The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1918-01-05
CHAPTER xIX-continued

H.
The reception in honor of the little
company of French tragedians, at
which almost the whole Of the English
stage and a sprinkling Of society peo-
pie were present, was complete sue
cess. Louise made a charming host
ess' and Sir Edward more than ever
JUSTIFIED his reputation for saying the
right thing to the right person at the
right moment. The rooms were crowd
ed with throngs of distinguished peo-
pie, who all seemed to have plenty to
say to one another.
The only person, perhaps, who
found himself curiously i'll at ease was
John. He heard nothing but French
on all sides Of him-a language which
ne read with some facility. but which
he spoke like a schoolboy. He had
been wandering about for more than
an hour before Louise discovered him.
She at once left her place and crossed
the room to where he was standing by
the wall.
"Cheer upr' she begged, with a de-
lightful smile. II am afraid that you
are being bored to death. VIII you
not come and be presented to our
guests2"
"For goodness sake, no." John i'm
plored. II have never seen one Of
them act, and my French is appalling.
am all right, dear. It's quite enough
pleasure to see you looking so beauti-
full, and to think that am going to be
allowed to drive you home afterward."
Louise looked into a neighboring
mirror, and gazed critically at her
own reflected image. She had q Curl
Gus feeling that at that precise mo-
ment she had reached the zenith of
her power and her charm. Her audi
ence at the theater had been wonder
fully sympathetic, had responded with
rare appreciation to every turn of her
voice, to every movement and gesture.
The compliments. too, which she had
been receiving from the crowds who
had bent over her fingers that night
had been no idle words.
She was conscious, acutely con-
scious, of the atmosphere she had Gre
ated around her. She was gloryins
in the subtle outward signs of it. She
was in love with herself; in love, too
with this delightful new feeling OF
loving. It would have given her more
ioy than anything else in the world
in that moment of her triumph, tc
have passed her arm through johns
to have led him up to them all, and te
have said:
"After all, you see, am very sim
ple sort of woman. have done Jus
the sort of simple thing that Other
women do, and am glad Of it-ver8
glad and very happy?
Her lips moved to the music OF ne
thoughts. John leaned toward her.
"Did you say anything?" he asked
"You dear stupid, OF course ul'
mott Or If I did, it was just one o
those little whispers to oneself whicl
mean nothing, yet which count Tor s.
mucb. Can 1 not do anything TO max
YOU enjoy yourself more? snail nav az,
n 90 back to my guests now. '"
ora expecting a royal parsonage, an
those two dears who keep so close
nv side do not speak WORD OF Eng
liSh." .ro
"Please 90 back, DEAR" John pegee
promptly. at was nice OF you 10 coin
Of oil And here's Sophy at last, thah
goodnessl Now am all right.
She laid her fingers upon his arm.
"You must take me back 10 II
Mace" she said. "Then you can e
and talk nonsense to Sophy'
Thev were back in the crown nov
I'D che dismissed him with a h..i
nod He made his way quickly 10 I. u
nno+ whore he had seen SophV. l
his disappointment, she hau ua'1 =
neared. Graillot, however GAME
and seized him by the arm.
"still playing the moth, my YOU ~
go be exclaimed. "Aren't Il
.,ings sufficiently burned YETI
81 am afraid it's become a pei ~
mont role" John replied, as Tue :" ~
non shook hands. "Where nav ~
noon all these weeks, and why ha'eD
YOU been to see meg Dor
aParis, my dear young frlenom ofa
- 1;foi Now 1 am back agaln-
anu not sure that know why. L eau
arer with these French people, pie,
soe them start their theater. foas =,
me 7 have not paid my respects ~ 10 70
nns+oss We shall meet again pAe
emily" "a few minut
,o.ar Iohn found Sophy. ~,
ia. glow late you are" he grumple
n az couldn't help it," she answer ~
.rb,s Is the only evening dress an ~
.ass , at present, and had to menu ,t
S Se It was decent to come o "1on
p Wbv are you wandering about a ~,
Hasn't Louise been kind ~ 49, 49, :
ha nshe has been charming" . 1Onn
e ell witp all sorts of people r 1 oo .
ed win ! can't help her. For o,U :
Know Know nv French is absurd. ,,,h HI
t tnins are all talking about things ls VIZ
1n don't understand in the le sar > n
e SONNY remained silent emit, for ara q a a
sup"; Then she took Johns arm "
1ed him to the buffet "a q cicaret
IN yon please? You are u as mn