho prince Of Seyre
passing through, bowed to them. JONI
looked after his r~etreating 1gure. Al
irresistible impulse seized him.