The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-11

as | am concerned" John answered.
1T is Louise Maurel. 1 thought you
must have guessed"
The two men looked at each other
in silence for some moments. Out on
the river little tug was hooting Wig
orously. The roar of the Strand came
family into the room. On the mantel-
piece very ornate French clock was
ticking lightly. All these sounds
seemed suddenly accentuated. They
beat time to a silence almost tragical
in its intensity.
Graillot took out his handkerchief
and dabbed his forehead He had writ
ten many plays, and the dramatic in
stinct was strongly developed in him.
'Louise!" he muttered under his
breath.
"She is very different, know" John
went on, after moments hesitation.
"She is very clever and a great artist,
and she lives in an atmosphere of
which, few months ago, knew moth
ing. have come up here to try to
understand, to try to get little nearer
to her."
There was another silence, this time
almost an awkward one. Then Grail
lot rose suddenly to his feet.
II will respect your confidence" he
promised, holding out his hand.
"Have no fear of that. am due now
at the theater. Your tea is excellent,
and such little cakes I never tasted be-
fore"
you will wish me good luckT'
"No!"
"Why not?" John demanded, little
startled.
Because" Graillot pronounced,
from what have seen and know of
you both, there are no two people in
this world less suitable for each other. y
"Look here" John expostulated, 81
don't want you to go away thinking so
You don't understand what this means
to me-"
Perhaps not, my friend" Graillot
replied, ''but remember that it is at
least my trade to understand men and
women. / have known Louise Mau,
rel since she was a child"
'Then it is whom you don't I'M
derstand."
THAT may be So" Graillot confessed
zone makes mistakes. Let US leave
it at that. You are a young man OF
undeyeloped temperament. You may
be capable of much which at present
1 do not find in you"
Tell me the one quality in which
you consider me most lacking" Johr
begged. II want you on my side, Grail
! lot"
And l." Graillot replied, as he SHOOK
his friends hand and hurried off
want only to be on the side that will
mean happiness for you both"
! He left the room little abruptly
John walked back to the window, op
pressed with a sense of something
almost ominous in the Frenchman':
manner, something which he could no
fathom, against which he struggled il
vain. Side by side with it, there
surged into his memory the Dispute
tude which his present relations will
Louise had developed. She was always
charming when she had any time Il
spare-sometimes almost affectionate
On the other hand, he was profoundl!
conscious of her desire to keep hin
at arms length for the present.
He had accepted her decision with
out a murmur. He made but few eff
forts to see her alone, and when the,
met he made no special claim upol
her notice. He was serving his appren
ticeship doggedly and faithfully. Ye
there were times like the present whel
he found his task both hateful and dif
ficult.
He walked aimlessly backward an,
forward, chatting against the restrain
of the narrow walls and the low cell
ing. A sudden desire had seized hin
to fly back to the hills, wreathed il
mist though they might be; TO struggl
on his way through the binding rair
to drink down long gulps of his owl
purer, less civilized atmosphere.
| The telephone bell rang. He place.
the receiver to his ear almost me
chanically.
"Who is it?' he asked.
LADY Hilda Mulloch is asking 70
you, sir" the hall porter announced.
Lady Hilda peered around John
room through her lorgnette, and di
not hesitate to express her dissatisfaC
ton.
my dear man." she exclaimed