The Dolores star., 1917-12-14
:. PHILLIPS OPPENIIEIM

/ what makes you live IN q hotslf WIZ
don't you take rooms Of your own ant
furnish themf Surroundings like These
are destructive to ones individuality. >
"Well. you see" John explained, ii
he drew an easy chair mp to the fire
for his guest, my stay in London 1.
only q temporary one. and Il hasn't
seemed worth while to settle any.
where"
She stretched out her graceful body
In front Of the IRE and raised her veil
She was very smartly dressed, a. usual
Her white silk stockings, which she
seemed to have no objection to dis.
playing, were Of the latest vogue. The
chinchilla around her neck and In her
little toque was most becoming. She
seemed to bring with her an atmos.
phere indefinable. in its way, but dis.
tinctly attractive. Brisk in her speech,
little commanding in her manner, she
was stu essentially feminine.
John, at her direct invitation, had
called upon her once or twice since
their meeting at the opera, and he had
found her, from the first, more at
tractive than any other society woman
Of his acquaintance. None the less, he
was a little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here, any
how?" she demanded. II feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds. but 1
have forgotten it,
"For one thing" John replied, II
have come because I don't want to ap-
pear prejudiced. and the fact that
never spent a month in London, or even
a week. seemed q little narrow-mInd-
ed" a4..
whats the real attractlon7" Lady
Hilda asked. ut Is woman. isn't itT'
II am very fond of woman who
is in London" John admitted. "Per-
haps 1t is true that I am here on her
account" ,E.
Lady Hilda withdrew from her mum
a gold cigarette case and little box of
"Order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. II
have been shopping, and I hate tea.
I don't know why came to see you.
], suddenly thought of 1t when / was
in Bond street"
ut was very kind Of you," John said.
IF had known that you cared about
seeing me. I would have come to you
With pleasures" 81 80"
"What does It matter7" she an
swered. "You are thinking, perhaps.
TINT risk my reputation in coming to
a young mans rooms3 Those things
do not count for me. Ever since
was q child I have done exactly as
liked, and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said, 'Ah, well, 1t is
only Lady Hildar I am quite con-
WINGED that If I chose to take you on
to Monte Carlo with me next week
and spend month with you there, I
should get my pass to the royal inclo-
sure Mt Ascot when I returned, and my
invitation to the next court ball, even
in this era of starch. You see, they
would say, Tt Is only Lady Hildar,"
The waiter brought the vermouth,
which his visitor slipped contentedly.
$50 there is a woman, is there7" she
went on, looking across the room at her
companion. "Have you committed
yourself already, then2 Don't you re-
member what told you the first night
we met after the opera-that it is
well to waltz
eyes, I remember" John admitted.
II meant It"
He laughed spontaneously. yet not
without some trace Of self-conscious-
ness.
1.-The mischief was done then" he
said.
Couldn't 1t be undone?" she asked
lazily. "Or are you one Of those tedi-
GUS people who are faithful forever
Fidelity" she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette, ''is really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois Of vices.
1t comes from a want Of elasticity in
the emotional fbers. Nothing in life
has bored me SO much as the faith
fitness of my lovers" .,
you ought to put all this into one
of your books" John suggested.
II probably shall, when 1 write my
"reminiscences" she replied. "Tell me
about this woman. And don't stand
about in that restless way at the other
end of the room. Bring a chair close
to me-there, close to my side"
John obeyed, and his visitor contem-
plated him thoughtfully through a
little cloud of tobacco smoke.
Yes," she decided, "there is no use
denying 1t. You are hatefully good
looking, and somehow or other I think
your clothes have improved you. You
have a little more air than when you
first came to town. Are you quite sure
that you haven't made up your mind
about this woman In hurry2"
"Quite sure" John laughed. IT sup
pose I am rather an idiot, but am
addicted to the vice Of which you were
speaking" III
She nodded.
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