The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-12-15

fetch me some, and bring it to me
yourSelfY
She sank back upon divan as she
spoke. John turned to leave the room'
but she called him back.
"Come here" she invited, "close to
my side! / can wait for the cham
payne. Tell me, why you are so silentF
And my dancing-that pleased your
He felt the words stick in his throat.
your dancing was indeed wonderful"
he stammered.
ut was for you," she whispered, her
voice growing softer and lower. III
was for YOU | danced. Did you not feel
it?"
Her arms stole toward him. The I'M
natural calm with which she had I'm
ished her dance seemed suddenly to
pass. Her bosom was rising and fall
ing more quickly. There was faint
spot of color in her cheek.
ut was wonderful" he told her. i
will get you the champagne"
Her lips were parted. She smiled
up at him.
go quickly" she whispered, land
come back quickly! I wait for you"
He left the room and passed out
again into the picture gallery before
he had the least idea where he was
The band was playing a waltz, and
| one or two couples were dancing. The
Deople seemed suddenly to have be
come like puppets in some strange
unreal dream. He felt an almost fever
ish longing for the open air, for 9
long draft Of the fresh sweetness OF
the night, far away from this over
heated atmosphere charged with un
namable things.
AS he passed through the farther
doorway he came face to face witt
the prince.
"Where are you going?" the lattel
asked.
"Mademoiselle Calavera has asked
me to get her some champagne" he an
swered.
The prince smiled.
II will see that 1t is sent to her q
once" he promised. you are in m,
sanctum, are you not? You can pursu
YOUR tete-a-tete there without inter
ruption. "You are very much envied.
"Mademoiselle Calavera Is there,
John replied. AS for me, am afrai'
I shall have to go now"
The smile faded from the prince
lips. His eyebrows came slowly t6
gether.
"You are leavingT" he repeated.
81 must" John insisted. Il can
help it. Forgive my behaving like
boor, but must go. Good night!'
The prince stretched out his hant
but he was too late.
John found himself, after a fe'
minutes hurried walking, In Picc'
: dilly. He turned abruptly down DuE
street and made his way to st. Jane
park. From here he walked slowl
eastward. When he reached tn
Strand, however, the storm in his sol
: was still undated. He turned ava
/ from the Milan. The turmoil OF n
{ passions drove him to the thought
: of flight. Half an hour later he el
tered st. Pancras station.
: "What time is the next train mort
to Kendall or Carlisle?" he inquired.
The porter stared at him. John
evening clothes were spattered wit
mud, the raindrops were glistening
1 his coat and face, and his silk hat WI
q ruined. 1t was not only his clothe
however, which attracted the mans O
r tention. There was the strained loo
t of fugitive in Johns face, a fugtti'
g flying from some threatened fate.
"The newspaper train ut five thir
| Is the earliest. sir" he said. II dor
| know whether you can get to Kend
| by 1t, but it stops at Carlisle"
John looked ut the clock. There W
/ nm hour to wait. He wandered abo
| the station, gloomy, chill, desertc
| The place sickencd him, and he stroll
| out into the streets again. by chan
|
| as on the day Of his arrival In Londc
| He stopped short.
A How could he have forgotten, ev
n for q moment? This was not the w"I
III which he had come to discover. III
| was Just some plague-spot upon whi
he had stumbled. Through the muir
/ dawn and across the ugly streets
| looked into Louise's drawing-room. )
would be there waiting for him
l the morrow
| Louise! The thought Of her W
like a sweet, purifying stimulant.
felt the throbbing of his nerN
| soothed. He felt himself growing cal
| The terror Of the last few hours
| like a nightmare which had passed.
summoned a taxicab and was driven
the Milan. His wanderings for I
y. night were over.