Tombstone epitaph., 1918-01-27

some later arrivals. The noisy little
group standing close at hand, from
which John had been diverted. passed
on into the refreshment room, and the
two were, for q few moments, almost
isolated.
you were pleased with the perform
ance. hope?"
Her voice was In character with her
personality. 1t was extremely low.
scarcely louder than a whisper. To
his surprise, II was almost wholly free
from any foreign accent.
ut was very wonderful" John an
swered.
''The prince tells me-" she continued,
''that you are a stranger in London.
Give me your arm. We will walk to
a Quieter place. In few moments we
are to be disturbed for supper. One
eats SO often and so much in this coun-
try. Why do I say that. thought 1t
Is not so bad as in Russia"
They passed across the polished
wood floor into q little room with
oriental fittings. where a lamp was
swinging from the ceiling. giving out q
dim but pleasant light. The place was
empty. and the sound Of the music
and voices seemed to come from dis
tance. She sank down upon a divan
back among the shadows. and mo-
toned John to sit by her side.
You have come to find out, to un-
derstand-is that not so?" she inquired.
"What you know Of life. the prince
tells me, you have learned from books.
Now you have come to discover what
more there is to be learned in the
world Of men and women"
THE prince has been very kind,
John said.
She turned her head slowly and
looked at him.
"A young man to whom the prince
chooses to be kind Is, In a way, for.
tunate," she said. There Is very Lit.
tie in life. in men or In women, which
he does not understand. Let us re.
turn to what we were speaking about
I find 1t very interesting"
you are very kind" John declared.
"What you will learn here" she went
on. depends very much upon yourself
Are Won intelligent, perhans not verv /,
she added, looking at him critically
"you have brs,ns however w,thout .
doubt. You have also what places you
NJ once on rannort vIth the ruIt ~ tbe
moment-von are wonderfnIlv GOOD
lookinp~
John movad q utt,o rnaas,,v in b,s
n,sce Ho falt that The dorcer,a aves
were fixed unon him and he was fever
isblv anxious NOT to resnond to the In.
vitation Of their psze He was con.
scious. too Of the oueer indefinable
fascination of her near nresence in the
dimlv-lipbted room
.What Won win learn ~ she proceed
ed. .-dcpends yery much upon vour de-
sIraa n Won seek for the hest .nd
are content with nothing else Won viii
fnd 1t. But 80 few men are coptep,
to watt"
II intend to-" John said simply.
"Look at me, please" she ordered.
Once more he was compelled to looh
into her deep-blue eyes. The incom
prehensible smile was stil upon he,
lips.
You have lovedr
~No," he answered. taken a little
aback BY the abruptness of the oues
ton.
"You grow more wonderful! Yor
are free from any dIstracting thought,
about women2 You have no entangle
mentsT
Il have nothing Of the sort" Johr
declared, almost irritably. There 1.
one person who has made q wonder
full change in my life. believe I couIt
say that I am absolutely certain Of my
feelings for her, but so far she has no,
given me much encouragement Tel
me, madame, why do you ask me thest
questions1"
Because 1t interests me-" she re
piled. "why do you not insist thai
this lady should tell you the truthr
Il have come to London to insist,
he told her, ''but have been here only
forty-eight hours. I am waiting"
$50 many people spend eheir live
doing that" she went on presently. III
does not appeal to me. The moment
make up my mind that ! want thing
take It. The moment I make up mJ
mind to give, give"