The Ordway new era., 1918-02-08
CHAPTER xvII-continued.

you na0 any luuCU
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
accounts-one for some electric fit
tings, another for the hire Of motor
car-whIch ought to be paid"
Louise was looking up at the ceiling.
She sighed.
at 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 It some day."
II wonderI" 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 want7" Sophy asked
curiously.
HE was a trifie vague" Louise re-
marked. II gathered that II 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 2"
she asked.
II am In an uncertain frame or
mind" Louise confessed. II 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 ut the clubs.
Aren't you sometimes afraid that he
Will hear things and misunderstand?"
81 am expecting it every day." Lou
ise admitted.
Then why don't you end lit"
(which way?'
There was a silence between the two
women. The mufiled street noises
from outside became the background
to 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.
ise's face, something which had come
to her lately. and which shone from
her eyes only Mt rare intervals.
you care for him, believed" Sophy
cried at last. "You care for him I"
Louise did not move.
"Why not?" she whispered.
There was 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.
"It's an atrocIous time to come. /
know" he began apologetically.
you're In time for some coffee. any
how" Sophy told him cheerfully. "And
I know Louise is glad to see you. be-
cause II you hadn't come. was going
to make her go through some ac-
counts"
"You know I am always glad to see
you," Louise murmured, pointing to a
chair. "Sophy and have been having
a most interesting discussion. but we
have come to cul de sac"
II really came," John explained, "to
ask II you cared to come and see a
collection Of pictures. There's an Ital-
ian-a futurlst, of course-just un-
packed his little lot and set them up
over curiosity shop in Clifford street.
He Is sending out cards for next week,
but I could take you today-that is.
II you would care about it. We can
go somewhere for some ten afterward."
Louise made a little grimace.
what bad luck I" she exclaimed.
She stopped short. She felt that by
ner hesitation she had. In a sense. COM
mitted herself.
II have promised to go and have tea
with the prince at Seyre House," she
said. at is an engagement we made
last week"
John set down his empty coffee cup
with clatter. An inexplicable but
dominating fury seemed to have sud
denly assailed him. He took out q
cigarette and tried to light it. Sophy
after watching him for moment in
astonishment, slipped out of the room
Louise came over to his side.
"Are you really so much disappoint
ed?" she asked. 81 am SO sorry! II
had known that you were coming fol
ne. would have kept myself Free
at isn't that exactly" John an
swered. "It's something I can't alto
gether explain. If you don't mind.
think / viii be going. There Is some
thing must put right"
He left without another word. Sh,
watched him step Into his new motor
car and drive away a little recklessly
considering the crowded state of th'
treets. He drew up, few minute
later, outside the club in Pail Mall
where, as 1t CHANGED, he had lunche'
that day with the prince of Seyre.
He found the prince still sitting Il
tie smoking room. reading review
over the top of which he glanced VI