The Elbert County tribune., 1917-11-09

-and please keep your face turned
toward me. Why are you nervous1
am not very formidable"
He took her fingers. very much an
the prince had done upon her arrival
and pressed them formally to his lir,s
Then he released them and rose.
you know" he confessed, az am
very stupid at this sort Of thing. SHAH
we go back to the reception rooms7
shall be the most unpopular man here
If keep you any longer"
The smile deepened slightly. Iittls
lines appeared Mt the sides of her
eyes. So far from being annoyed, he
could see that she was laughing.
Joseph" she Knocked. 81 am NO.
tempting you, reallyi Do sit down.
have met men in many countries. but
none like you. Don't you realize that
your love for one woman should mako
you kind to allT
mo, don't" he answered bluntIv
She patted his hand gently.
"Come," she said, "do not be afraid
Of me. will not make love to you
seriously. You must be kind to me be-
cause everybody spoiIs me. After sun.
per there are one or two more ques-
tions L must ask you. Do you know
that I am going to dance here? Neve,
before have danced In private house
in England. Except upon the stage. |
like to dance only to those whom
lover
The little space between the cur.
tains was suddenly darkened. John
turned eagerly around, and, to his i'm.
mense relief, recognized the prince
Their host came forward to where they
were sitting, and held out his arm ia
Calavera.
'Dear lady," he announced, "suppet
is served. VIII you do me this great
honor?"
She rose to her feet. The prince
turned to John.
This is my privilege as host" he
explained; "but If you will follow us,
you will find some consolation In store
for you"
"Well?" the prince asked, as he
handed Aida Calavera to her place al
his right hand.
II think not" she replied.
He raised his eyebrows slightly. For
a moment he glanced down the supper
table with the care of punctilious
host, to see that his guests were prop
erly seated. He addressed a few
trivialities to the musical-comedy star
who was sitting on his left. Then he
leaned once more toward the great
dancer.
you surprise me-" he said 81
should have thought that the enter.
prise would have commended itself to
you. You do not doubt the factsP
'"They are obvious enough" she re-
piled. '"The young man tried to tell
me that he was in love with another
woman, and felt suddenly powerless.
I think must be getting to that age
when one prefers to achieve ones con-
quests with the lifting of finger"
The prince sighed.
II shall never understand your sexT
he declared. II should have supposed
that the slight effort of resistance
would have provided just the necessary
stimulus"
She turned her. beautiful head and
looked at the prince through narrowed
eyes.
AFTER ALL" she asked, what should
l gain? The young man is, in his way,
splendid work Of art. Why should 1
be vandal enough to destroy it7
shall ask you another question"
The prince slowly slipped the wine
from the glass that he was holding to
his lips. Then he set it down DELHI
erately.
"Why not?"
'What is your interest? Is it bet,
whim, or-enmity2"
you may count it the latter" the
prince replied deliberately.
Calavera laughed softly to herself.
Now, for the first time" she con-
fessed, II feel interest. This is where
one realizes that we live in the most
impossible age of all history. The
great noble who seeks to destroy the
poor young man from the country is
powerless to wreak harm upon him.
You can neither make him a pauper
nor have him beaten to death. Why
are there princes any longer, I won
der! You are only as other men,"
1t Is an unhappy reflection, but
1t is the TRUTH" the prince admitted.
MY ancestors would have disposed of
this young man as should trouble
some fly, and 1t would have cost them
no more than few silver pieces and
sack Of wine. Today, alas, condi-
tons are different. It will cost me
more"
She trified for a moment with the
salad upon her plate, which as yet she
had scarcely tasted.
Il am feeling" she remarked, "mag-
nificentlY oriental-lika Claonatrn The