Tombstone epitaph. (Tombstone, Ariz.) 1887-current, 1918-03-03

CHAPTER xlx-continued.
H.
The reception In honor Of the little
company Of French tragedians. at
which almost the whole Of the English
stage and q sprinkling Of society peo-
pie were present, was q complete sue
cess. Louise made q 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 Ill at ease was
John. He heard nothing but French
on all sides Of him-a language which
he read with some facility. but which
he spoke like q sehoolboy. 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
"Cheef upi" she begged. with q de-
lightful smile. II am afraid that you
are being bored to death. VIII you
not come and be presented to our
guests7"
For goodness sake. nor" John i'm
plored. Il have never seen one Of
them act. and my French is appalling.
I am all right. dear. It's quite enough
pleasure to see you looking 20 beauti-
full, and to think that l am going to be
allowed to drive you home afterward."
Louise looked into a neighboring
mirror. and gnzed 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
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 glorying
In the subtle outward signs of It. She
was in love with herself: in love, too,
with this delightful new feeling Of
loving. 1t would have given her more
Joy than anything else In the world,
in that moment Of her triumph. to
have passed her arm through Johns,
to have led him up to them all. and to
have said:
"After all, You see, am a very SIM
pie sort Of wom.n. I have done Just
the sort Of simple thing that other
women do. and l am glad Of it-very
glad and very happyI"
Her lips moved to the music Of her
thoughts. John leaned toward her.
did you say anything?' he asked.
You dear stupid. of course I did
noti Or II did. it was just one Of
those little whispers to oneself which
mean nothing. yet which count for so
much. Can not do anything to make
you enjoy yourself more7 I shall have
to 60 back to my guests now. We
are expecting q royal Parsonage, and
those two dears who keep SO close to
my side do not speak q word Of Eng
lish."
-Please 90 back. dear" John begged
promptly. 1T was nice Of you to come
At all. And here's Sophy at last, thank
goodnessi Now I am all right"
She laid her fingers upon his arm.
You must take me back to my
place." she said. Then you can 60
and talk nonsense to Sophy."
They were back in the crowd now.
and she dismissed him with Q little
nod. He made his way quickly to the
snot where he had seen Sophy. To
his disappolptment, she had disap-
peared. Graillot however, came up
and seized him by the arm.
.Stiu playing the moth, my young
fr,end7- he exclaimed. .Aren't the
wings suf5cientiy burned yeti"
81 am afraid ,t,s become a perma-
n.nt nj. John renlied "A the two
- .nocr hsnds .Where have Won
,een an these weeks. and why haven't
rcn been IA zee mef-
~paris. INV dear youne frieud-Paris
a u,., ~ Am h.ck .ysin-
Am not sure that know why. / came
over vifh these French people. to