The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-01-12
CHAPTER xViI-continued.

Long ago." Sophy replied. II have
been finishing your accounts"
Louise made a little grimace.
''Tell me the worst" she begged.
"You are overdrawn at your bank.
your bills are heavier than ever this
month, and there are five or six special
Rccounts-one for some electric fit
tings. another for the hire of a motor
car-which ought to be paid"
Louise was looking up at the ceiling.
She sighed.
1T would be NICE" she said, "to
have someone to pay ones bills and
look after one, and see that one wasn't
too extravagant."
"Well, you need someone badly" So
ply asserted. II suppose you mean
to make up your mind to 1t some day."
II wonder" Louise murmured. did
you know that that terrible man from
the hills-John Strangewey's brother
has been here this morning? He fright
ened me to DEATH
"What did he want?" Sophy asked
curiOusly.
"He was a trif1e vague" Louise re-
marked. II gathered that if 1 don't
send John back to Cumberland. he's
going to strangle me-"
Sophy leaned across the table.
Are you going to send him back?"
she asked.
Il am in an uncertain frame of
mind" Louise confessed. 81 really
can't decide about anything"
81 want to tell you this, Louise"
Sophy said firmly. John Is getting to
know a great many people, and you
know how men talk at the clubs.
Aren't you sometimes afraid that he
will hear things and misunderstand?"
II am expecting 1t every day." Lou
Use admitted.
"Then why don't you end it,"
(which way?"
There was a silence between the two
women. The mufled street noises
from outside became the background
to a stiffness which grew every mo-
ment more oppressive. Louise returned
to her former attitude. She looked
steadfastly before her, her face sup
ported by her hands.
Sophy grew paler and paler as the
minutes passed. There was something
Strange and almost beautiful in Lou
lses face, something which had come
to her lately, and which shone from
her eyes only at rare intervals.
"You care for him. believer" Sophy
cried at last. "You care for him!"
Louise did not move.
"Why not7" she whispered.
There was a ring at the front door.
Louise, from her place, could see the
long, gray bonnet of Johns car. AL
most before she could speak, he was
announced.
Its an atrocious time to come,
he began apologetically.
You're In time for some coffee, any
W." Sophy told him cheerfully. "And
know Louise is glad to see you. be-
use IL you hadn't come, was going
70 make her 60 through some &C.
counts"
"You know I am always glad to see
you" Louise murmured, pointing to
chair. "Sophy and I have been having
a most interesting discussion, but we
have come to cul de sac"
Il really came" John explained. ito
ask IL you cared to come and see
collection Of pictures. There's an Ital-
fan-a futurist, Of course-1ust IN
packed his little lot and set them up
over a curiosity shop In Clifford street.
He is sending out cards for next week.
but I could take you today-that Is
if you would care about 1t. We can
20 somewhere for some tea afterward.
Louise made q little grimace.
what bad luck!" she exclaimed.
She stopped short. She felt that by
her hesitation she had, In sense, COM
mitted herself.
81 have promised to go and have tea
with the prince at Seyre House." she
said. 1T is an engagement we mace
last week"
John set down his empty coffee cup
with a clatter. An inexplicable but
dominating fury seemed to have SUD-
denly assailed him. He took out
cigarette and tried to light it. Sophy,
after watching him for moment IN
establishment, slipped out of the room.
Louise came over to his side.
"Are you really SO much disappoint.
ed7" she asked. II am so sorry! Ii
= known that you were coming TOT
<ould h. --spt myself free"
that exactly" John am
Sft's something I can't alto
.lain. II you don't mind. I
400, be going. There is some
sumpt pat right"
"yithout another word. She
MIN step into his new motor
ID drive away little recklessly.
dering the crowded state Of the
IS. he drew up, few minutes
outside the club In Pail Mall,
as it CHANGED. he had lunched
day with the prince Of Seyre.
I;e found the prince still sitting In
. smoking room, reading a review
--~~<er the top Of which he glanced up
~ John approached. and nodded nom
chalantiy.
sRack againT' he murmured.