The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-09-21

he said. You're strungewey aren't
you?"
Lord AmertOn, of course !" John eX'
claimed. ~ thought your face was IA
mlllar. Why, we played In the rackets
doubles together"
"And won 'em, thanks to you" Amer.
ton replied. "Are you up for long"
IL am not quite sure" John told him.
81 only arrived last night"
"LoOk me up some time II you've
nothing better to do" the young man
suggested. "Where are you hanging
out?
"The Milan"
81 am at the Albany. So-Iongl Must
get back to my little lady"
He bowed to Sophy and departed.
She sank little breathlessly into her
chair and laid her hand on Johns arm.
Her cheeks were flushed, her bosom
was rising and falling quickly.
~ am out of breath" she said, her
! head thrown back, perllously near to
Johns shoulder. Lord AmertOn dances
well. Give me some champagne ~
"And yOu-yOu dance dlvinely," he
told her, as he filed her glass.
"If we were alone" she whispered,
81 should want you to kiss me"
The stem of the wine glass in Johns
fingers snapped suddenly, and the wine
trickled down to the floor. passing
waiter hurried up with napkin, and n
fresh glass was brought. The affair
was scarcely noticed, but John re-
mained disturbed and little pale.
"Have you cut your hand?" Sophy
asked anXiOusly.
"Not at ALL" he assured her. "HOw
"Go?" she exclaimed disconsolately.
81 thought you were enjoying yourself
so much !"
$50 1 am" he answered, "but don't
quite understand"
He paused.
Understand what?" she demanded.
Myself, If you must know"
She set down the glass which she
had been in the act of raising to her
lips.
"How queer you are" she mur-
mured. Listen. You haven't got
wife or anything up in Cumberland,
have YOU"
"YOu know haven't" he answered.
"YOu're not engaged to be married,
you have no ties, you came up here per-
fectly free, you haven't even said any
thing veto LOuiseT
"Of course not"
"Well, then" she began.
Her words were so softly spoken
that they seemed to melt away. She
leaned forward to look in his face.
"Sophy," he begged, with sudden and
almost passionate earnestness, "be
kind to me, please! 1 am just a sim
pie, stupid countryman, who feels as
if he had lost his way. have lived a
solitary sort Of life-an unnatural one,
you would say-and I've been brought
up with some Old-faShiOned ideas.
know they are oldfashiOned, but l
can't throw them overheard all at once. |
I have kept away from this sort of |
thing 1 didn't think it would ever at
tract mel suppose because I didn't |
believe 1t could be made so attractive. |
I have suddenly found out-that 1T |
does |"
"What are you going to do?" she
There is only one thing for me to
To-" he answered. until I know what
have come to London to learn, shall
light against it."
"You mean about Louise"
II mean about Louise" he said
yravely.
Sophy came still closer to him.
why are you so fOOlish?' she MUIR
nured. 'LOuise is very wonderful, in
Ter place, but she is not what you want
n life. Has it never occurred to you
hat you may be too lateT
".What do you mean?" he demanded.
IT believe what the world believes,
What some day l think she will admit
o herself-that she cares for the
,rince of Seyre."
HAS she ever told you sO?"
Louise never speaks of these things
o any living soul. 1 am only telling
ou what think. 1 am trying to save
ou pain-trying for my own sake as
yell as yours"
He paid his bill and stopped to help
er with her cloak. Her heart sank
Ter lips quivered a little. 1t seemed
o her that he had passed to a great
distance.
every soon," John said, 81 shall ask
.ouise to tell me the truth. l think
hat shall ask her, if can, tomOr-
oww