The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1917-12-07
A Story About an Ex-
pertinent With Life

fections, it is my opinion that she
would not hesitate. You seem to think
it an outrageous thing that the prince
| should have been her lover. To be
perfectly frank, do not. j should be
very much more surprised at her mar
| riage."
John made his escape somehow. He
remembered opening the door, but he
had no recollection of reaching the
street. A few minutes later, however,
he found himself striding down Pic
| cadilly toward Hyde Park corner.
He found taxicab and was driven
toward the Milan. He was conscious
of a wild desire to keep away from
his rooms. Every pulse in his body
was tingling. He was fiercely awake,
eager for motion, action, excitement
of any sort. Suddenly he remembered
the night club to which he had been
introduced by Sophy on the first night
of his arrival in London. The adj
dress, too, was there quite clearly in
his disordered brain. He leaned out
of the cab and repeated it to the driv-
er.
The little place was unexpectedly
crowded when he entered, after hav-
ing handed his hat and coat to a
vestiaire. A large supper party was
going on at the farther end, and the
dancing space was smaller than usu-
al. The maitre d'hotel was escorting
T4Hr 70 +.I t. fCfn mt
corner, which had just been vacated,
when the latter heard his name sud-
denly called by familiar voice. So
ply, who had been dancing, aban-
doned her partner precipitately and
came hurrying up to John with out
stretched hands.
"John!" she exclaimed. "You, of
all people in the worldi What do you
mean by coming here alone at this
time of night? Fancy not telling me!
Is anything the matter?"
Nothing" he replied. 81 really
don't exactly know why I am here. I
simply don't want to go to bed"
"Where is the prince?" he asked.
Sophy, struck by something in his
voice, swung around and looked at
HIM Then she thrust both her arms
through his, clasped her two hands
together, and led him firmly away. A
glimmering of the truth was begin
ming to dawn upon her.
"Tell me where you have been since
you left the reception" she insisted,
when at last they were seated to-
gether.
''Wait till I have ordered some
wine," he said.
A waiter served them with cham |
payne. When Johns glass was filled,
he drained its contents. Sophy |
watched him with surprise. She came
a little closer to him.
"John," she whispered, "you must |
tell me-do you hear? You must tell |
me everything! Did you take Louise
homer"
"Yes."
"What happened, then? You didn't
quarrel with herr"
Nothing at all happened" he as
sured her. "We parted the best of
friends. 1t wasn't that"
"Then what? Remember that I am
your friend, John, dear. Tell me ev-
erything."
Il will tell you" he assented. 81
went to a little club I belong to on
the Adelphi Terrace. I sat down in
he smoking room. There was no one
here knew. Some men were talk
ng. They had been to the reception
:onight. They were comparing French
actresses and English. They spoke
irst of the French woman, Latrobe,
md her lovers then of Louise. They
poke quite calmly, like men discuss
ng history. They compared the two
actresses, they compared their lives.
.atrobe, they said, had lovers by the
core-Louise only one"
Sophy's hand stole into his. She
vas watching the twisting of his fea-
ures. She understood so well the ex-
itement underneath.
Il think I can guess" she whis- c
cred. "Don't hurt yourself telling 1
lie. Something was said about the q
rincep' 7
His eyes blazed down upon her.
you, too?" he muttered. Does
he whole world know of it and speak
$ If it did not matter? Sophy, is it {
ne? Speak outl Don't be afraid of
urting me. You call yourself my q
lend. I've been down, looking at
lie outside of her house. / dared not W
} in. There's fire burning in my
Jul Tell me if it is true!" n
"You must not ask me that ques- n
on, John" she begged. ''How should N
know? Besides, these things are so
fferent in our world, the world you CT
went found out much about yet. to
opposing it were true, john" she ia
ent on, remember that it was be- b.
re you knew her. Surprising 1t sr
ould be true, remember this-your in
ca of life is too absurd. Is one creed ell
ade to fit human beings who may W
fer In q million different ways? A
imam may be as good as any ever az
IN into the world, and yet take just le
little love into her life, IL she be as
lie and faithful in doing 1t. / don't flC
lieve there is a dearer or sweeter a
man breathing than Louise, but one tn
list have love. Don't l know it? ov
man may be strong enough to live