The Elk Mountain pilot., 1918-01-10
4 have a table insIde," he told them


AZ they approached. ut is better for
conversation. The rest Of the place IL
like bear garden. am not sure II
they will dance here today, but II
they do, they will come also into tho
restaurant"
~Wise mani" Louise declared. t.
too, hate the babel outside"
1--WE are faced" said the prince. ~
he took up the menu, with our daily
problem. What can order for your
"a cup of chocolate" Louise replied
"And Miss Sophyr
'-Tea. please"
John, too, preferred tea; the prince
ordered absinthe.
"A polyglot meal, isn't It. Mr..
Strangewey?" said Louise, as the order
was executed; mot In the least what
that wonderful old butler Of yours
would understand by tea. Sophy. put
your hat on straight II you want to
make q good impression on Mr..
Strangewey. am hoping that you two
will be great friends"
Sophy turned toward John with
little grimace.
am sure any idea you might have had
of liking me will have gone already.
Has 1t, Mr.. strangewey7"
ION the contrary" he replied, little
stiffiy, but without hesitation. II was
thinking that Miss Maurel could
scarcely have set me a more pleasant
task"
The girl looked reproachfully across
at her friend.
"You told me he came from the
wilds and was quite unsophisticatedI"
she exclaimed.
"The TRUTH" John assured them.
looking with dismay at his little china
cup. "comes very easily to us. We are
brought up on it in Cumberland"
Don't chatter too much, child" Lou
ise said benignly. II want to hear
some more of Mr.. Strangewey's I'M
pressions. This is-well, II not quite
a fashionable crowd, yet very nearly
50. What do you think Of 1.-THE wom-
en-, for instanceT
"Well, to me-" John confessed can.
didly, "they all look like dolls or man.
ikins. Their dresses and their hats
overshadow their faces. They seem
all the time to be wanting to show. not
themselves. but what they have on"
They all laughed. Even the princes
lips were parted by the flicker of a
smile. Sophy leaned across the table
with sigh.
Louise" she pleaded. "you will lend
him to me sometimes. won't your You
won't keep him altogether to yourselff
There are such a lot Of places to take
him toi"
II WIS never greedy" Louise re-
marked, with an air of self-satisfac-
ton. "If you succeed In making q
favorable impression upon him.
promise you your share"
"Tell us some more of your impress
sions. Mr.. Strangewey." Sophy begged.
you want to laugh at me-" John
protested good-humoredly.
ION the contrary" the prince as
sured him. as he fitted cigarette into
. long amber tube. "they want to
laugh with you. You ought to realize
your value ~ a companion in these
days. You are the only person who
can see the truth. Eyes and tastes
You are quite right when you say that
these women are like manikins; that
their bodies and faces are lost; but
one does not notice 1t until 1t is point
ed out"
"We will revert" Louise decided, ito
q more primitive life, You and will
|inaugurate q missionary enterprise,
Mr.. Strangewey. We viii Judge the
world afresh. We win reclothe and re-
habilitate it."
The prince flicked the ash from the
end of his cigarette.
Morally as well as sartoriallyf' he
asked.
There was a moments rather queer
silence. The music rose above the
hubbub Of voices and died away again.
Louise rose to her feet. The prince,
with q skillful maneuver, made his
way to her side as they left the res-
taurant.
Tomorrow afternoon, think you
said7" he repeated quietly. "You win
be in town then1"
Eyes, I think 3d."
"You have changed your mind, then,
about"
IN. Graillot will not listen to my
leaving London" she interrupted rap
Idly. "He declares that it IL too near
the production of the play. Ny own
part may be perfect, but he needs me
for the sake of the others. He puts
II like q Frenchman, of course"
They had reached the outer door,
which was being held open for them
by bowling commissionnaire. John
and Sophy were waiting upon the pave
ment. The prince drew little back.
II understand" he murmured.