The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-08-01
CHAPTER xIx-continued.

stage and sprinkling of society peo-
pie We're present, was a complete sue
cess. Louise made a 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 i'll 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 schoolboy. 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.
"Cheer up" she begged, with a de-
lightful smile. II am afraid that you
are being bored to death. Will you
not come and be presented to our
guests?'
"For goodness sake, nor John i'm
plored. II have never seen one of
them act, and my French is appalling.
am all right, dear. It's quite enough
pleasure to see you looking so beauti-
full, and to think that am going to be
allowed to drive you home afterward."
Louise looked into a neighboring
mirror, and gazed critically at her
~;
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
rare appreciation to every turn of her
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
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 very sim
pie sort of woman. / have done just
the sort of simple thing that other
women do, and l am glad of it-very
glad and very happyr'
Her lips moved to the music of her
thoughts. John leaned toward her.
"Did you say anything?'' he asked.
"You dear stupid, of course l did
not Or if I did, it was just one of
those little whispers to oneself which
mean nothing, yet which count for so
much Can l not do anything to make
you enjoy yourself more? l shall have
TO go back to my guests now. We
are expecting a royal parsonage, and
those two dears who keep so close to
my side do not speak word of Eng
fish"
@Please go back, DEAR" John begged
promptly. at was nice of you to come
ut all. And here's Sophy at last, thank
goodness! Now l am all right"
She laid her fingers upon his arm.
"You must take me back to my
place" she said. "Then you can go
and talk nonsense to Sophy."
They were back in the crowd now,
and she dismissed him with little
nod. He made his way quickly to the
spot where he had seen Sophy. To
his disappointment, she had disap-
peared. Graillot, however, came up
and seized him by the arm.
"Still playing the moth, my young
fricnd?' he exclaimed. aren't the
wings sufficiently burned YETI"
II am afraid it's become a perma-
nent role" John replied, as the two
men shook hands. where have you
been all these weeks. and why haven't
you been to see me?"
"Paris, my dear young friend-Paris
and life! Now l am back again.
am not sure that know why. 1 came
over with these French people, to
see them start their theater. Forgive
me, have not paid my respects to our
hostess. We shall meet again pres
emily"
He strolled off, and a few minutes
later John found Sophy.
How late you are!" he grumbled.
II couldn't help it," she answered.
'ThiS is the only evening dress I pos
sess Mt present. and / had to mend it
before it was decent to come out in.
Why are you wandering about alone
Hasn't Louise been kind to you?"
'She has been charming" John de-
clnred promptly, "but she is surround
ed with all sorts of people l don't
know. can't help her. For one
thing, my French is absurd. Then
they are all talking about things which
] don't understand in the least"
Sophy remained silent for mo-
ment. Then she took Johns arm and
LODI him tn tha huffpt