Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-10-23
CHAPTER VIII-Continued.

The lights were lowered few min
utes later, and John paid the bill.
"We've enjoyed our supper" Louise
whispered, as they passed down the
room. ''The whole evening has been
delightful
AS they drove from Luig's to
Knightsbridge, Louise leaned back in
her corner. Although her eyes were
only half closed, there was an air Of
aloofness about her, an obvious lack of
desire for conversation, which the 9th
ers found themselves instinctively re-
specting. Even SOphy's light-hearted
chatter seemed to have deserted her,
somewhat to Johns relief.
They were In the very vortex of
LondOn's midnight traffic. The night
was warm for the time Of year, and
about Leicester square and beyond the
pavements were crowded with pedes-
TRANS, the women lightly and gayly
clad, fitting, notwithstanding some sim
lister note about their movements, like
butterflies or bright-hued moths along
the pavements and across the streets.
The procession of taxicabs and auto
mobiles, each with its human freight
Of men and women in evening dress on
their way home after an evenings
pleasure, seemed endless.
Presently Sophy began to talk, and
Louise, too reused herself.
81 am only just beginning to realize"
the latter said, that you are actually
in London"
"When 1 leave you" he replied, II,
too, shall find 1t hard to believe that
we have actually met again and talked.
There seems to be so much that have
to say" he added, looking at her close
ly, "and have said nothing"
"There is plenty of time," she told
him, and once more the signs of that
slight nervousness were apparent in
her manner. "There are weeks and
months ahead of u.s."
"When shall l see you again?" he
asked.
whenever you like. There are no re-
hsarsals for day or two. Ring me up
on the telephone-you will find my
number in the bOOk--or come and lunch
with me tomorrow, if you like"
"Thank you," he answered; that is
just what should like. At what timer"
''Half past one. will not ask either
of you to come in now. You can come
down tomorrow morning and get the
books, SOphy. 1 think l am tired
tired" she added, with curious little
note of self-pIty in her tone. Il am
very glad to have seen you again, Mr..
Strangewey," she said, lifting her eyes
30 his. "Good night"
He helped her out, rang the bell, and
watched her vanish through the swift
ly opened door. Then he stepped back
into the taxicab. SOphy retreated into
the corner to make room for him.
"YOu are going to take me home, are
you not?" she asked.
''Of course" he replied, his eyes still
fixed with a shade of regret upon the
closed door of Louise's little house.
mo. 10 Southampton street." he told
the driver.
They turned round and spun once
more into the network of moving We
hicles and streaming pedestrians. John
was silent, and his companion, for
little while, humOred him. Soon, how
ever, she touched him on the arm. A
queer gravity had come into her dainty
little face.
"Are you really In love with Lou
IseH" she inquired, with something Of
his own directness.
He answered her with perfect seri-
ousReSs.
at believe So" he admitted, 'but I
should not like to say that am abso-
lutely certain. I have come here to
find out"
Sophy suddenly rocked with laugh
ser.
you are the dearest, Queerest mad
man | have ever met" she exclaimed,
holding tightly to his arm. "You sit
there with face as long as a fiddle,
wondering whether you are In love
with girl or nOtl Well, l am not 60
ing to ask you anything more. Tell me-
are yOu tiredr
Not bit" he declared. ST never
Rad such ripping evening In my life"
She held his arm little tighter. She
was the old Sophy again, full of life
and goyety.
Lets go to the Aldwych," she sug-
xested land see the dancing. We can
Just have something to drink. We
needn't have any more supper"
The cab stopped few minutes later
outside what seemed to be a private
house. The door was opened at once.
Sophy wrote Johns name in a book,
and they were uShered by the manager,
who had come forward TO greet them,
into a long rcosa, brilliantly lit, and
oiled, except IN the center, with sup
per tables. John looked around him
wonderipgly. The popping Of cham
payne corks was almost inceSSant. A
slightly yoluptuous atmosphere of
cigarette smoke, mingled with the per-
fumes shaken from the clothes and
hair of the women, several more Of
whom were now dancing, hung about
me place. A girl in fancy dress was
passing a great basket of flowers from
table to table.
Sophy sat with her head resting upon
her hands and her face very close TO
her companions, keeping time with her
feet TO the music.
isn't this rather nicer" she whis-
pered. do you like being here with
me, Mr.. John Srangeweyf"
"Of course do" he answered heart
uS. ais this a restaurant"
She shook her head.
me, iis a club. We can sit here all
OGsl, y yeu like"