The Ordway new era., 1918-01-11

some men.
"At any rate" said Lady Hilda, II
am glad to think that shall be able
to watch you when you see Calavera
in her dances for your first time"
The curtain rang up upon one Of the
most gorgeous and sensuous of the
joint insistence was occupying the
front chair in the box, leaned forward
In his place, his eyes steadfastly fixed
upon the stage. Both the prince and
Lady Hilda, in the background, al
though they occasionally glanced at
the performance, devoted most Of their
attention to watching him.
| AS the story progressed and the mu-
sic grew in passion and voluptuous-
ness, they distinctly saw his almost
militant protest. They saw the knit
contraction of his eyebrows. The
prince and his friend exchanged
glances. She drew her chair a little
farther back, and he followed her ex-
ample.
"Where did you find anything so
wonderful as this?" she murmured.
Lost among the hills of Cumber-
land" the prince replied. II have an
estate up therein fact, he and I are
joint lords of the manor of the vii
lage In which he has lived"
"And your" she whispered. glancing
at John to be sure that she was not
overheard. "Where do you come in?
AS educator of the young? l don't
seem to see you in that rolel'
A very rare and by no means pleas
ant smile twisted the corners of his
lips for moment.
at is long story"
"Can be brought inT she asked.
He nodded.
at rests with you. 1t would suit my
plans"
She toyed with her fan for mo-
ment, looked restlessly at the stage
and back again at John. Then she rose
from her place and stood before the
lookingglass. From the greater obscur-
ity of the box she motioned to the
prince.
John remained entirely needless of
their movements. His eyes were
still riveted upon the stage, fascinated
with the wonderful coloring, the reali-
zation of a new art.
"You and l." Lady Hilda whispered,
"do not need to play about with the
truth, Eugene. What are you doing
this for?"
"The idlest whim," the prince as
sured her quietly. Look at him.
Think for moment Of his position
absolutely without experience, entirely
ignorant about women, with fortune
one only dreams of, and probably the
handsomest animal in London. What
is going to become of him?"
II think I understand a llttle," she
confessed.
81 think you do" the prince assent
ed. "He has views, this young man.
1t is my humor to see them dlssipated.
The modern Sir Gnlahad always irri-
tated me little"
She shrugged her shoulders.
'They'll never give him a chance,
these women" she said. 'Much better
hand him over to me-"
The prince smiled enigmatically, and
Lady Hilda returned to her seat. John
was still leaning forward with his eyes
fixed upon Calavera, who was dancing
alone now. The ballet was drawing
toward the end. The music had
reached Its climax of wild and passion
ate sensuousness, dominated and in
spired by the woman whose every
movement and every glance seemed
part of some occult, dimly understood
language.
When the curtain rang down, John,
like many others, was confused. New
ertheless, after that first breathless
pause, he stood up and Joined in the
tumultuous applause.
'Well?" the prince asked.
John shook his head.
II don't KNOW" he answered.
"Neither does anyone else," Lady
Hilda said. "Don't try to analyze your
impressions for our benefit, Mr..
Strangewey. am exactly in your po-
| sition, and have been here a dozen
| times. Even to us hardened men and
women Of the world, this Russian mu-
sic came as surprise. There were
parts of 1t you did not like, though,
weren't there?"
"There were parts Of It I hated"
John agreed. "There were passages
that seemed to aim at dIscord In every
sense of the word"
She nodded sympathetically. They
were on their way down the broad
staircase.
II wonder" she murmured, whether
am going to be asked out to sup
PERI"
"Alas, not tonight, dear lady," the
prince regretted. II am having a few
friends at Seyre House."
She shot glance at him and
shrugged her shoulders. She was evi-
IDENTIFY displeased.