The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-11-24
CHAPTER VII.

The first few minutes that John spent
An LOUise's little house were full OF
acute and vivid interest. The room
that he was so eagerly studying con-
dirmed his cloudy impressions OF Its
owner. There was, for a woman's
apartment, q curious absence OF orna-
mentation and knickknacks. The walls
were black and white; the carpet was
white; the furniture graceful in its
outline, rather. heavy in build, and COW
Rred with old-rose colOred chints.
There were water-colors upon the wall,
some small black-and-whit fantasies,
puzzling to John, who had never even
heard the term futurist. A table, drawn
hp to the side of one Of the easy chairs,
WAS covered with books and magazines,
some italian, a few English, the great
Ter part French; and upon a smaller
one, close at hand, stood white bowl
full of pink roses. Their odor was
somehow reminiscent of Louise, curl
ously sweet and wholesome-an odor
which suddenly took him back to the
morning when she had come to him
from under the canopy Of apple-blos-
som. His heart began to beat with
pleasure even before the opening OF
the door announced her presence. She
came In with Sophy, who at once seat
ed herself by his side.
eve have been making plans" Lou
Use declared, "for disposing of you for
the rest Of the day"
John smiled happily.
= you're not sending me away. then?
You're not acting this EVENING"
"NOt until three weeks next Mon
day" she replied. "Then, IL you are
good, and the production Is not post
poned, you may seat yourself in box
and make all the noise you like after
the fall of the curtain. These are real
holidays for me, except for the nui-
sance of rehearsals. You couldn't nave
come at better time"
Sophy glanced at the clock.
SWELL" she said, 81 must show my
respect to that most ancient Of adages
by taking my departure. feel"
"You will do nothing Of the sort,
CnlLu, LOUISE lutclIupICus "nu1 ~
interest you In the evolution of MIR.
Strangewey. We must remember that
1t Is his first night In London. What
aspect of 1t shall we attempt to show
him? Don't say word. Sophy. 1t is
not for us to choose"
"Tm afraid there isn't any choice"
John declared, his face falling. i
haven't any clothes except what you
see me in"
HHooray Sophy exclaimed. "Of
with your smart gown, Louise! wen
be splendidly Bohemian. You shall put
on your. black frock and black hat,
and powder your nose, and Wen all so
to Guido's first and drink vermuth.
can't look the part, but l can act 1t
ssBut tell me-" Louise asked him,
"did you lose your luggage|
T brought none," he answered.
They both looked at him-Sophy po-
fitely curious, Louise more deeply In
terested.
"You mean" Louise demanded, that
after Whiting all these months you
started away upon impulse like that
without even letting your brother KNOW
ar bringing any 1ugsagef
~rhat's exactly what I did," John
agreed. smiling. 81 had a sovereign In
INV pocket when I had bought my
tcket The joke Of 1t was" ne went
on. Joining In the girls laughter. that
Mr.. Appleton has been worrying me
Cor months to come up and taik over
reiuyestments, and take control OF the
,uoney my uncle left me: and when l
came at last, arrived like pauper.
de went out himself and bought my
shirt"
"And a very nice shirt. too" sopny
declared, glancing at the pattern. Do
tel us what else happened"
"Well, not much more" Jonn re,
,Iied. sMr. Appleton stuffed me fuil
of money and made me take q httie
xuite of rooms at what he called u
more fashionable hotel He stayed 10
lunch with me, and have promised 10
see him on business tomorrow MOTH
ng."
The two girls sat up and wiped their
eyes.
ooh. this is q wonderful adventure
you have embarked upon! Louise ex-
claimed. aYou have come quite In the
right spirit. It is your first night here
Mr.. Strangewey, so I warn you that
SONNY Is the most irresponsible and
e>an -ious Of all my friends"