The Dolores star., 1917-12-28

4 said. Il have brought you here that
I may say It in my own way and In my
own atmosphere"
This u like youF" Louise muir
INJURED. "You had to bring mo out to
q hilltop. ON the dreariest hour of q
wet March afternoon, to tell me
whatf''
First Of ALL" John began. II will an
swer q question which you have asked
me three times since we started ont
this afternoon. You wanted to know
how I found out that You were not GO
ing to ten with the prince. Well. here
Ia the truth: asked the prince to
change the day Of your visit to him"
Her fine. silky eyebrows came q little
closer together.
"You asked him that7' she repeated.
John nodded.
"And he consentedr
II will explain" John continued. sIt
was most unfortunate circumstance,
but in the club, after lunch, the subject
Of spending the afternoon came up.
The prince spoke Of an engagement.
He was tied at home, he said, from
four to six. Some of the men began
to chair him, and suggested that he
was entertaining some lady friend, his
latest favorite-well, I dare say you
can imagine the rest" John broke OF.
Her fingers played nervously for a
moment with the edge of the rug. She
drew 1t higher up.
swell, when I left your house the
first time this afternoon, I went
straight back to the prince. I pointed
out to him that after what had been
said, as 1t might become known that
you were his guest of today, It would
be better for him to postpone your
visit. He agreed to do So, ST
"Was that all that passed between
your
"Not quite" John replied. "He
asked me what concern it was Of mine,
and I told him hoped that some day
you would be my wife,"
She sat quite still, looking down
upon the flaring lights. She was filled
with a restless desire to escape, to
start the motor herself. and rush
through the wet air into London and
safety. And side by side with that
desire she knew that there was moth
Ing in the world she wanted SO much
rs to stay just where she was, and to
hear just the words she was going to
hear, H ~
$50 much for that n John proceeded.
"And now please listen. I have brought
you out here because under these con-
\ ditions feel more master Of myself
and my thoughts, and Of things want
to say to you. Something takes me by
the throat in your little drawing-room,
with its shaded lights, its perfume Of
flowers, and its atmosphere of perfec-
ton. You sit enthroned there like the
queen of q world know nothing of.
and all the time letters and flowers
and fiattering invitations are showered
upon you from the greatest men in
London. The atmosphere there stiles
me. Louise. Out here you are q woman
and I a man, and those other things
fall away. have tried my best to
come little way into sympathy with
your life. I want you now to make up
your mind to come down little way
into mine!"
She felt the sudden swapping Of ev-
cry nerve in her body, the passing
away of all sense Of will or resistance.
She was conscious only of the little
movement toward him, the involuntary
yielding Of herself. She lay back in
his arms, and the kisses which closed
her eyes and lips seemed to be work
ing some strange miracle.
She was in some great empty space
breathing wonderful things. She was
on the hilltops, and from the heights
she looked down at herself as she had
been-a poor little white-faced puppet
strutting about an overheated stage, in
fetid atmosphere Of adulation, with
a brain artificially stimulated, and q
heart growing cold with selfshness
She pitied herself as she had been
Then sh. opened her eyes with a start
Of joy.
"How wonderful it all is" she muir
INJURED. "You brought me here to tell
: me this?"
sand to hear somethingl" he insist
ed.
II have tried not to, john" she con
fessed, amazed at the tremble of hel
sweet, low voice. Her words seemed
like the confession Of a weeping child
Il cannot help 1t. do love youi
. have tried not to 80 hard, but now
now shall not try any more !"
They drove quietly down the lonl
hill and through the dripping streets
Not another word passed between
them till they drew up outside he
door. She felt a new timidity rs h'
handed her out, an immense gratitude
for his firm tone and intuitive tact.
: "No. I won't come in, thanks" he de
clared. 'You have SO little time Il
rest and get ready for the theater."
4 "You will be there tonightf' sh'
, asked.
He laughed AZ II there were hume
: in the suggestion Of his absence.
!