The Ordway new era., 1918-01-11

group standing close at hand, from
which John had been diverted, passed
on into the refreshment room, and the
two were, for a few moments, almost
isolated.
"You were pleased with the perform
ance. hope?"
| Her voice was In character with her
personality. It was extremely low.
scarcely louder than a whisper. To
his surprise, 1t was almost wholly free
from any foreign accent.
at 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-
Is not SO bad as In Russia"
They passed across the polished
wood floor into q little room with
oriental fittings, where lamp was
swinging from the ceiling, giving out n
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 it very interesting"
"You are very kind" John declared.
"What you will learn here,p she went
on, depends very much upon yourself.
Are you intelligent? Perhaps not very"
she added, looking at him critically.
"You have brains. however, without a
doubt. You have also what places you
at once en- rapport with the cult Of the
moment-you are wonderfully good
looking"
John moved little uneaslly in his
place. He felt that the dancers eyes
were fixed upon him, and he was fever
ishly anxious not to respond to the in
vitation Of their gaze. He was con-
scious, too, Of the queer, indefinable
fascination Of her near presence in the
dimly-lighted room.
"What you will learn" she proceed
ed. depends very much upon your de-
sires. If you seek for the best, and
are content with nothing else, you will
find it. But SO few men are content
to waltz
II intend to-" John said simply.
"Look at me, please" she ordered.
Once more he was compelled to look
into her deep-blue eyes. The incom.
prehensible smile was still upon her
lips.
"You have lovedr
"No," he answered, taken a little
aback by the abruptness of the Ques-
ton.
"You grow more wonderful You
are free from any distracting thoughts
about women? You have no entangle-
ments2"
81 have nothing of the Sort" John
declared, almost irritably. "There is
one person who has made a wonder
full change in my life. believe could
say that am absolutely certain of my
feelings for her, but SO far she has not
given me much encouragement. Tell
me, madame, why do you ask me these
questions?"
Because it interests me-" she re-
piled. "Why do you not insist that
this lady should tell you the truthr
II have come to London to insist" ,"
he told her, "but I have been here only
forty-eight hours. I am waiting"
$50 many people spend dheir lives
doing that" she went on presently. "It
does not appeal to me. The moment !
make up my mind that want a thing,
1 take 1t. The moment I make up my
mind to give, give"
John was suddenly conscious Of the
closeness of the atmosphere. The fln-
gers Of his hands were clenched tight
ly together. He swore to himself that
he would not look into this woman's
face. He listened to the band which
was playing in the balcony of the great
hall, to the murmur Of the voices, the
shouts Of laughter. He told himself
that Nine. Calavera was amusing her
self with him.
'The princes party" she continued,
after long pause. 'seems to be a
great success, to Judge by the noise
they are making. So many people
shout and laugh when they are happy.