The Ely miner., 1917-11-16

how?" she demanded. 81 feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds, but
have forgotten It."
For one thing" John replied, u
have come because don't want to ap
pear prejudiced, and the fact that
never spent month In London, or even
a week, seemed q little narrow-mind
ed"
whats the real attraction7" Lady
Hilda asked. 'Tt Is a woman, isn't 1t p
II am very fond Of q woman who
is in London" John admitted. "Per.
haps it is true that am here on her
account"
Lady Hilda withdrew from her mufl
a gold cigarette case and little box OF
matches.
"Order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. u
have been shopping, and ! hate tea
l don't know why I came to see you
I suddenly thought Of it when ! was
in Bond street"
'Tt was very kind of you," John said.
IF I had known that you cared about
seeing me, I would have come to you
with pleasure"
what does it matter?" she an
swered. "You are thinking, perhaps,
that I risk my reputation in coming to
young mans rooms? Those things
do not count for me. Ever since
was child have done exactly as I
liked, and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said, 'Ah, well, it is
only Lady Hilda!' I am quite con-
vinced that if I chose to take you off
to Monte Carlo with me pext week
and spend month with you there, l
should get my pass to the royal inclO-
sure at Ascot when 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 contentedly.
$50 there is woman, is there?" she
went on, looking across the room at her
companion. "Have you committed
yourself already, then? Don't y0Y re-
member what told you the first night
we met after the opera-that it Is
we'll to waltz
''Yes, 1 remember" John admitted.
81 meant It,"
He laughed good-humoredly, yet not
without some trace of self-cOnscious-
ness.
"The mischief was done hen," he
said.
Couldn't it be undone?" she asked
lazily. "Or are you one Of those tedi-
Gus people who are faithful forever?
Fidelity" she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette, ''is really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois Of vices.
1t comes from want of elasticity in
the emotional fibers. Nothing in life
has bored me so much as the faith
fulness of my lovers"
"You ought to put all this into one
of your books" John suggested.
'I probably shall, when I write my
"reminiscences" she replied. "Tell me
about this woman. And don't stand
about in that restless way at the other
end of the room. Bring chair close
to me-there, close to my sidep'
John obeyed, and his visitor contem-
plated him thoughtfully through a
little cloud of tobacco smoke.
EYES," she decided, "there is no use
denying it. You are hatefully good
looking, and somehow or other I think
your clothes have improved you. You
haye a little more air than when you
first came to town. Are you quite sure
that you haven't made up your mind
about this woman in hurry?"
"Quite sure" John laughed. 81 sup
pose I am rather an idiot, but am
addicted to the vice of which you were
speaking"
She nodded.
II should imagine" she said, "that
you were not an adept in the art of
filtration. Is it true that the woman
is Louise Maurel?"
"Quite true," John replied.
''But don't you know"
She broke off abruptly. She saw the
face Of the man by her side suddenly
change, and her instinct warned her
of the danger into which she was rush
ing.
"You surprise me very much" she
said. Louise Maurel is very won
derful woman, but she seems to spend
the whole of her time with my cousin,
the prince"
"They are, without doubt, very
friendly" John assented. 'They have
a good many interests in common, and
the prince is connected with the syn
dicate which finances the theater.
do not imagine, however, that the
prince wishes to marry her, or she
him."
Lady Hilda began to laugh, softly,
but as If genuinely amused. John sat
and watched her in ominous silence.
Not the flicker of a smile parted his
lips. His visitor, however, was undis-
turbed. She leaned over and patted
his hand. n
"Simple Simon!" she murmured.
leaning a little toward him. IF you
go on looking like that, I shall pat
your cheeks, too. You are really much
too nice looking to wear such thun-
der clouds"
Perhaps If we chose some other
subject Of conversation" John said
stif1y.
"Oh, dear mel" she interrupted.
Every well! You really are most
trying person, you know. put up with
great deal from you."
John was silent. Her face darkened