Tombstone epitaph., 1918-02-10

don't you take rooms Of your own and
furnish themf Surroundings like these
are destructive to ones individuality"
"well. you see." John explained. a.
he drew an easy chair up to the IRE
for his guest. my stay in London Is
only a temporary one. and 1t hasn't
seemed worth while to settle any
where"
She stretched out her graceful body
in front Of the IRE and raised her veil.
She was very snartly dressed. as usual.
Her white silk stockings. which she
seemed to have no objection to dis
playing. were Of the latest vogue. The
chinchilla around her neck and In her
little toque was most becoming. She
seemed to bring with her an atmos-
phere indefinable. in its way, but dis
tinctly attractive. Brisk in her speech.
little commanding in her manner. she
was still essentially feminine.
John, at her direct invitation, had
called upon her once or twice since
their meeting at the opera. and he had
found her. from the first, more at
tractive than any other society woman
Of his acquaintance. None the less, he
was n little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here. any
how?" she demanded. II feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds. but I
have forgotten it."
1h- 81
have come because don't want to ap-
pear prejudlced, and the fact that I
never spent a month In London. or even
week, seemed q little narrow-mind-
ed"
whats the real attraction" Lady
Hilda asked. ut is a woman. isn't tit"
Il am very fond Of a woman who
is in London" John admitted. "Per-
haps it is true that I am here on her
account"
Lady Hilda withdrew from her mum
gold cigarette case and a little box Of
matches.
order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. Il
have been shopping. and / hate tea.
1 don't know why l came to see you.
suddenly thought of 1t when was
In Bond street"
ut was very kind Of you," John said
"If I had known that you cared about
seeing me. / would have come to you
with pleasure"
"What does It matter?" she an
swered. "You are thinking, perhaps,
that risk my reputation in coming to
young mans rooms? Those things
do not count for me. Ever since /
was a child have done exactly as
liked. and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said, All, well. It Is
only Lady Hildav I am quite con-
WINGED that II / chose to take you on
to Monte Carlo with me next week
and spend a month with you there, I
should get my pass to the royal inclo-
sure at Ascot when I returned. and my
Invitation to the next court ball, even
In this era OF starch. You see, they
would say. 1t is only Lady Hilda!"
The waiter brought the vermouth.
which his visitor slipped contentedly.
$50 there is a woman, is there7" she
went on, looking across the room at her
companion. Have you committed
yourself already, then? Don't you re-
member what / told you the first night
we met after the opera-that 1t is
well to waltz"
"Yes, I remember" John admitted.
II meant It."
He laughed good-humoredly, yet not
without some trace Of self-conscious-
ness.
THE mischief was done then" he
said.
| Couldn't II be undone" she asked
lazily. "Or are you one Of those tedi-
Gus people who are faithful forever
Fidelity" she continued. knocking the
ash from her cigarette, us really, to
my mind, the most bourgeois Of vices,
II comes from q want Of elasticity In
the emotional fibers. Nothing In life
has bored me SO much as the faith.
fitness Of my lovers"
you ought to put an this into one
of your books" John suggested
II probably shall. when write my
"reminiscences" she replied. Tell me
about this woman And don't stand
about In that restless way at the other
end Of the room. Bring q chair elost
to me-there, close to my sider
John obeyed. and his visitor contem
plated him thoughtfully through q
little cloud Of tobacco smoke.
Yes" she decided, 'there II NO ust
denying II. You are hatefully good
looking, and somehow or other ! thinA
your clothes have improved you Yos
have o little more air than when yos
first came to town. Are you quite sur
that you haven't made up your MINI
about this woman In q hurryr
quite sure" John laughed. Il sup
Ipose I am rather an idiot, but ! IN
addicted to the vice Of which yoa wei
speaking"
She nodded.
T should imaelne." - md. etAa
; Iyou were not IN adept In tie art d
Airtatioo- r Il tue that he wooai
! ID Louise MaWelr
quite true." John repaisd
. But don't yoa kD0we
- broke a abruvt1y. ne ~ q
, Ifnso g ~ naA b ~ - s1ddsns