The Ordway new era., 1918-01-04

Hiinu upon Her puTtueT . slOulueT.
"Who Is your escort this EVENING""
the latter asked her, speaking almost
for the first time.
"You would not know him." she re-
piled. ale is Mr.. John Strangewey,
and he comes from Cumberland"
"Just happens that do know him."
the young man remarked. Thought
I'd seen his face somewhere. Used to
be up at the varsity with him. I'll
speak to him presently"
~ expect he'll be glad to meet you
again." Sophy remarked. "He doesn't
know soul in town."
The dance was finished. They re-
turned together to where John was
weary hand.
"Amerton, you know. of Magdalen,"
he said. you're Strangewey, aren't
your
Lord Amerton, Of course I" John ex-
claimed. 81 thought your face was fa-
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-longl 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.
81 am out of BREATH" she said, her
head thrown back, perilously near to
Johns shoulder. Lord Amerton dances
well. Give me some champagne"
"And you-you dance dlvinely," he
told her, as he filled her glass.
''If we were alone" she whispered,
Il should want you to kiss me"
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 n napkin, and a
fresh glass was brought. The affair
was scarcely noticed, but John re-
manned disturbed and little pale.
"Have you cut your handT Sophy
asked anxiously.
mot at ALL" he assured her. "How
hot it is here! Do you mind If we go?"
"Go?" she exclaimed disconsolately.
'T thought you were enjoying yourself
SO much!'
so l 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 arev she mur-
INJURED. Listen. You haven't got n
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"
"Well, them 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 SIM
pie, stupid countryman, who feels as
If he had lost his way. have lived n
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 I
can't throw them overheard all at once.
I have kept away from this sort of
thing. didn't think 1t would ever at
tract me- suppose because I didn't
believe 1t could be made SO attractive.
1 have suddenly found out-that 1t
does!"
"What are you going to do?" she
whispered.
"There is only one thing for me to
do" he answered. until know what
/ have come to London to learn, I shall
fight against it"
you mean about LouiseY
II mean about Louise" he said
gravely.
. Sophy came still closer to him
"Why are you so foolish2" she mur-
INJURED. Louise is very wonderful, in
her place, but she is not what you want
in life. Has 1t never occurred to you
} that you may be too late?"
! "What do you mean?" he demanded
!, III believe what the world believes
/ what some dpv think she will admit
| to herself-that she cares for the
| prince Of Seyre."
"Has she ever told you so7"
"Loulse never speaks of these thing.