The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1917-08-02


he said. You're Strungewey, aren't
your
Lord AmertOn. of course ~ John ex
claimed 81 thought your face was ia
miliar. Why, We played in the rackets
doubles together !"
"And won 'em. thanks to you" Amer
ton replied. "Are you up for long"
81 am not quite sure" John told him.
81 only arrived last night"
Look me up some time, If you've
nothing better TO do" the young man
suggested. "Where are you hanging
out?"
"The Milan"
81 am at the Albany. So-long! 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.
Il 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 divinely," he
told her, as he filled her glass
"If we were alone" she whispered,
II should want you to kiss mel"
The stem of the wine glass in Johns
fingers snapped suddenly, and the wine
trickled down to the floor. A passing
waiter hurried up with a 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
hot 1t is here! Do you mind if we gO"
COP she exclaimed discOnsoately.
81 thought you were enjoying yourself
so much !"
$50 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 muir
INJURED. 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 yet-tO Louise?
"Of course not"
"WeIl, 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! I am just a sim
pie, stupid countryman, who feels as
If he had lost his way. have lived
solitary sort OF life-an unnatural one,
you would say-and I've been brought
up with some Old-fashiOned ideas.
know they are Old-fashioned, but
can't throw them overheard all at once.
I have kept away from this sort of
thing. I didn't think it would ever at
tract me-I suppose because I didn't
believe 1t could be made so attractive.
| have suddenly found out--that it
does !"
"What are you going to do?" she
do" he answered "Until I know what
| have come to London to learn, l shall
fight against It,"
"YOu mean about LOuise?"
II mean about Louise" he said |
gravely.
Sophy came still closer to him. |
'Why are you so fOolish?" she mur-
nured. Louise is very wonderful, in |
her place, but she is not what you want |
IN life. Has it never occurred to you
hat you may be too late?"
"What do you mean?" he demanded.
81 believe what the world believes.
what some day I think she will admit
% herself-that she cares for the
prince of Seyre."
HAS she ever told you SOP"
'Louise never speaks of these things
o any living soul. 1 am only telling
you what l think. am trying to save
you pain-trying for my own sake as
we'll as yours"
He paid his bill and stopped to help
Ter with her cloak. Her heart sank,
ler lips quivered little. 1t seemed
% her that he had passed to great
distance.
Every soon," John said, 81 shall ask
louise to tell me the truth. think
hat l shall ask her, If l can, tOmor-
'Own