The Ordway new era., 1918-01-25

well, you see, John explained. as
he drew an easy chair up to the fire
for his guest. my stay in London is
only a temporary one, and 1t hasn't
seemed worth while to settle any
where"
She stretched out her graceful body
in front of the fire and raised her veil.
She was very sInartly dressed. as usual
Her white silk stockings. which she
seemed TO have no objection to dis
playing. were of the latest vogue. The
chinchilla around her neck and in her
little toque was most becoming. She
seemed to bring with her an atmos-
phere indeinable. in its way, but dis
tinctly attractive Brisk in her speech.
a little commanding in her manner, she
was still essentially feminine.
John, at her direct invitation. had
called upon her once or twice since
their meeting at the opera. and he had
found her, from the first more at
tractiye than any other society woman
of his acquaintance None the less, he
was little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here. any
howT" she demanded 4 feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds. but 1
have forgotten IT"
For one thing John replied. y
have come because don't want TO sp-
pear prejudiced. and the fact that
never spent q month in London. or even
a week, seemed Z little uarrow-nind-
ed
Whats the real att-acdoay- Lsdy
Hilda asked 1T IS 8 woman. isa't Itg"
4 an very fond Of woman who
is in London John admitted Per
haps It IS true that an here o. her
account"
Lady HIlds withdrew from her uu1
gold cigarette case and little box Of
matches.
Order some mixed veruouth with
lemon for me. please she begged y
have been shopping. and hate tes-
1 don't know why I came to see you
1 suddenly thought OF ii when i Vas
in Bond street.
1t was very kind Of you" John said
IF l had known that you cared about
seeing me, / would have cone TO you
with pls> sure
What does II nstferg- she an
swered- You are thinking. perhaps.
that risk my reputation in coming TO
Q young mans rooms: Those things
do not count for ne Ever since /
was child have done exactly as
liked and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said All. well II Is
only Lady Hildar I an quite con-
yinced that If / chose TO take you OF
to Monte Carlo with ne next week
and spend q month with you there, I
should get my pass TO TIE royal incio-
sure at Ascot when I returned. and ny
invitation to the next court bail, even
in this era Of starch You see, they
would say. It is only Lady HIlds -
The waiter brought the verDouth.
which his visitor sipped coatentedly.
$50 there is woman, is thereg- she
went on. looking scross the room az her
companion Have you committed
yourself already, then: Don't you re-
member what told you the first night
we met after the opera-thst it IS
well 10 wait:-
Yes. remember John admitted
L-c-IL IL
He laughed good-humoredly, yet not
without some trace OF self-conscous-
ness
The mischief was done then" he
said
Couldn't II be undoneT- she asked
lszily. -or ara you one OF those tedi-
Gus people who are faithful foreves'
Fidelity" she continued, knocking the
ash from her cigarette, SIS really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois Of vices
II comes from s want Of elasticity in
the emotional hbers- Nothing in life
has bored ne so much as the faith
fulness of my lovers"
you ought to put all this into one
OF your books" John suggested
4 probably shall. when write my
"reminiscences" she replied Tell me
about this woman And don't stand
about In that restless way at the other
end of the room Bring chair close
to mNthere, close TO my sideI''
John obeyed. and his visitor contem-
plated him thoughdully through a
little cloud of tobacco smoke.
Yes" she decided, there is no us
denying 1t You are hatefully good
looking, and somehow or other think
your clothes have improved you You
have q little more air than when you
first came to town Are you quite sure
that you haven't made up your mind
about this woman in a hurryT
quite sure" John laughed II sup
pose l am rather an idiot but / am
addicted to the vice Of which you were
speaking"
She nodded
u should imagine she said. that
you were not an adept In the art OF
filtration. Is II true that the woman
is Louise MaurelT'
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