New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-05

come in here and finish brOoding owe
these wretched bills while Mr.. Strange
wey talks to me-"
SOphy anne suddenly across tn
and sank on the floor at Louise
feet.
"What are you going to do about Mr.
S~trangewey, Louise?' she asked wist
fully.
"What an l going to do about him?'
HE is In love with you." Sophy con
tinued. II am sure-I am almost sur
of It,"
LOuiSe'S laugh was uncOnvincing.
"You foolish child !" she exclaimed
~ believe that you have been worry
ing. Why do you think so much about
other people"
please tell me-" Sophy begged. ~
want to understand how things really
are between you and John Strangewey
Are you In love with himY"
Louise's eyes were soft and dreamy.
II wish / knew" she answered. "If
l am, then there are things In life
more wonderful than l have ever
dreamed of. He doesn't live in our
wOrld-and u world, as you know,
has its grip. He knows nothing about
my art, and you can guess what life
would be to me without that. What
future could there be for him and for
me together? l cannot remake my
SELF"
There was something in Sophy's face
that was almost like wonder.
$50 this is the meaning of the
change in you, Louise! l knew that
something had happened. You have
seemed so different for the last few
months"
Louise nodded.
London has never been the same
place to me since l first met him in
Cumberland" she admitted. Some
times l think 1 am-to use your own
wOrds-in love with John. Sometimes
l feel it Is just a queer, indistinct. but
passionate appreciation of the abstract
beauty of the life he seems to stand
for"
as he really so good, l wonder?"
Sophy asked pensively.
Il do not know" Louise sighed. II
only know that when l first talked to
him, he seemed different from any
mar / have ever spoken with in my
life. l suppose there are few temp
fntinnS IN thnrn and fhnv, lyonr pAnrnr
to the big things. Sometimes l Won
der, SOphy, il it was not very wrong
of me to draw him away from it all !"
Rubbish" Sophy declared. "If he
Is good, he can prove 1t and know it
here. He will come to know the truth
about himself. Besides, 1t isn't every
thing to possess the standard virtues.
Louise, he will be here in n minute.
You want to be left alone with him.
What are you going to say when he
asks you what you know he will ask
you?"
Louise looked down at her.
Dear" she said, II wish l could
tell you. l do not know. That is the
strange, troublesome part of it do
not know! !"
"Will you promise me somethingy"
begged. promise me that If l
stay in here quietly until after he has
gone, you will come and tell mel"
Louise leaned a little downward as
IL to look into her friends face. SOphy |
suddenly dropped her eyes, and the
color rose to the roots of her hair.
There was a knock at the door, and the
parlOr maid entered.
Mr.. Strangewey, madam" she an
nOunced.
Louise looked at John c%uriOusly as
she greeted him. His face showed few
signs of the struggle through which he
had passed, but the grim setting of his
FPS reminded her a little of his
brother. He had lost, too, something
If the b~oyishness, the simple light
.leartedness Of the day before. In
'tinctively she felt that the battle had
begun. She asked him nothing about
he supper party, and Sophy, quick to
her lead, also avoided the SUBJ
Iect.
Luncheon was not a lengthy meal,
md Immediately Its service was con-
Sophy rose to her feet with a
Ugh.
II must go and finish my work." she
declared. "Let me have the den to my
elf for at least an hour, please, Lou
Sc. 1t will take me longer than that
o middle through your books"
Louise led the way upstairs into the
DOL, white drawing room, with its
lOwer-perfumed atmosphere and its
shadowy air Of repose. She
urled herself up In a corner of the
ivan and gave John his coffee. Then
he leaned back and looked at him.
$50 you have really come to London,
fr. Countryman |"
II have followed you," he answered.
I think you knew that l would. H.
ried not to-" he went on, after a mo-
rents pause. II fought against 1t as
ard as l could; but in the end l had
D give in. l came for you" ,
Louise's capacity for fencing seemed
uddenly enfeebled. A frontal attack
{ such directness was irresistible.
"For me !! she repeated weakly.
"Of course" he replied. "None Of
our arguments would have brought
lie here. If l have desired to under
this world at all. II Is hecauso II e,
your world. 1t Is you I want-don't 4.
Du understand that? 1 thought you .
ould know It from the first moment ]
Du saw met" {
He was suddenly on his feet. lean !
g over her, q changed man, master
II, passionate. She opened her lips,
If said nothing. She felt herself