The Ordway new era., 1917-12-21

Iko OoaF kAEuous :.
they will dance here today. oue y
they do, they will come also Into ths
restaurant"
.Wlse mani" Louise declared. Il.
! too. hate the babel outside"
ave are faced" said the prince, ~
he took up the menu. with our daily
problcm. What can order for your
"A cup of chocolate" Louise replied
"And Miss Sophyf
''Tea, please."
John, too. preferred tea; the prince
ordered absinthe.
"A polygiot meal, Isn't II, Mr..
Strangewey? said Louise, as the order
was executed; mot in the least what
that wonderful old butler Of yours
would understand by ten. Sophy, put
your Init on straight II You want to
make good impression on MI
Strangewey. lam hoping that you two
will be great friends"
| Sophy turned toward John with .
little grimace.
| "I.ouise is 30 tactless I" she said. II
am sure any idea you might have had
of liking me will have gone already.
Has 1t, Mr.. Strangewey7"
"On the contrary" he replied, little
stifly. but without hesitation, II was
thinking that Miss Maurel could
scarcely have set me a more pleasant
| task"
The girl looked reproachfuliy across
| at her friend.
"You told me he came from the
wilds and was quite unsophisticatedi I"
she exclaimed.
"The TRUTH" John assured them,
looking with dismay at his little china
cup. comes very easily to US. We ore
brought up on 1t In Cumberland"
"Don't chatter too much. child" Lou.
ise said benignly. II want to hear
some more of Mr.. Strangewey's i'm.
pressions. This is-well, II not quite
a fashionable crowd, yet very nearly
so. What do you think Of 1.-THE wom-
en-, for instance7"
swell. to me-" John confessed can.
dIdly, "they all look like dolls or man
ikins. Their dresses and their hats
overshndow their faces. They seem
nll the time to be wanting to show. not
themselves, but what they have on"
They all laughed. Even the princes
lips were parted by the flicker Of
smile. Sophy leaned across the table
| with a sigh.
Louise" she pleaded. "you will lend
him to me sometimes, won't you? You
won't keep him altogether to yourself7
There are such lot Of places to take
him tot"
81 was never greedy" Louise re-
marked, with an air Of self-satisfac-
ton. "If you succeed In making
favorable impression upon him. I
promise you your SHARE"
Tell us some more of your impress
slons. Mr.. Strangewey." Sophy begged.
"You want to laugh at me-" John
protested good-humoredly.
| ION the contrary" the prince as
sured him. MS he fitted a cigarette into
a long amber tube. ''they want to
laugh with you. You ought to realize
your value as a companion In these
days. You are the only person who
can see the truth. Eyes and tastes
blurred with custom perceive so little.
You are quite right when you say that
these women are like manikins; that
their bodies and faces are lost; but
one does not notice 1t until 1t IL point
ed out"
1--WE will revert" Louise decided, "to
a more primitive life. You and will
1inaugurate missionary enterprise,
Mr.. Strangewey. We will Judge the
world afresh. We will reclothe and re-
habIlitate it."
The prince fiicked the ash from the
end Of his cigarette.
Morally as well as sartorially7" he
asked.
There was moments rather queer
silence. The music rose above the
hubbub of voices and died away again.
Louise rose to her feet. The prince,
with a skillful maneuver, made his
way to her side as they left the res
taurant.
Tomorrow afternoon, I think you
said7" he repeated quietly. "You will
be in town then7"
"Yes, think So"
"You have changed your mind, then.
about"
m. Graillot will not listen to my
leaving London" she interrupted rap.
Idly. HE declares that it 10 too near
the production Of the play. My own
part may be perfect, but he needs me
for the sake Of the others. He puts
II like Frenchman, Of course"
They had reached the outer door.
which was being held open for them
by q bowling commissionnaire. John
and Sophy were waiting upon the pave
ment. The prince drew little back.
II understand" he murmured.