The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1919-07-04
CHAPTER XII.

CHAPTER XII.
.
Seyre House was one of the few man
sions in London which boosted BAN
quoting hall as well as picture gal
lery. Although the long table was laid
for forty guests, it still seemed, with
its shaded lights and its profusion of
flowers, like an oasis of color in the
middle of the huge, somberly lighted
apartment. Some of the faces of the
guests were we1l-known to John
through their published photographs;
TO others he had been presented by
the prince upon their arrival. He was
seated between young American star
of musical comedy and lady who had
only recently dropped from the So
cial armament through the medium of
the divorce court, to return to the the
alter of her earlier fame. Both showed
every desire to converse with him be-
tween the intervals of eating and
drinking, but were constantly brought
to pause by Johns lack of knowledge
of current topics. After her third
glass of champagne, the lady who had
recently been a countess announced
her intention OF taking him under her
wing.
Someone must tell you all about
things" she insisted. "What you need
is guide and chaperon. Won't I
do?'
Perfectly" he agreed.
'Fair playl" protested the young
lady on his left, whose name was Rosie
Sharon. 81 spoke to him first -
fJolly bad luckr' Lord Amerton
drawled from the other side of the
table. Neither of you have an earth
~. He's booked. Saw him out with
her the other evening""
II sha'n't eat any, more supper"
Rosie Sharon pouted, pushing away
her plate.
you ought to have told US about
her at once" the lady who had been
countess declared severely.
John preserved his equanimity.
sit is to be presumed" he murmured,
shat you ladies are both free from
any present attachments"
SCOT you there ~ Amerton chuckled.
what about Billy?"
Rosie Sharon sighed.
"We don't come to the princes sup
per parties to remember our ties" she
declared Lets all go on talking nom
sense, please. Even if my heart is
broken, could never resist the princes
patel"
Apparently everyone was of the
same mind. The hum of laughter stead
lily grew. Under shelter of the fire
of conversation. the prince leaned to-
ward his companion and reopened their
previous discussion.
do you know" he began, II am in
clined to be somewhat disappointed by
your lack of enthusiasm in certain
direction !"
81 have disappointed many men in
my time" she replied. "Do you doubt
my power, now that 1 have promised
to exercise it'll"
"Who could?' he replied courteously.
IYet this young man poses, believe,
as something of st. Anthony. He
may give you trouble"
HE is then, what you call prig?"
"a most complete and perfect speci-
men, even in this nation of prigsI"
"All that you tell me-" she sighed,
"makes the enterprise seem easier. 1t
is, after all, rather like the lioness and
the mouse, isn't it?"
The prince made no reply, but upon
his lips there fingered family incred-
ulous smile. The woman by his side
leaned back In her place. She had
the air of accepting the challenge.
after supper" she said, tive will
see !"
A single chord of music in a minor
key floated across the room, soft at
first, swelling later into a volume of
sound, then dying away and ceasing
altogether. Every light in the place
was suddenly extinguished. There re
manned only the shaded lamps over
hanging the pictures.
Not a whisper was heard in the
room. John, looking around l.:m in
establishment, was conscious only of
the half-suppressed breathing of the
men and women who lined the walls, or
were still standing in little groups at
the end of the long hail. Again there
came the music, this time merged In
a low but insistent clamor of other in
strments Then, suddenly, through