The Dolores star. [volume] (Dolores, Montezuma County, Colo.) 1901-current, 1918-01-04

It an outrageous thing that the prince
should have been her lover. To be
perfectly frank, I DO not. I should be
very much more surprised ut her mar
rage"
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 q wild desire to keep away from
bis rooms. Every pulse in his body
was tingling. He was flercely 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 1t to the driv-
er.
The little place was Unexpectedly
crowded when he entered. after hav-
ing handed his hat and coat to q
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 .scorting
John to q small table In . distant
corner, which had Just been vacated,
when the latter heard his name sud-
denly called by a familiar voice. So
ply. who had been dancing, aban-
doned her partner precipitately and
came hurrying up to John with out
stretched hands.
"Johnl" she exclaimed. you, of
all people in the worldl What do you
mean by coming here alone at this
time Of night2 Fancy not telling me l
Ii anything the matter?"
Nothing" he replied. u really
don't exactly know why I am here. !
simply don't want to 60 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.
"Ten me where you have been since
you left the reception" she insisted.
when at last they were seated to
gether.
"Wait till have ordered some
wine," he said.
A waiter served them with cham
payne. When Johns glass was filed,
he drained its contents. Sophy
watched him with surprise. She came
Q little closer to him.
"John," she whispered, "you must
tell me-do you hear? You must tell
me everything! Did you take Louise
homer"
Eyes"
,"What happened, then7 You didn't
quarrel with herY
Nothing at all happened" he as.
sured her. 1--WE parted the best Of
friends. It wasn't that"
''Then what7 Remember that I am
your friend. John, dear. Tell me ev'
erything."
II will tell you" he assented. ~
went to little club I belong to on
the Adelphi Terrace. I sat down In
the smoking room. There was no one
there I knew. Some men were talk
ing. They had been to the reception
tonight. They were comparing French
actresses and English. They spoke
first of the French woman, Latrobe
and her lovers; then of Louise. They
spoke quite calmly. like men discuss
ing history. They compared the two
actresses, they compared their lives
Latrobe, they said, had lovers by thu
score-Louise only one"
Sophy's hand stole into his. Sb<
was watching the twisting Of his s<r-
lures. She understood SO well Is 81
element underneath.
II think I can guess" she whis
pered. "Don't hurt yourself tellini
me. Something was said about tn
princew
His eyes blazed down upon her.
"You, too?" he muttered. "Doe
the whole world know of it and speal
Us If it did not matterf Sophy, is 1
true? Speak outl Don't be afraid o
hurting me. You call yourself m!
friend. I've been down, looking a
the outside Of her house. dared no
go in. There's fire burning in m!
soul! Tell me If it is truel"
"You must not ask me that ques
ton, john" she begged. 'How shoul'
I know? Besides, these things are 81
different in our world, the world yo'
haven't found out much about yet
Surprising 1t were true, John" sh
went on, remember that it was be
fore you knew her. Surprising 1
should be true, remember this-you
idea Of life Is too absurd. Il one cree,
made to ct human beings who ma!
differ In million different ways7 4
woman may be ~ good as any eve
born into the world, and yet take jus
a little love into her life, II she b.
true and faithful In doing 1t. dom
u Il