New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1917-10-12

how" she demanded. Il feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds, but ]
have forgotten It,"
For one thing" John replied, 81
have come because I don't want to mp
pear prejudiced, and the fact that ]
never spent Il month In London, or even
Il week, seemed u little narrOw-mind-
ed"
whats the real attractions" Lady
II an very fond of Il woman who
Is in London" John admitted. "Per-
haps 1t Is true that l am here on her
account"
Lady IIilda withdrew from her mun
n gold cigarette case and u little box OF
matches.
"Order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. Il
have been shopping. and l hate tea.
l don't know why l came to see you.
l suddenly thought of 1t when l was
in Bond street."
ut was very kind of YOU" John said.
"If l had known that you cared about
seeing me, l would have come to you
with pleasure"
"What does It matter?" she IN
swered. "YOu are thinking, perhaps,
that l risk my reputation in coming to
a young mans rooms? Those things
IN mot oonrt far mr. LN,,nr ctnoa I
was a child I have done exactly as l
liked, and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said, An. well, 1t Is
only Lady Hilda!' l nm quite con-
WINGED that If l chose to take you Off
to Monte Carlo with me next week
and spend a month with you there, I
should get my pass to the royal inclo-
sure at Ascot when l returned, and my
invitation to the next court ball, even
In this era Of starch. You see, they
would say, 1T is only Lady Hilda!"
The waiter brought the vermouth,
which his visitor slipped c%Ontentedly.
$50 there is a woman, is there?" she
went on, looking across the room at her
"Have you committed
yourself already, then? Don't you re-
member what I told you the first night
we met after the Opera-that 1t Is
well to waltz"
"Yes, remember" John admitted.
~ meant it,"
He laughed gOOd-humoredly, yet not
some trace of S~elf-cOnSciOuS-
ness.
''The mischief was done them" he
said.
"Couldn't it be undone?" she asked
"Or are you one of those tedi-
ous people who are faithful forever?
Fidelity" she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette, "is really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois Of vices.
It comes from n want of elasticity in
he emotional fibers. Nothing in life
has bored me sc much MS the faith
fitness of my lovers"
"You ought to put all this into one
If your books" John suggested.
II probably shall, when l write my
"reminiscences" she replied. "Tell me
lbOut this woman. And don't stand
lbout in that restless way at the other
md Of the room. Bring a chair close
o me-there, close to my side! !"
John obeyed, and his visitor contem-
plated him thoughtfully through a
title cloud of tobacco smoke.
"Yes," she decided, "there is no use
1t. You are hatefully good
OOking, and somehow or other I think
our clothes have improved you. You
a little more air than when you
irst anne to town. Are you quite sure
hat you haven't made up your mind
bout this woman In a hurry?"
"Quite sure" John laughed. II sup
'ose l am rather an Idiot. but l am
.ddicted to the vice Of which you we're
peaking."
She nodded.
II should imagine" she said, "that
on were not an adept in the art of
irtation. Is it true that the woman
) Louise Maurel"
"Quite true" John replied.
"But don't you know"
She broke Off abruptly. She saw the
of the man by her side suddenly
hange, and her instinct warned her
f the danger into which she was rush
lg.
'You surprise me very much,' she
aid. Louise Maurel Is a very won
woman, but she seems to spend
ne whole of her time with my cousin,
ne prince"
"They are, without doubt, very
riendly," John assented. "They have
good many interests in common, and
le prince is connected with the syn
icate which finances the theater. l
not imagine, however, that the
rince wishes to marry her, or she
Lady Hilda began to laugh, softly,
ut as If genuinely amused. John sat
nd watched her in Ominous silence.
ot the flicker Of a smile parted his
ps. His visitor, however, was undis-
lrbed. She leaned over and patted .
IS hand.
simple Simonw she murmured,
aiming a little toward him. IF you {
, on looking like that, l shall pat ]
our cheeks, too. You are really much
70 nice looking to wear such thun- {
er clouds"
"Perhaps If we chose some other I
Inject of conversation" John said T,
iffly. I
"Oh, dear mel" she interrupted.
Very well! You really are a most 9
ying person, you know. 1 put up with J
great deal from you"
John WAS silent. Her face darkened !