Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1917-10-12

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told her, "since passed through 1t on
my way home from Oxford, eight years
ago.
II have never heard anything so ex.
traordlnary In my life - the woman de-
clared frankly. rs 1t the prince who
has Induced you to break out of your
seclusI0nT"
Our young friend" the prince ex-
planned, finds himself suddenly in al
tered circumstances. He has been left
a large fortune, and has come to spend
1t. Incidentally, l hope he has come
to see something more of your sex than
Is possible among his mountain wllds.
He has come, in short, to look little
way into life"
Lady Hilda leaned back In her chair.
How romantlc!"
THE prince amuses himself" John
assured her. II don't suppose / shall
stay very long In London. | want just
to try II for time"
She looked at him almost wistfully.
She was woman with brains 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 stua-
ton appealed to her powerfully. Be
sides, she had weakness for hand.
some men.
AT any rate" said Lady Hilda. ~
am glad to think that shall be able
to watch you when you see Calayera
In her dances for yoJr first time"
The curtain rang up upon one 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
In 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
glances. She drew her chair little
farther back, and he followed her ex-
ample.
"Where did you find anything so
wonderful as this?' she murmured.
Lost among the hills of Cumber-
land" the prince replied. II have an
estate up therein fact, he and | are
joint lords of the manor of the VII
lage In which he has lived"
"And your" she whispered glancing
at John to be sure that she was moi
overheard. "Where do you come in?
As educator of the young? | don't
seem to see you in that role !"
A very rare and by no means pleas
ant smile twisted the corners of his
lips for a moment.
ut is long story"
"Can | be brought in?' she asked.
He nodded.
ut rests with you. 1t would suit my
plans"
She toyed with her fan for mo-
ment, looked restlessly at the stage
and back again at John. Then she rose
from her place and stood before the
lOokingglass. From the greater obscur-
lty of the box she motioned to the
prince.
John remained entirely needless of
their movements. His eyes were
still riveted upon the stage, fascinated
with the wonderful coloring, the reali-
cation of new art.
"You and l." Lady Hllda whispered,
"do not need to play about with the
truth, Eugene. What are you doing
this fort"
1.-THE idlest whim," the prince as
sured her quietly. Look at him.
Think for q moment of his position
absolutely without experience, entirely |
ignorant about women, with Il fortune
one only dreams of, and probably the
handsomest animal In London. What
Is going to become of him?'
81 think | understand a little" she
confessed.
~ think you do" the prince assent
ed. "He has views, this young man.
1t Is my humor TO see them dissipated'
The modern Sir Galahad always irri-
tated me little"
She shrugged her shoulders.
"They'll never give him chance,
these women" she said. "Much better
hand him over to me-"
The prince smiled systematically, and
Lady Hilda returned to her seat. John
was still leaning forward with his eyes
fixed upon Calavera, who was dancing
alone now. The ballet was drawing |
toward the end. The music had |
reached Its climax Of wild and passion
ate consciousness, dominated and in
spired by the woman whose every |
movement and every glance seemed
part of some occult dlmly understood
language.
When the curtain rang down, John,
like many others, was confused. New
ertheless, after that first breathless
pause, he stood up and Joined in the
tumultuous applause.
"Well" the prince asked.
John shook his head IS
II don't know" he answered.
"Nsither does anyone else" Lady
Hllda said. "Don't try to analyze your
Impressions for our benefit, Mr..
Strangewey. l am exactly in your po-
sition. and I have bepn here n dozen