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


furnish them7 Surroundings like these
are destructive to ones individuality"
'Well, you see," John explained, as
he drew an easy chair up to the fire
for his guest, my stay in London Is
only temporary one, and it hasn't
seemed worth while to settle any
where"
She stretched out her graceful body
in front of the fire and raised her veil.
She was very smartly dressed, as usual.
Her white silk stockings, which she
seemed to have no objection to dis
playing, We're 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 it's 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 a little taken aback at her pres
ent visit.
Exactly why are you here, any
how? she demanded. 81 feel sure that
Eugene told me the reason which had
brought you from your wilds, but 1
have forgotten it,"
For one thing" John replied, II
have come because I don't want to ap-
pear prejudiced, and the fact that 1
never spent month in London, or even
week, seemed a little narrow-mind-
ed"
Whats the real attraction?" Lady
EIilda asked. 1T is a woman, isn't it?'
Il am very fond of a woman who
is in London" John admitted. "Per-
haps it is true that 1 am here on her
account"
Lady Hilda withdrew from her muff
a gold cigarette case and little box Of
matches.
Order some mixed vermouth with
lemon for me, please" she begged. II
have been shopping, and I hate tea.
l don't know why l came to see you.
suddenly thought of it when 1 was
in Bond street."
"It was very kind of YOU" John said.
IF 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 l risk my reputation in coming to
young mans rooms? Those things
do not count for me. Ever since 1
was child / have done exactly as /
liked, and people have shrugged their
shoulders and said, 'Ah, well, it is
only Lady Hilda' / am quite con-
WINGED that If 1 chose to take you off
to Monte Carlo with me next week
and spend a month with you there, l
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, Tt is only Lady Hilda ="
The waiter brought the vermouth
which his visitor slipped contentedly.
$50 there is a woman, is there?" she
went on, looking across the room at her
companion. "Have you committed
| yourself already, then? Don't you re-
member what l told you the first night
we met after the opera-that it is
well to waltz"
yes, l remember" John admitted.
81 meant it,"
He laughed good-humoredly, yet moi
without some trace of self-conscious
ness.
THE mischief was done then" he
said.
"Couldn't it 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, sis really, t.
my mind the most bourgeois of vices
1t comes from a want of elasticity il
the emotional tibers. Nothing in life
has bored me so much as the faith
fitness of my lovers"
"You ought to put all this into one
of your books" John suggested.
81 probably shall, when l write my
"reminiscences" she replied. "Tel me
about this woman. And don't stanC
about in that restless way at the othel
end of the room. Bring chair closC
TO me-there, close to my side! !"
John obeyed, and his visitor contem
plated him thoughtfully through ,
little cloud of tobacco smoke.
"Yes," she decided, "there is no us'
denying it. You are hatefully good
looking, and somehow or other 1 thinl
your clothes have improved you. You
have a little more air than when yol
first came to town. Are you quite SUR
that you haven't made up your minC
about this woman in hurry?"
"Quite sure" John laughed. 81 sup
pose 1 am rather an idiot, but 1 an
addicted to the vice of which you wer'
speaking"
She nodded.
|