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


rage"
John made his escape somehow. He
remembered opening the door, but he
had no recollection of reaching the
street. A few minutes later, however,
he found himself striding down Pic
cadilly toward Hyde Park corner.
He found taxicab and was driven
toward the Milan. He was conscious
of a wild desire to keep away from
his rooms. Every pulse in his body
was tingling. He was fiercely awake,
eager for motion, action, excitement
of any sort. Suddenly he remembered
the night club to which he had been
introduced by Sophy on the first night
of his arrival in London. The adj
dress, too, was there quite clearly in
his disordered brain. He leaned out
of the cab and repeated it to the driv-
er.
The little place was Unexpectedly
crowded when he entered, after hay
| ing handed his hat and coat to
vestiaire. A large supper party was
going on at the farther end, and the
dancing space was smaller than usu-
al. The maitre d'hotel was escOrting
John to a small table in a distant
corner, which had just been vacated,
when the latter heard his name sud
denly called by q familiar voice. So
| ply, who had been dancing, aban-
doned her partner precipitately and
| came hurrying up to John with out
stretched hands.
John" she exclaimed. "YOu, of
all people in the world! What do you
mean by coming here alone at this
time of night? Fancy not telling me
Is anything the matter?'
Nothing" he replied. 81 really
don't exactly know why I am here. l
simply don't want to go to bed"
"Where is the prince?" he asked.
Sophy, struck by something in his
voice, swung around and looked at
him. Then she thrust both her arms
through his, clasped her two hands
together, and led him firmly away. A
gIimmering of the truth was begin
ming to dawn upon her.
"Tell ME where you have been since
you left the reception" she insisted,
when at last they were seated to-
gether.
"Wait till have ordered some
wine" he said.
A waiter served them with cham
payne. When Johns glass was filled,
he drained its contents. Sophy
watched him with surprise. She came
q little closer to him.
"John," she whispered, "you must
tell me-do you hear? You must tell
me everything! Did you take Louise
homer"
eyes"
"What happened, then? You didn't
quarrel with herr"
Nothing at all happened" he as
sured her. eve parted the best OF
friends. 1t wasn't that"
"Then what? Remember that l am
your friend, John, dear. Tell me ev'
erything."
II will tell you" he assented. 81
went to a little club belong to OIL
the Adelphi Terrace. I sat down IL
the smoking room. There was no one
there I knew. Some men were talk
ing. They had been to the reception
tonight. They were comparing French
actresses and English. They spoke
first of the French woman, Latrobe
and her lovers; then of Louise. They
spoke quite calmly, like men discuss
ing history. They compared the two
actresses, they compared their lives
Latrobe, they said, had lovers by the
score-Louise only one"
Sophy's hand stole into his. She
was watching the twisting of his fea
lures. She understood so well the ex
citement underneath.
II think I can guess" she whis
pered. Don't hurt yourself tellin!
me. Something was said about thu
prince!"
His eyes blaZed down upon her.
"You, too? he muttered. docs
the whole world know Of it and speal
as if it did not matter? Sophy, is /
true? Speak out! Don't be afraid o
hurting me. You call yourself m.
friend. I've been down, looking a
the outside Of her house. l dared no
90 in. There's a fire burning in m.
soul! Tell me If it is true!"
"You must not ask me that ques
, ton, john" she begged. "How shoul'
I know? Besides, these things are s.
different in our world, the world yo1
) haven't found out much about vel
Surprising it were true, john sh
went on, remember that it was be
/ fore you knew her. Surprising
should be true, remember this-you
idea of life is too absurd. Is one cree
made to fit human beings who ma
, differ In a million different ways?
woman may be as good as any eve
, horn into the world, and yet take jus
! a little love into her life, If she b
, true and faithful in doing it. l don
, believe there is a dearer or sweete
$ woman breathing than Louise, but on
: must have love. Don't l know 1t
. A man may be strong enough 10 hV
: without it, but a woman--neyer!