The Elbert County tribune., 1917-12-07
CHAPTER xvII-continued.


No one told me you were here. Fave
you had any lunch?"
Long ago." Sophy replied. 'T have
been finishing your accounts"
Louise made little grimace.
Tell me the worst" she begged.
You are overdrawn at your bank,
your bills are heavier than ever this
month, and there are five or. six special
accounts-one for some electric fit
tings. another for the hire Of a motor
car-which ought to be paid"
Louise was looking up at the ceiling.
She sighed.
ut would be NICE" she said, ITO
have someone to pay ones bills and
look after one, and see that one wasn't
too extravagant"
well, you need someone badly" So
ply asserted. II suppose you mean
to make up your mind to It some day."
Il wonder" Louise murmured. 'DId
you know that that terrible man from
the hills-John Strangewey's brother
bias been here this morning? He fright
ened me to DEATH"
what did he want?" Sophy asked
curiously.
HE was a trifle vague" Louise re-
marked. 81 gathered that If 1 don't
send John back 20 Cumberland, he's
going to strangle me-"
Sophy leaned across the table.
"Are you going to send him back?"
she asked.
Il am in an uncertain frame of
mind" Louise confessed. 81 really
can't decide about anything"
Il want to tell you this, Louise"
Sophy said firmly. "John is getting to
know great many people. and you
know how men talk at the clubs.
Aren't you sometimes afraid that he
will hear things and misunderstand?"
81 am expecting it every day." Lou
ise admitted
Then why don't you end it,"
(which way?"
There was a silence between the two
women. The muffled street noises
from outside became the background
to stiffness which grew every mo-
ment more oppressive. Louise returned
to her former attitude. She looked
steadfastly before her, her face sup
ported by her hands.
Sophy grew paler and paler as the
minutes passed. There was something
strange and almost beautiful in Lou
ise's face. something which had come
to her lately, and which shone from
her eyes only at rare intervals.
you care for him, believer" Sophy
cried at last. "You care for him ~
Louise did not move.
"Why not?" she whispered.
There was a ring at the front door.
Louise. from her place, could see the
long. gray bonnet of Johns car. AL
most before she could speak, he was
announced.
"It's an atrocious time to come,
know" he began apologetically.
You're in time for some coffee, any
how" Sophy told him cheerfully. "And
know Louise is glad to see you, be-
; cause If you hadn't come, I was going
to make her go through some ac-
counts"
you know I am always glad to see
y0u," Louise murmured, pointing to
chair. "Sophy and have been having
most interesting discussion, but we
have come to a cul de sac"
II really came" John explained, ito
ask If you cared to come and see
collection of pictures. There's an Ital-
lana futurist, of course-just un-
packed his little lot and set them up
over curiosity shop in Clifford street.
He Is sending out cards for next week,
but I could take you today-that is.
If you would care about it. We can
go somewhere for some tea afterward-"
Louise made little grimace.
what bad luck !" she exclaimed.
She stopped short. She felt that by
her hesitation she had, in sense. COM
mitted herself.
81 have promised to go and have tea
with the prince at Seyre House." she
said. at is an engagement we made
last week."
John set down his empty coffee cup
with clatter. An inexplicable but
dominating fury seemed to have sud-
denly assailed him. He took out a
cigarette and tried to light 1t. Sophy,
after watching him for moment in
establishment, slipped out of the room.
Louise came over to his side.
are you reuny 81 ihuch uiouppoiht
edT she esked. Il am so sorry II
had known that you were coming for
me- I would have kept myself free"
at isn't that exactly" John an
swered. TITS something I can't alto
gether explain. If you don't mind,
think viii be going. There Is some
thing I must put right"
He left without another word. She
watched him step into his new motor
car and drive away little recklessly.
considering the crowded state of the
kareets. He drew up, a few minutes
Ia Tor o,,tcida the club In Pail Mall.